Roblyer and Doering (2010) state, “Teachers need system-wide support to implement technology. This means that the school, district, local community, and state share with teachers a commitment to using technology to support teaching and learning” (p. 62). I agree with this statement. Without the support of the school, district, local community, and state the teachers would not have the funds or training to incorporate technology into teaching. Something that caught my attention was that the authors suggest matching technology to curriculum needs. They believe that instead of saying, “How can we use this equipment and software?” there are other questions that we should ask such as, “What are our current unmet needs, and can technology address them?” I think this is important because it encourages teachers to focus on the needs of the students instead of just using technology for the sake of using it.
Additionally, I think that it is important for teachers to keep up with new applications and resources that emerge in technology. I agree that “to keep up with these changes, educators must constantly read and attend conferences, workshops, and meetings” (Roblyer and Doering, 2010, p. 63). This is important because although we are learning a lot about technology now, there will always be new technology that will be produced. If teachers continue to learn about new technology, they will be able to use it if the school decides to purchase it. They will also be aware of new technology that they want to use in their classroom, and when asked for input, could give an educated suggestion for something they feel they could use.
I completely agree with your point that teachers should be required to keep up with new applications and resources that emerge in technology. I've been in classrooms where teachers use the same tools to teach as they did 20-30 years ago. It's boring! It is more beneficial to the students if educators are adapting to the changes in technology to engage and meet the needs of everyone.
ReplyDelete