I believe that these tech commandments should be read by educators, administrators and everyone involved in the schooling system. Knowing these commandments can really help everyone see the importance of technology in the classroom and how to effectively use the technology. I agree that training is really important when new technology is added to the classroom. Training should definitely include ways for teachers to use the technology in an educational way. In some ways, teachers can use the Smartboard just like a whiteboard but if they only use it in this way then it is pointless to have. Teachers need to learn how to use the Smartboard so that it is used in an interactive way.
The internet is full of dangerous material but if students learn what sites are good and how to avoid the bad sites then everyone will be ok. Restricting a lot of sites in school is a little intense. I was observing a math class the other day and the class was doing logic puzzles. The class went through all the examples that the teacher had very quickly so the teacher decided to go online and find some more. The school blocked all the sites where the logic puzzles were. Why? This just shows that the blocking system is not that good. It sometimes blocks sites that are perfectly fine and educational.
In this society, collaborating is a very important skill to have. In schools students should collaborate so that they get more out of the learning process and so that they are prepared for the real world. I remember that in elementary school we had pen pals from another country. We wrote letters to each other and learned about each other’s culture. Now I think it would be so cool to have a pen pal because of all the different technology tools that can be used. Using Skype would be so cool because not only could I have heard about the culture but seen some of it.
All ten tech commandments are equally as important for all to know!
The example you gave about all the websites being blocked is so true and typical of schools. I feel that schools block too much that it does a disservice to students. Teaching students how to safely use the internet instead of limiting them should be the better alternative.
ReplyDeleteI agree that these tech commandments should be read by everyone who is involved in a school system. It is extremely important to understand the benefits of technology in the classroom and how to use technology. I like your idea of bringing the "pen pal" idea back into the classroom and integrating it with technology.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we bring in technology and then we do not teach our teachers how to effectively use it? We need to incorporate these lessons for teachers into the curriculum because if they do not know how to use it, then it is completely pointless. With the whole blocking websites, they need to understand why they are blocking the, because if they block sites that are useful, then they are not actually helping students. Since the entire web is open to all students, wouldn't they all be useful to students in school?
ReplyDeleteI think technology is implemented in the classroom, without the knowledge and tools needed to use them by the teachers, thus, serving little purpose. Many of the ideas that go along with the technology are not all bad. I think that the whole idea of schools blocking websites is not a bad thing. Their are alot of inappropriate websites out there that children should not be privy to in school. Therefore, the schools blocking websites is not a bad thing, however, I do think they block to much without any purpose or screening of the websites. but like Bellow stated in the article the concept is not bad, unless, parents too help to facilitate the ideas and also monitor what students are and can access on the internet.
ReplyDelete