In reviewing the technology standards for both teachers & students, my first reaction was one of enthusiasm. As a history teacher, there is so much I can incorporate in regards to historical events and the perspectives that surround them. Students often gain a different insight into historical events or figures when viewing specific elements of various eras throughout history. For example, I expose my students to a great deal of literature in my classroom regarding the civil rights movement. However, I always notice a visible difference in my students when they view clips of what what actually took place. It brings about a new understanding of the event. While I believe the standards are necessary, there are a few obstacles that prevent teachers from implementing what is truly needed in the classroom for their students. These are:
Funding: With cutbacks becoming the norm, there are many schools that don't have up to date
technology, or if they do, it may be limited. Example: One COW cart per school. This
limits access and opportunities for the students.
Training: Where there is "new" technology, or tech programs within schools, training as to how to use
or implement the programs, are not offered to teachers or given as a "broad overview."
Fear: As many teachers grew up without technology - it can be a daunting task to use within the
classroom. To further complicate the matter, nearly all students have a greater knowledge of the
ins and outs of any given pierce of technology. Due to this, some teachers believe there are risks
as they essentially don't know what specifically to look for, or how to correct if a problem should
one arise.
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