Teacher competency and comfort level:
In our school we have a large divide. First of all, there are those of us that are comfortable using and integrating technology into the curriculum. We may not know how to do everything, but we are willing to try, and we like learning new things. We have another group of teachers that are computer-phobic. They are terrified to try anything even remotely involving technology. They refuse to learn how to use what we have available.
We do not have a lot of in-service offered to us in technology. I know that budget is the main concern, but I think it would really help if we were “forced” to try things out. The teachers who are afraid of technology are not going to overcome that without a little push.
What training and resources are available?
Patty is our tech coordinator, and she is a great resource for the teacher - if they choose to take advantage of her skills. As I mentioned above, we aren’t offered much in the way of training. I wish we had money available for training. I think it would really help the comfort level in the school. We do have a nice computer lab that is available when Patty is not teaching a class. Our school is networked, and there is at least one computer in every classroom.
Administrative support:
Our principal seems to want technology in the school, but the money that was supposed to be budgeted for computers doesn’t seem to exist. Patty has had a very hard time getting any money to purchase anything. On the other hand, money IS spent for things that really aren’t necessary without a lot of thought beforehand.
What are the expectations of the teachers and the technology coordinator?
In our school, the teachers are supposed to be working with Patty to integrate computers into the regular curriculum. For the most part, that is not happening. The teachers think of “computers” as a break and don’t want to give up the time to actually spend some time in the lab and see what is going on. Patty would like the teachers who are computer-phobic to spend that time working on the computer and learning what the students are learning. Instead, however, they escape quickly.
Do we have the funds? Is it budgeted?
In a word... NO. There is supposed to be money in the budget for technology, but it just doesn’t seem to exist.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
This sounds a lot like my blog... Hmm did we work with the same people?
Bite me.
Insightful. You are so correct - being a coach - to Patty's teaching would be a wonderful way of inservicing. When I taught in a parochial school, we did just that, and it made a huge difference in the comfort level of other teachers. Good luck on that:)
Post a Comment