Week 1 Response

Each response should be 200 words with one reference.

Response 1 Ted

I read this article and re-read it a few more times, I apologize for the late response, however I wasn’t sure how to write my response. I wanted to write it as a parent, as an IT project manager and then as a prospective educator.

            As a parent, I would want the best technology for my child. Right now, my son’s schools use a mixture of zoom, google and Microsoft teams which is really confusing because you never know what platform to use for which class. One platform for the whole district should be the standard. Use the technology that many industries are using to better prepare our kids for the future workforce or college.

            As an IT project manager, I say many of these are proprietary and to “test drive” some would be ok for the teachers use during the summer so they can cast a vote and decide which platform they want to use for the entire school year. Salespeople are slick, they know how to get a foot in the door and then up-charge you once the technology gets outdated in a month after you purchase it. Look for something that is a commercial off the shelf ( COTS) product make suggestions to tailor it to your districts needs and buy into it and embrace it.

            As a prospective educator, districts are wasting money that could be put into our classrooms. We need to see what is working throughout the country and commit to that and use it. Having many platforms and basically lobbyist come into our schools selling technology like yearbooks and class rings is not good. I used Pearson’s technology in several undergrad math classes and it really was a joke, I could take the test multiple times until I got a good enough score. We need something that will assist our learners but also make them accountable.

            We all need to start asking the tough questions of how will my student use this? What is the maximum outcome? Unlike Carnegies Tutor that preps them for standardized testing, we need to prep them for the workforce or college.

Reponse 2-Whitney

 went through many different reactions and emotions while reading through the article for this week. Technology is important, but training for teachers on how to utilize technology is also just as important, as well as not replacing direct instruction with expensive technology. I am a supporter of blended learning, where students have access to certain meaningful technology platforms, and appropriate direct instruction with an educator. Those can work well hand in hand. Gabriel (2011) reviews how the newest technology is being bought and implemented in school, with limited or skewed data of effectiveness. I struggle with this statement as well, for many reasons. In understanding that teachers need proper training in technology before it is utilized, I struggle to understand how the data would be collected in a valid manner for these results, as there would be so many variables involved to interpret effectiveness. Also, I believe that the standardization of data is a challenge, in a world that students are needing much more independent and innovative experiences. Looking at all learners and their experience with the technology, is never going to be an accurate depiction of the technologies effective, just as standardized testing is never going to be the end all, be all of student achievement. So in looking at the validity of the data that could be collected to study these technologies, leaves room for scrutiny.

On the side of expense for the next best technology in the classroom, I fully believe this is based in a consumer society. With the fear that our school is going to be left behind the lightning speed of technology society, there is a constant desire to have the next best to light the way! Making (expensive) moves this quickly, leaves no room to test if the product is even effective! But not jumping all in, leaves room to have the school fall behind. It feels like a constant race, and the students are the guinea pigs in the process. Even more detrimental through this process, is that we move on so quickly. We are constantly changing to keep up with advances, that students barely have time to acclimate to one technology before we are moving them onto the next. 

I wish we could all decide to chose some core technology and commit to it for designated length of time to determine if it is effective, or needs built upon, instead of a constant race to reinvent the wheel.