I like the progressive view of education in which learning is recognized as an active process with the teacher guiding the student through questions and challenges that are meaningful to the student. Progressives realize the importance of teaching basic knowledge as one building block of education. The teacher and the student must progress past the basics and actively experience learning.
Where does technology enter into this active process? Progressivism realizes the value of basic facts that are relevant to every education. Computer literacy is now a basic fact of education. Students have to learn how to "do"technology and then they have to take it to the next level and make it work for them. By learning how to search, develop, and create, the student moves beyond basic knowledge and engages himself in a learning process that can continue his whole life. Mastery of technology is an education in itself. Progressives want the student and the teacher to work together to explore information, synthesize findings and present new knowledge. Technology places an infinite amount of knowledge at their fingertips.
Technology is invaluable in a classroom, especially when it is accompanied by instruction and feedback from the teacher. At a time when so many classrooms are understaffed, the use of technology can help the teacher instruct the students. The use of technology provides other methods for teaching the same material. Another important use is communication. Using the computer to communicate can help build relationships among the students, teacher and the parents. By introducing the computer as a valid form of communication, the teacher creates an additional learning environment.
Technology is an invaluable educational tool. It can be used in direct instruction and inquiry-based learning. It offers a variety of ways to reach different types of learners. It offers unlimited options for communication. Technology cannot replace student and teacher interaction. But it is a tool that can enable the student, teacher and the parent to work together to develop a better learning environment for the student.
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I think you capture the important potential of new technologies in the classroom. A question though: is technology neutral? It extends the teacher's and the student's power, but does it have any other effects? Does it shape or bend the education process? Perhaps along the lines of the tetrads -- something enhanced, something retrieved, something lost, and some unintended reversal if taken too far?
ReplyDeletejd
hey maryanne--I enjoyed reading your thoughts on technology and its role in education. In my own posting, I spoke of the potential of technology and how this can be an incredible tool for the arts curriculum, in terms of the expedient access we now have in looking up art history, art making techniques, tips for education etc. However, looking at technology from a meta perspective, there still seems to be a gap between idea and execution--and in this I mean the actual placement of computers in schools and their ongoing, workable status. Here I am reacting to the Oppenheimer reading. While I understand that computers placed in the classroom in the mid 90's perhaps is not completely relevant to today's application(s), the problematic stories of software and net access are alarming. I definitely fly the flag for the old school pedagogy in which the classroom dynamic is based on an ongoing dialogue and dialectic between the instructor and students. If technology can enhance this process I am unequivocally a supporter. However, we must not look to computers as a panacea for education--I don't think you do here. Jim's question about the neutrality of technology and the intended and unintended consequences is interesting, and one I would like to develop my thinking on. wade
ReplyDeleteMaryanne- I agree with you that computers are invaluable in education today. They have become such a central part of our classes as you said. I know I personally have used it in direct instruction, as part of the students’ assignments, and as a tool for communicating with parents. Computers have made it possible for my students to do quicker, more efficient research and present their findings in either typed papers or powerpoint presentations.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about students and teachers working together to use technology for learning. I think that while kids do already know how to use a lot of technology just from being exposed to it at home, the teacher’s job is to refine their skills and help them focus it on educational things. Students probably know how to google things but without the teachers help will they know the best words or phrases to type into the search box? Will they know how to spot an invalid internet site? There are many things that teachers and students can work together on to ensure that technology is being used in the best possible way in the classroom.