Technology can be a fearful thing to those unfamiliar with
its wonders.
In the school where I volunteer, it seems like the teachers
are always calling the poor tech specialist to come fix a problem in the
classroom. Most issues in this county
are handled by tech specialists rather than the media specialist, but I can see
where being familiar with the devices would be beneficial. For one thing, the
media specialist should be able to diagnose her own technology problems. For
another, it’s just faster to do the job yourself rather than have to wait to
fit into someone else’s schedule.
In chapter 13 of Technology and the School Library,
Odin Jurkowski explains that the knowledge of technology should be shared
rather than hoarded. Librarians, since they have the knowledge, get the privilege
of sharing information with teachers. Jurkowski suggests teachers should
participate in periodic training to learn more about all kinds of technology
devices and software such as digital cameras and recorders, tablets, smart
phones, electronic white boards, the OPAC and much more.
This could be a daunting task, though, with so many possible
topics. Another suggestion is to create instructional handouts. These can be
used with a lesson or to stand alone. The handouts should be one page with
vivid colors that differentiate the points. Jurkowski suggests using short,
easy sentences and screen captures or images.
I think it would be a good idea to compile a notebook of
these handouts. Notes could be revised as teachers find extra tips and
shortcuts to share. Having one central,
updated book of tips would make it easier to share it with new teachers when
they arrive.
Isn't it funny how every school seems to have those poor teachers who can barely use a computer? It baffles me that many teachers aren’t aware (or even interested!) in the technology available in education. Of course, with any change, resistance comes from those who are scared or less informed on the benefits of using the “new” way to facilitate education. This resistance I’m seeing is much like the one that came from teachers when the district changed our report cards. The district changed our report cards from the common A,B,C, and F letter grades to a standards-based report card. Teachers were angry and confused because they didn’t understand the change. Many resisted, but eventually joined the band wagon when it was absolutely necessary. Technology seems to be treated as the “red-headed step-sister”; similarly to the response teachers give when they are given a new program to use or a new way to evaluate students.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, while some teachers are burying their faces in the ground, some teachers are welcoming technology into their classrooms with open arms. I’ve seen many teachers and media specialists involve blogs, wikis, podcasts, and independent learning devices in their lessons! The big factor that seems to divide teachers is education. If a teacher is unfamiliar with a technology (like I was with podcasts) then they are unsure and even hesitant to try it (like I was with podcasts). I think the tool that will help teachers to use and understand technology is through different kinds of training. The first kind that comes to mind is always face-to-face. But have other venues available for training is the best way to meet every teacher’s need. Training should come face-to-face, independently with an online in-service, collaboratively through an online space, and then trying it with the faculty as a way to model it’s uses. Of course, this training would come in different intervals and in a perfect world would take no time to set-up for the media specialist. And since it’s not a perfect world, the media specialist should definitely involve a technology team to help collaborate ideas for training and initiate spaces to do so.
Wow! It appears that we are all dealing with similar situations. The teachers in my building are at various levels of comfort with technology. Our school district has an instructional technology department that offers training on a continuous basis in various areas. Employees are able to sign up to attend training at no cost to them. We also have instructional technology specialists that are assigned to specific schools. They conduct training at the school level to address specific issues. We also have a technology tech. Funds from the School Improvement Grant have been used to hire an Instructional Technology Specialist that remains on campus to conduct training and work with individual teachers.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that we have an ideal situation. However, the teachers that need the assistance the most are resistant to the training. The new TEKS evaluation system has forced many of the instructors to embrace the technology that is available in our school. The evaluation teams are requiring them to integrate technology into the lesson plans to ensure differentiated learning.
Our ITS has created and maintains a technology wiki space that includes the screen shots, vivid color and step by step instructions to many subjects. They include but are not limited to podcasts, smart responders and smart board applications. Training is taking place today with two ITS on campus during the teachers’ planning period to provide an update on the use of Smart Responders. Basic, intermediate and advanced Smart Board training classes are scheduled on campus for Dec, Jan and Feb. Other teachers will be given an opportunity to go off campus for a two day Smart Board training. Someone may feel that this is almost over kill. However, I can assure you there will be teachers who will not master the interactive Smart board.
I feel that teachers need an individual training plan that is developed and implemented to ensure that they remain technology relevant. The training should not be optional. All teachers must openly embrace new technology. Everyone can implement some type of technology in their classroom that will directly correlate to increased student achievement.
I think it is so neat that you have a wiki page that you can access. Like you I am finding the same things at my school. Different levels of technology knowledge and the ones who need it most want it the least. One thing that also frustrates me is that sometimes the people training us do not even know what they are doing. I wish that we had something we could do on our own time but I know that most people will not do it because they don't feel like they should have to do it on their own time. If they would just look past learning something new they would realize how much it would help them.
ReplyDeleteThere is very little technology training at my school, which is unfortunate because we are fortunate enough to have lots of different pieces of technology available for students and teachers. I think that one aspect of technology training at any school that would difficult is the wide range of understanding amongst faculty members of the technology pieces and how to use them. Unless each professional development is differentiated, the presenter is likely to be boring some of the audience and/or talking above the levels of others. This is why I love the idea of having tech tip handouts printed, linked to a website, and/or presented via a short video. I know that I personally would like it best if I could have a binder (as was suggested in your blog post) of various technology tips that I could reference as needed. As a media specialist, creating such a resource would be extremely valuable and beneficial. It is something that could be built up over time and if it were to be kept in hard copies as well as online, many faculty members as well as students could access this information in the format that they prefer which will make them more likely to be accessed and used.
ReplyDeleteThe technology training at my school is non-exsistant these days, along with all other training. I just returned from a meeting of all the media specialists within my county and that was our primary concern. How do we continue to encourage our teachers to use all this wonderful technology, yet not provide them with training? Of course they are reluctant. Like the text suggested, we must think outside the box to offer training. For a previous class, we had to design a wiki to share professional development. I choose to create mine on Incorporating iPads in Instruction. I included basic tips on how to use the iPad and then suggestions on incorporating it into instruction to help meet curriculm goals. Also, using print out screen shots with simple directions and using Camtasia or Jing to make videos with screen shots and audio works well to deliver training. I am so excited about all of the technology available to improve student learning, as well as the methods in which we have to deliver instruction and training. As media specialists, with limited time and funds, using these alternatives can improve technology within the whole school.
ReplyDeleteErin, our school is the same way! At my school we are always having the county people come out and fix major technological issues. The media specialists simply do not have the access to correct any issues that come up. It is as if they have subtracted the technology support part out the media specialist’s job duties in my county. We have a guy from the county who is stationed here half time and the high school down the street half time. He mostly deals with installing software and printers, and the more mild issues, especially with the laptops. Anything dealing with the LCD projectors, or wireless, or wiring means the county guys. Sometimes it can take up to a month for them to make the trip out to the school after the work order is submitted! I understand why media specialists need to know how to deal with the issues however. Not everyone is in a county where technology specialists are dispatched to handle these issues. The media specialist might be the only person who can handle technology issues. I am thinking about the poorer counties that lie outside of major cities.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your idea about a notebook with handouts for teachers in order for them to keep up with new and changing technology. Instead of a notebook, you could use a website, blog, or even a wiki in order to keep paper use to a minimum. This way, people could print what they need when they need it, or they could just access the files online. It would be an easy way to keep things organized and updated as needed.
I have to agree with you-teachers at my school tend to yell for the technology specialist when their printer runs out of paper! Also, when they put in a tech request their description of the problem is: "computer doesn't work", and we all know that is not enough for the tech specialist to go on. Our tech specialist is actually housed in the media center and I truly feel sorry for her sometimes-teachers are lined up at her door before she arrives in the morning, AND everything is an absolute emergency. Most of the time, if the teacher has tested software, or completed a run-through of the assignment the night before they would have been able to fix it or come up with an alternative assignment. One of the first things I learned very early on was that you absolutely have to have a back up plan. You can't depend on technology to work 100% of the time. We are very fortunate in our county to still have most of the training available that we had 3-4 years ago. Also, teachers can request training and the county will do all they can to accommodate-they want us to use technology as much as possible.
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