It is interesting to note that many teachers don't seem to want to use emerging technologies in their classrooms. There are issues raised about whether use of technology can really enhance teaching and learning, questions about cost effectiveness and above all, there seems to be a lack of confidence that the teacher would be as effective using technology as with using a more traditional method. My own view is that use of technology has its advantages but its incorporation in teaching and learning must be planned and properly executed.The following is an interesting article that looks at some of the reasons:
WHY SOME TEACHERS RESIST TECHNOLOGY
I think one reason teachers are reluctant to incorporate technology is because they see it as even more work, especially when considering one's current work load. Consider how reluctant I am to even use PowerPoint and that is as standard as a blackboard nowadays.
ReplyDeleteIt could be a lot of work and very disheartening as a teacher to first learn how to use the new technology, redesign your course in order to incorporate it, implement and then get results that are no different or worse than what you were getting before because the students just refuse to do their part.
ReplyDeleteI just came from a tutorial class where all the notes and readings have been provided for the students online - myelearning and the student are virtually "dumb" they don't seem to have a clue beacuse they just could not be bothered to go even go online.
In Pheifer's article he mentioned that "technology will certainly increase efficiency in some situations, but in other circumstances it may actually slow down the process".This for me is perhaps the greatest deterrent to using technology -it is not a"magic wand". It is useless to decide to use the technology without having the required skills and making the mandatory preparations. Although the "digital natives" are excited by the thought of using "their" technology to communicate and interact informally they also have to be taught to use the technology for formal purposes. Thus, the teaching and learning of the required skills by both teacher and students, the endless preparation time and one's natural resistance to change can indeed influence teachers in their decisions to use the technology. Nonetheless as with every new era both teachers and students have to get on board the technology train or we will be left behind in the left behind in the stone age.
ReplyDeletePheifer mentioned a few things in his article that caught my attention:
ReplyDelete1. Unfamiliarty: this is indeed a concern of many teachers. Our students today can definitely tell when a lecturer is uncomfotable or not fully familiar with a form of technology used in the classroom to aid in student learning. I personally steer away from technology tools that I am not comfortable with. It takes much time and effort for teachers to learn and keep up with changing educational technology. Whether or not all teachers are willing to do so is left to be seen.
2. Pheifer did not have a sold stance on whether or not technology enables children's IQ in reading, writting, problem solving, etc, but I personally do not think technology itself makes children smarter. It all depends on how children use the technology that is available to them.
3. Getting onboard the fast speed train of educational technology can be tedious. Technology is constantly changing. For teachers who are not fully onbarod using technology to aid student learning can become easily tired when they are bombarded with new software programs for the classroom. I beleive in the use of blended learning (online and traditoanl classroom appliations of teaching), but I can personally relate to getting overwhlemed with the costant changes of new educational technology that I am required to learn and integrate.
Kemouy S-George (CUTL 5106)
I think the most common reason is that most teachers would have to admit the basic fact that they just don't know how to use the new technologies. The truth of the matter is sometimes you need those same students to "teach" you how to use the same technology that you are going to then use as a tool to instrut them. Majority of the problems in the world stem from people not being able to humble themselves and accept help when they are supposed to be considered the expert.
ReplyDeleteShanda Chalwell (CUTL 5106)
Pheifer raises some valid concerns but there are two that resonated with me. Socially, I am fine with technology but using it in the classroom is a big adjustment especially when it comes to letting go of the idea that students should use pen and paper to write their essays. However with such web.2 technologies like blogs and online journal resources, writing can be more flexible and not just limited to being an offline activity, particularly since today’s students are already using internet and the associated technology. I am rethinking my position and considering which tools will be appropriate for my classes. Secondly, I need some face to face interaction as a student no matter how limited and I cannot help but think that my students need that interaction as well. While some technology can enhance learning, we must be careful to not use technology just because it exists, but to use it because it benefits the students and helps to achieve learning objectives.
ReplyDeleteA. Henry (CUTL 5106)