Desperate SBTS

1. …technology is only a tool.  A pencil is also a tool.  Each can be used to accomplish some of the same tasks.   Sometimes technology can accomplish some of those tasks faster, but in my experience, not always.  If you don’t agree with that last statement, then I am probably older than you. 
2. …instructional technology by itself will not save the world. Or you. Or me for that matter, although as an SBTS I am able to afford food and shelter because of it – so maybe it does rescue me from starvation and homelessness.  But I think that it is important to keep this limitation in mind.  Technology by itself is never the goal when considering instructional technology integration.  What technology is being integrated into – the instruction- is the goal.  Teachers do not plan lessons about writing because they want their students to use a pencil, or because they think using a pencil is so cool, or because using a pencil is the means of our salvation.  But teachers do plan lessons about writing where a pencil is needed to do the actual writing.  Technology is more or less a really fancy pencil.
3. We often identify many of the characteristics of instructional technology as it is experienced by students.  We talk and write about (no I have not read your posts) how it can help them learn by motivating (the “WOW” factor), expanding horizons (the internet), aiding in the acquisition of background knowledge (United Streaming), encouraging creativity (blank slate software) , and providing structure and organization (graphic organizers).  You could probably add to thsi list.  This is a perfectly appropriate conversation, because the students are the recipients of and participants in the instruction that instructional technology supports.
4. But maybe focusing on the intsruction part of instructional technology means also focusing on the instructor.  Technology is not always the tool of choice for teachers.  We all know this is true, because it is why they have given us jobs.
5. For me, what is most important, the accomplishment that I value the most, the motivation for showing up for work every day, is the opportunity that I have to help teachers cut that big, intimidating, real fancy pencil called technology down to size.  ”You are in charge,” I tell them, “don’t let this computer push you around!”  I have not met a teacher who would not admit that technology could do all of the things listed above for students.  I think teachers are not reluctant to use technology for instruction because they do not think that it works.  I  think teachers resist using technology because they are afraid that they cannot manage it and their students as well.  The art of my teaching is in convincing teachers that technology is a pencil that they can pick up.  I cannot yet articulate how , but I do believe that in the past two years, I have had some success. 
6. I believe that technology can do for students and for learning all those things that we have ever identified, but I also know that it cannot do anything by itself.  Technology is only a tool, and a teacher has to pick it up first in order for it to work.  I believe it is my most important job to encourage teachers to pick up the technology tool.        

Filed by sepowell50 at 9:30 pm under Uncategorized
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