Laura Duncan
IL
Schwartz, K. (2013). Are teachers of tomorrow prepared to
use innovative tech? KQED
This article discusses whether current
teachers-in-training are being given the technological tools needed to meet the
ever-increasing expectations of school administrators to integrate technology
into the classroom. According to the
article, research has found that principles want to hire new teachers that can
offer interesting, creative methods for technology integration and instruction. However, many student-teachers report that the
basic tech training that they receive does not meet these demands. Thus, there appears to be a disparity between
teachers’ technology training and the technological expectations placed upon
them once they enter new positions. In
spite of this discrepancy, though, the article points out that many current
teachers-in-training are nonetheless very familiar with and adept in technology
due to the large role that technology (e.g. smart phones) plays in their
personal lives. Furthermore, in spite of
the initially negative tone of the article, it concludes by reporting that 72%
of pre-service teachers feel they’re receiving quality training for technology
use in class.
Although the author’s purpose seemed to change during the
course of the article (first proposing that teachers-in-training are
insufficiently prepared for technology training and later suggesting that new
teachers are adequately trained), I thought this article’s primary message was
useful: Principals and school
administrators are placing an increasing amount of value on technology
integration, and as such, new teachers (and school librarians!) must prepare
and train themselves to meet this demand.
Yes, there are demands for teachers to integrate technology, most definitely. What this article does not discuss are some of the reasons that they don't do so. The technology at a school site may not be adequate. There may be internet filters blocking the web 2.0 tools students need. Veteran teachers may not have opportunities for professional development in technology. There is also the "digital divide" problem, in which students from low-income homes are less tech savvy than their peers. These problems will not be resolved until schools develop sound implementation plans to raise the standards of technology and 21st century learning.
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