First off as a relatively new teacher, I have always said that I don't know how people taught before the Internet. It is such a great tool and can make the life of a teacher so much better. Having information at your fingertips 24 hours a day is something that really is amazing. I think it sometimes gets taken for granted what the Internet has done in the classroom. It has come so commonplace that people don't even realize how much it gets used. In the first ten minutes in my classroom I use the Internet to do at least five different tasks. it really is incredible, and is such a time saver.
With all that said, I wonder if the Internet has a plateau??? Could there come a time when there is nothing new created for the k-12 classroom? I don't really see that happening anytime soon, many programs are in their infancy and have so much room to grow. For example, at my school we have just started online learning last year. The program is great but there are so many things that could be better. In fact they have just upgraded and improved the program to add AP classes. I for one have never used a podcast in my classroom or linked up cellphones to use them as an educational tool. These are all things that have either just been introduced or in the grand scheme of things just for a little while.
If I would guess the Internet has been in the k-12 building for probably 15 or less years, there is room to grow. There are probably way less teachers who know and can use the Internet to great capability then can teachers who rarely use it and depend mostly on pen and paper. This is why programs like the one we are in are so important to the future of the Internet in the classroom, first we need to build teachers who are capable and after that we can have students who are the same.
You bring up an interesting point--I never questioned if the internet would have a plateau. I too have been amazed at all the things I didn't know about that are available out there. Computers, computer games, ipods, ipod phones are all things this new generation are growing up with. I can see some great positive things and I still see the other side of the coin that we need to set guidelines and rules to protect ourselves and the students. The "world beyond my backyard is a strange and scarey place" and I'm trying to catch up with the challenge.
ReplyDeleteMargie
I also think you bring up a great point. Teachers who don't know how to use technology or pen and paper really need the help and guidance. This program is good for us as teachers to take back to our schools and help our fellow teachers. I think sometimes with budget cuts and also under staffing of IT at schools, tech coordinators can get bogged down with fixing tech issues instead of helping teachers with using that technology.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I sometimes wonder if the internet will have a plateau affect sometime in the future. When reading through chapter 3 the new technologies were always considered innovative and someone always thought it would change the field of education forever, when in fact, after a number of years the affects were not nearly as significant as many thought they would be.
ReplyDeleteI think one significant factor in the plateauing of the internet is that new teachers coming into the field are continually more proficient and efficient in the use of technology. We can even see this affect in our students as well. As the years go by the students we see are more proficient in the use of the internet as well.
I agree that more training (building of teachers) is needed in the area of technology use. If there was more training and a better understading of how to use the technology that is out there, it would most likely be used more often. I am interested to know the ways in which you incorporate the internet into your classroom. You mentioned perfroming at least "5 tasks" via internet at the beginning of class--do share!
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the internet is very important to education (now) and that its use will only increase because of all that is available within it and will continue to become available.