TEACHER PAGE
Overcoming Barriers to Technology
There are many kinds of barriers which enable teachers to effectively use technology in the classroom. Here are three which I believe to be some of the most prevalent along with ideas on how to possibly solve them.
One of the biggest barriers in this age is financial resources which affects schools budgeting and funding. "We know that the costs of technology are far more than just the prices of equipment and software. Upgrades, maintenance, and support play a large role as well" (Web 2.0,2007, p.129) Schools are finding it harder in these tough, economic times to support their normal learning tools. School districts rely on federal, state, and other funding available for technology. We have already seen music classes, art classes, and even some P.E. classes slashed out already. Could this pattern ultimately effect the technology tools as well? One option as mentioned in the text was having the ability to access free, online Web tools. These tools would benefit both students and teachers, but there are catches. One would be that the school would have to have access to internet all day, and the up keep on the computers might still cost the school valuable money.
Another barrier to technology is a lack teachers who know how to use the technological tools effectively and efficiently. What is even more sad is that sometimes, teachers refuse to learn the new technology because they feel a sense that they are being replaced with computers. For those teachers who want to learn the new interactive tools are put into a one day, four hour long class in hopes that they will memorize everything in that time period and learn the other concepts on their own. "Traditional staff development has tended to be based on one model: a one-day session, often four hours right after school when everyone is tired and focused on other issues. Frequently, the school hires an expert who arrives, delivers the program and goes home" (Web 2.0,2007, p.101). As it is clear, these sessions are not preparing the teachers to their full potentional. What I think needs to be done are summer programs for teachers. Maybe a month before school begins, teachers should have the opportunity to attend a technology for education class and have more than just one class to give them a wide range of technological experience before school begins. These summer classes would be ideal to exchange ideas, communicate across the grades, and give chances for teacher collaboration.
"An ongoing challenge for all schools is to provide an equal opportunity to learn and achieve to all students. This must be viewed throught the reality of unequal access to technology, specifically in schools with high minority populations, high proportions of families who have cultural or linguistic diversity, or in schools located in rural areas" (Web 2.0, 2007, p.165-66). The technological divide divides those who have access to computers and those who do not. One of the solutions might be to provide computers at the schools, but that would require more funds from the schools who might already be faltering in budgets. Some might even suggest going to the library for public use of computers, but transportation might provide challenges as well. My solution is one I have on the news and is currently being acted out in Africa. America sends African schools laptops which generate power by cranking the levers on their sides. So essentially, these laptops do not need charging. Also, it was said that these powerful laptops only cost around $100 each, and have internet connectivity. I am not sure how the process would work, but we might be able to replicate these to put into our own educational system for student use. It would still cost money, but I believe it would be less cost than the traditional laptops. These laptops could provide the technological resources that some students have always wished for.
One of the biggest barriers in this age is financial resources which affects schools budgeting and funding. "We know that the costs of technology are far more than just the prices of equipment and software. Upgrades, maintenance, and support play a large role as well" (Web 2.0,2007, p.129) Schools are finding it harder in these tough, economic times to support their normal learning tools. School districts rely on federal, state, and other funding available for technology. We have already seen music classes, art classes, and even some P.E. classes slashed out already. Could this pattern ultimately effect the technology tools as well? One option as mentioned in the text was having the ability to access free, online Web tools. These tools would benefit both students and teachers, but there are catches. One would be that the school would have to have access to internet all day, and the up keep on the computers might still cost the school valuable money.
Another barrier to technology is a lack teachers who know how to use the technological tools effectively and efficiently. What is even more sad is that sometimes, teachers refuse to learn the new technology because they feel a sense that they are being replaced with computers. For those teachers who want to learn the new interactive tools are put into a one day, four hour long class in hopes that they will memorize everything in that time period and learn the other concepts on their own. "Traditional staff development has tended to be based on one model: a one-day session, often four hours right after school when everyone is tired and focused on other issues. Frequently, the school hires an expert who arrives, delivers the program and goes home" (Web 2.0,2007, p.101). As it is clear, these sessions are not preparing the teachers to their full potentional. What I think needs to be done are summer programs for teachers. Maybe a month before school begins, teachers should have the opportunity to attend a technology for education class and have more than just one class to give them a wide range of technological experience before school begins. These summer classes would be ideal to exchange ideas, communicate across the grades, and give chances for teacher collaboration.
"An ongoing challenge for all schools is to provide an equal opportunity to learn and achieve to all students. This must be viewed throught the reality of unequal access to technology, specifically in schools with high minority populations, high proportions of families who have cultural or linguistic diversity, or in schools located in rural areas" (Web 2.0, 2007, p.165-66). The technological divide divides those who have access to computers and those who do not. One of the solutions might be to provide computers at the schools, but that would require more funds from the schools who might already be faltering in budgets. Some might even suggest going to the library for public use of computers, but transportation might provide challenges as well. My solution is one I have on the news and is currently being acted out in Africa. America sends African schools laptops which generate power by cranking the levers on their sides. So essentially, these laptops do not need charging. Also, it was said that these powerful laptops only cost around $100 each, and have internet connectivity. I am not sure how the process would work, but we might be able to replicate these to put into our own educational system for student use. It would still cost money, but I believe it would be less cost than the traditional laptops. These laptops could provide the technological resources that some students have always wished for.