My second thought (limited to two today) has to do with how much we should expect our preservice teachers (PST's) to use technology in our classes on campus. I read an email today from a researcher in Canada and he said that the feeling up there is that the novice teachers have too much to worry about and that technology can come in later. Therefore, technology is taught as an "add on" and not integrated in to the curriculum for the PST's. Now, you all know how I feel about technology but am I needing to do a gut check here. Does he have a point? Where and how much technology should our PST's be exposed to, or have to become proficient in, and why? You can comment here and I will count your reflective responses on this posting as your week's blogging entry. You may still post your own blogs on geometry - I love reading them!
I think it would depend on what you teach, and the grade level you teach. As an elementary teacher, technology is not an important part to my school day. I do believe that it could be utilized more, if we had the money and resources to have fast labs and the right software. Probably the higher grade level you teach, the easier it would be to integrate technology into your classroom. I would like to use Sketchpad with 6th graders, but of course, you have to have the resources to do so. I guess the sooner you are introduced to teaching with technology, the easier it becomes and the more you use it. Most teachers that I work with would rather stay in the classroom and use an over-head projector or black/dry-erase board. Nothing wrong with this, but we tend to stick to what we are comfortable with. Just my thoughts, not that they matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous comment, it all depends on what you teach and what you are comfortable with. When I started teaching I used very litte technology (just the overhead). Now that I have had some experience and am more comfortable with the material, I am more willing to incorporate more technology. I now use graphing programs and let my students do more exploring then I did when I started.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it really depends on what level the preservice teachers are going to teach. Elementary teachers do not use technology much, but it can be utilized much more in the secondary education. I do think that they need to focus on learning methods for teaching and the content area that they wish to teach. Technology can be a method that they learn to teach with. I did not receive much instruction on using technology to teach. Maybe I would use more if I did have a class that focused on that method. I had a student teacher last spring that could have used a more focus on actual teaching and less on technology.
ReplyDeleteI will have to think about this more, but my intial reaction is as folllows....
ReplyDeleteThis generation of college students live and breath technology. They are constantly online, texting, or listening to an ipod. I am not sure that you can seperate them from the technology, which means you must join them. I think for the most part education has embraced technology and utilized its advantages instead of trying to avoid its use. So many schools are full of technology and there is a push for the "new tech" schools which are obviously technology intensive. I think Pre-Service teachers would be at much more of a disadvantage if they walked in the first day of teaching and didn't have a clue on how to operate a SMARTboard.
Modeling is an education buzz word. Teachers must model the behavior, thinking skills, and attitude that they expect from students. Professors model teaching strategies for PSTs. We model because others learn from modeling. If PSTs are going to be expected to use technology they must first learn how to use the technology. The professors at the college level must model the use of technology.
OK...I know long response...visit blog for more. :)
I agree with Mark. Technology is part of education whether we are stuck in our old ways or not. New teachers need to know how to use the technology because it is expected of them. I feel at least in my district that there is a push towards having the newer teachers lead the way as far as technology. The more experienced teachers have the opportunity to learn the new technology but if they do not embrace it then they will just retire in a few years anyway. New teachers would have a leg up if they knew how to use technology before they even entered the classroom. Yes preservice teachers have a lot to learn but it would be better to have it incorporated into their undergraduate curriculum than thrown into it on their first day on the job.
ReplyDeleteAs several have already stated, technology is an integral part of our culture. How much they will actually get to use technology in their jobs depends, of course, on where they teach, and how much technology is available for them to actually use in their classrooms. I guess my main reaction to your question is YES they need to be exposed to and understand as much as possible so that they can show the corporations where they teach what is available if they don't already have it, and demonstrate they are proficient in utilizing the specific technology in their classrooms. It will never exist in the schools unless teachers can ask for what they need.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings and opinion are: Technology should be used in context. If the technology is something that the pre-service teachers will be expected to and have to use then they need to be exposed to it and learn how to use it. If it is cool math software like MAPLE that no school has or can afford then I am not sure pre-service teachers need to be working with that software. All teachers need to keep up with current technology and be familiar with and utilize it whenever it is appropriate. If you try to use technology in a contrived manner it is no different than working out of a book or making up a contrived problem. Mathematics and technology without meaning is lost and not absorbed by the students. Using technology for what is was designed for to help represent, present and understand the mathematics is crucial. It doesn’t always have to be Math Software that pre-service teachers learn to use. I have students use Microsoft PowerPoint to present proof they have done. It gets them familiar with presenting the math they are learning in a form they will be using later in life. It makes proofs more fun and they have to figure out how to draw the shapes and with the math so it makes sense to the students they are presenting to in class.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Just an idea for the class on April 7th. Have us meet with in person or contact via e-mail or phone, another student in class and discuss a cool geometry lesson we have done, are doing or wish to do. Then post a blog entry from that discussion. That way the class would share cool geometry ideas at a variety of grade levels for everyone to benefit from. Just an idea. Please keep in mind I am notorious for CRAZY and WILD ideas.
ReplyDeleteI agree with sharing geometry lessons. We did that in our stats and probability class and we walked away with a lot of neat activities. I also like the idea that we do not have to come to Ball State campus since it is a long drive for a lot of us. We could use the blogs as a way to communicate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mark and others on the comments about technology. College students are constantly connected to technology and aren't elementary ed majors required to have a laptop now? I definitely think pre-service teachers should be introduced to teaching ideas with technology and be able to use it in creating lessons. However..I also think that professors should be aware of what types of technology are commonly available in schools. Programs like Sketchpad are rarely found in elementary schools and not always in middle/high school. I think students should be more familiar with things like SmartBoards, Powerpoint, and free online materials.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I will sympathize with those who have to drive far and say we should communicate through blogs and/or email for April 7th. I like the idea of sharing lessons too.
As someone who recently had a few job interviews, one of the big questions asked is "How do you integrate techology in your classroom?" I think it's very important to expose pre-service teachers to as much technology as possible so they know what is available. Before this class, the only computer program I knew about was sketchpad. But next year it's possible that I'll be teaching trig and Logo would go along very with that very well. Plus the more exposure pre-service teachers have to techology the more naturally they work it into their lessons. It eventually because part of planning process, rather than an after thought.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of my classmates that it would be better to have technology incorporated into the undergraduate curriculum than thrown in on the first day of school. While I am sadly lacking in this area, I feel it is very important that teachers become proficient as soon as possible. I have been comfortable over the years with my limited use of computers but having 4 year old grandsons who can show me things on the computer tells me it is time for me to become more technology proficient.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that technology is important, subject matter and grade level have to be taken into account.. In first grade I focus on the personal understanding of my students and how they interact with their math. I do use a variety of technology in the classroom and I take them to the computer lab at least once a week. Math games are part of what we do there. The computer does provide a good practice environment.
ReplyDeleteEven though the technology is nice to use and the students like it, the tech possibilities at schools are frequently not up to date, are located in some obscure part of the building, were purchased by someone who did not actually understand the tech they were purchasing, have become a permanent part of the classrooms of the only two teachers in the building who knew how to use it, or are available in a very limited quantity . Our school corporation works hard to maintain an appropriate technological and training level, but preservice teachers are frequently shocked by what is not available, or only available in limited quantity. I hear these same complaints about other schools too. While PST's need to know how to use it. They also need to know how to do without it! Putting together power point lessons takes time you probably won't have when you are creating something different for every 10-15 minutes (The attention span of a 1st grader). And while PST's with their laptops make a good small group lesson, without the projectors or other equipment readily available to make it whole class, it isn't always very useful.
Kevin K.
ReplyDeleteI think it is helpful to be exposed to technology as soon as possible. I use it some, but would use it more if I was more confident in its use. It is a part of most of my students' everyday lives. This class has helped some with my lack of knowledge about technology. I agree with sharing a lesson instead of coming to class on the 7th.
PST are supposed to be ready for anything inlcuding technology. However, I have never been in a school where the budget is big enough for extra tech. For instance I teach right now where we have 2 smart boards, but no money for training. SO, no one knows how to use them. UHGG. Sure principals talk a good game and ask you how you would include it into teaching. But, can they back it up with a good lab and good budget? Usually not.
ReplyDeleteI also would like to see the PST get more in the way of classroom management too. Not that that should take the place of tech, just a thought. I guess I think they should be prepared for going into schools and having little to no tech rather than all you are used to in college.
Thanks Bill Reed for the updated math standards. Technology is addressed as being an essential tool to be used to support and extend the curriculum. We must make sure that it doesn't become a substitute for quality math instruction. My school corporation just spent over a million dollars on technology (hardware), but hasn't allotted anything for teacher inservice. Perhaps the administration is expecting that the next generation of teachers will be prepared to put those computers to good use.
ReplyDeleteLike many previous posts, I agree that in this day and age, technology is major focus in the teaching of many great lessons. It is important for preservice teachers to know how to use things like Smartboards (which I believe we have at our school and nobody knows how to use them), Sketchpad, PowerPoint (which I wish I knew how to do, and many other programs. Even though it wasn't that long ago when I was in college, but technology wasn't being incorporated that much accept for emailing your friends. Incorporating and learning new technology also depends on the grade that you teach. I do not use much in kindergarten. We have a Harcourt math program that goes along with our math series. We use a few reading websites that the kids can play phonics games, and we have 3 computers in my classroom that we can do AR tests, games, and computer read stories (when the super old computers work).
ReplyDeleteAs for class on April 7, this would be a great time for us to work on our Master's projects with our group. Our schedules are so busy, that I am sure many of us would appreciate the extra time, that we wouldn't have to rush to class, and we were able to get with our group and work. We could blog on our progress!:)
Ok, I may be crazy, but April the 7th is on a Tuesday and our class meets Monday night. i am confused. However, I would really like extra time to work on my project. It would be neat if I could meet with Paula and we could compare notes etc.
ReplyDeleteAs with several of the postings, technology is very important in teaching today--unless the school your in doesn't have the equipment to use technology effectively. Reguardless, I believe preservice teachers need the exposure to and to be taught at least the basics. This would enable them to be aware of the technology available and perhaps to be able to promote and train others if needed.
ReplyDeleteIt would be wonderful if we could use the time on April 6th to work with our partners on our Master's Project. Erin and I got together last Thursday (during break) and worked several hours on our project. It's hard to find the time during the normal work day, and to know we could work the evening of the 6th, would be great.
I wish that I had time and access to technology! We have a new computer lab st school, but it is used for a lot of Reading assessments. If the proper math software were to be loaded onto the computers, I would be more likely to use the lab for that purpose. However, time would still be an issue.
ReplyDeleteAs for the April 6 (?) class, I would definitely appreciate some "extra" time to work on our projects. It is getting to be crunch time, and I am starting to panic!
I think that a preservice teacher that is exposed to technology and how to incorporate it into their teaching would be more likely to do so in the "real world." I think that, if used properly, it would greatly enhance student learning.
ReplyDeleteI think of the technology that is available in our schools. In the elementary that I teach in, we have a computer lab that we can sign up to use with our students at any time, We also have a computer instructor who teaches various software programs to the students. This is an hour session scheduled one time a month. I have two computers in my classroom that students and my staff use.
ReplyDeleteI believe that all these resources were made available to help "keep up" with
technology changes and because of the overwhelming lack of teacher proficiency in this area. I think there needs to be a balance in the preservice teacher program as far as training goes and that balance should be different from elementary and secondary teacher education.
These comments all sounds great to me! It looks like we all share similar opinions - the use of technology in our classrooms is valuable and important. My school evaluates new teachers using a "Levels of Performance" rubric. One of the components reflects on the teacher's knowledge and use of resources, including technology.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the reason we often use technology is because it simply strengthens our instruction and our students' learning. Our students are usually excited about it, and they often prefer to use it. I also agree with the disadvantages listed in the comments above. Just like Wendy, we have Smartboards in our school, and nobody knows how to use them because we have not been trained! I think PST's would benefit a great deal from at least having some initial experiences with new technological items.