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TJ Catalanotto
Joined: Mar 14, 2005
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Province/State: New South Wales
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Help an educator on a learning curve
March 15, 2005 - 06:08 AM
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I blog here in an attempt to engage conversation. I am starting a masters in e-learning and have as an assignment to go out and engage with a community about anything.
Pretty wide open it has been thought provoking to say the least. As a classroom teacher for the last 10 years my hope is to make improvements to the classroom and the way that I help students learn. I have read some very damning statements about schools and their organisation. I would like to think that my students do not leave my classroom thinking such negative thoughts (I am realistic to know that they have these thoughts - I am hoping however that at certain times they do not because they have been engaged in some way shape or form)
What I would like to know is what is the alternative? Can technological advances and the use of computers change what we do in our schools? If so how? If technology is not the answer then what is?
I have lived and taught in the US and I am currently living and teaching in Australia. I would be interested to know what people around the world think of these issues. Reading an article in a magazine today it talked about comuters and the role that they play in bridging the gap between the third world and the first world (closing the digital divide). It made the point that yes money has been donated in order that rural third world countries can have "knowledge centres". The irony is the poor farmer living 5 kms away was not even aware that the centre was there for the last 3 plus years.
What can we do to make our schools more important to young people? Adults seem to think they are importnat but the people we make attend them have such strong negative feelings (except for the feelings of nostalgia that some have posted)!
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Helga
Joined: Apr 27, 2004
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Re: Help an educator on a learning curve
April 29, 2005 - 02:31 AM
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Some of the best lessons I've taught involved no more technology than the chairs the students sat on. (I was a language teacher so sitting around talking was encouraged!)
I think IT does have an important place, but it's no substitute for well planned, interesting, lessons.
The advantage it gives is that it means that good lessons can be passed on easily and used again and again. It also gives students a lot more independance and flexibiility in how and what they learn - and I think that is a fantastic opportunity. But this has to be facilitated effectively by someone... 
Helga
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Rosie Davies
Joined: Apr 17, 2005
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Re: Help an educator on a learning curve
April 29, 2005 - 11:52 AM
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The UK government recieved some criticism for its investment in computers for schools recently, when a survey showed a correlation between computer use and a drop in school grades. You might be interested to listen to this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/items/03/2005_15_mon.shtml
Through my job I've discussed this issue with some secondary and FE teachers. The main message I've picked up is that it's no good investing in IT facilities if teachers aren't trained properly. Another factor is that schools are often strapped for cash and it doesn't make sense to spend this on a PC that's gong to sit at the edge of the classroom, while the school can't afford textbooks or test tubes.
As for myself, I didn't start using computers until I was at university, so I'm afraid I can't give you much from a student perspective. Personally I absolutely love working with computers and learning how to use them! Depends where you're starting from on the fundamental purpose of education...
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TJ Catalanotto
Joined: Mar 14, 2005
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reply to Rosie
May 8, 2005 - 07:07 AM
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Rosie I appreciate your link to the BBC interview about ICT in schools. It is a very hot topic as most people have strong opinions about technology use in schools and does it enhance education.
Where do we go from here? Lack of computers and we disadvantage students as ICT skills will be an assumed criterion for gaining work but too much reliance on them according to the report has at this point “shown a decrease in student performance”.
I am tried of hearing the same old arguments - I am not sure there is anyone out there that truly thinks ICT and specifically computers are the answer to our problems in the field of secondary education. They must be used in a way that enhances classroom activity but for that to occur they must be there, in the classroom - not in a lab that is shared and must be booked as this creates an artificial experience. A class going to the computer lab is a chance for the students to do something else during their school day - they almost see it as different from learning because they are not listening to a teacher or writing notes or reading a textbook but unfortunately they do not always see it as a learning experience. If the computers were in the classroom for use when ever the teacher or students wanted/ needed then they could be seen as the useful resource that they are.
Thinking about the working world few of us spend our entire working day on the computer - I use one everyday but not for the whole day. I teach classes I go to meetings, I communicate with parents over the phone - computers in schools need to be seen as a part of the classroom and the learning experience instead of this separate entity that we go and work with when the teacher wants a break from teaching.
So my response to the BBC discussion would be this - absolutely we need more computers in schools in order for students to see them as a resource that enhances their learning experience instead of a distraction or break form the activities at hand. There seemed to be this idea that schools have had their fill of computers.
Thank you for the post I did find the conversation thought provoking. I would have to agree with many of the people interviewed - teachers need more training - computers are a piece to the learning puzzle not the defining characteristic but if they are an outside the classroom venture then teachers can hide from them - they are over used when used and nonexistent when the class is not in the computer lab.
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