If you watch the video Did You Know? by Dr. Jose Esteves, you will read many enlightening facts that prove we are all living in a world that is growing and changing at an incredible rate. For example, as you watch the 6 minute and 56 second video, “60 babies will be born in the United States, 244 babies will be born in China, and 351 people will be born in India.” Also, according to the video, “there has never been a bigger force for change than technology.” As teachers, this means that we are currently teaching students that are living in this ever changing world of technology, as well. In our classrooms, we are “preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented yet” (Esteves, 2016). In order for students to begin growing and evolving with these new, yet to be invented technologies, they must be allowed opportunities to utilize, engage with, and learn with current technologies. So, it becomes a responsibility of educators to provide them with these engaging opportunities. However, in the current state of technological availability in the classroom, these opportunities are not always easy to come by.
As the 2016 national teacher of the year, Jahana Hayes, mentioned in her interview with EdSurge, “technology has changed teaching. You have access to unlimited resources that are right at your fingertips” (Hayes, 2016). I myself can attest to this statement, as my own personal use of technology in the classroom has evolved greatly since I began teaching 8 years ago. The greatest evolution has occurred in the way I plan my lessons and find resources for activities. In the beginning of my career, I would use workbooks, software provided by our curriculum, CD’s (even cassette tapes, too), and other books and resources available in our school’s media center to plan my lessons. Today, I barely leave my computer to do my planning. I search teacher blogs, Teachers Pay Teachers, and Pinterest to find new, engaging lessons for my students.
However, while the way I plan my lessons has become more technology based, the implementation of the lessons themselves has not changed much. In fact, my student’s involvement in technology has actually decreased, as the availability of student technology at my current school is less than that of the school I taught at previously.
As to the cause of this lack of technological availability, I agree with Jahana Hayes when she said that schools aren’t able to keep up with the pace of new technology (Hayes, 2016). For example, the school I am currently teaching at just installed new technology in each classroom this summer that will allow our projectors to connect to a Window’s Surface tablet and allow students to write on the board using a stylus that will connect to the tablet as they write. While it is exciting to have this available to incorporate technology in our lessons, this technology is not exactly new. In my internship 9 years ago and at the school I taught at previously, we used similar technology daily with our students. Also, while the stylus is new and fun to the students and offers interesting options while writing, it is not much different from a learning standpoint than using a dry erase marker on the white board. If the rate of technological advances are occurring as quickly as suggested in Did You Know?, there is a definite disconnect between the technology in the real world and technology in the classroom. Thus, we are left with a classroom environment that is anachronistic in comparison to the world outside our classroom door.
As Hayes also mentioned in her interview, it would be wonderful if high tech companies could sponsor the implementation of technology in the classroom. It is hopeful to believe that in a world of ever evolving technology funded and created by big tech companies, at some point the education system will be taken under their wing. If education were a priority in the world of technology, maybe classrooms in all communities would be updated meet the needs of this digital generation of students. Until then, we as teachers must work together to collaborate ideas on how we can maximize student involvement with the technology we have. However, on the other hand, if companies did begin sponsoring technology in the classroom, would it bring with it the question of “do we as teachers and schools now need to advertise the company supplying us with this amazing technology?” What are your thoughts? Let me know in your comments!
Esteves, J. (2016, January 18). Did You Know? Retreived from
Madda, M. (2016, August 02). “We don’t have resources to keep up with technology”: 2016
teacher of the year Jahana Hayes talks to EdSurge. EdSurge. Retrieved
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteI believe advertising companies that supply us with technology could possibly work. I was skeptical at first because I had the feeling schools and education would become too commercialized. If healthy boundaries were set and contracts signed coming to an agreement, I do not see why we couldn't advertise a little bit here and there. Looking at it from a business standpoint, companies have something we want and in order to get that we have to give them something in return. I have no doubt it would be quite a debate amongst educators nationwide.
The "Did You Know" video was fascinating to me as well! I was astonished at the facts I was reading! The video motivated me to have a stronger focus on STEM activities in my classroom. Getting students to think outside the box is something we need to focus on everyday in the classroom. The world is ever-changing and we need to ensure students are ready to adapt to it.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts and look forward to reading your blog posts throughout the semester!
-Annie
Annie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response! I agree that a little advertising would be a fair exchange for some awesome technology. But, as you mentioned, I'm sure it'll be a controversial debate. Not only among educators, but in the political arena. I feel like it would get a lot of backlash, similar to that of common core even. But, I think it would ultimately be worth it to provide our students what they need to thrive in the tech world!