Enjoyed reading Adopt and Adapt: Shaping Tech for the Classroom

Since I am not in a classroom teaching and I graduated high school at a time when manual typewriters were still the norm, I found much of what the author said to be very interesting and informative. I guess I am one of the "digital immigrants" that the author talks about in the article...... And, to be honest with you, I would not have much technology background had I not gone back to school in the 1990's during which time I had to learn to use the computer for more than just email! But after reading this article I now realize that many of the educators continue to use technology for limited uses. I suspect that they are comfortable in their old ways and changing things around is not easy. The author contends that a "technological" factor stands in the way of making more and faster progress in technology adoption in the schools. By this, the author means that each student should have a device he or she can work on, keep, customize and take home!! I don't think so! I would have to ask the author, why? Most students already have every tech gadget out there or can easily get access to it without schools having to provide it. While the author says that money is not the problem (even though he says that schools will cite it as a reason), I DO think that money is part of the problem. Let's face it, when schools can't even buy enough textbooks or supplies I think money is an issue. Maybe there needs to be better budgeting of the money (more here, less there) to invest in technology, but I also think along with buying the tech gadgets for the classroom there has to be an investment in teaching/training the educators in the benefits that can be obtained from using this technology.

I was forced to learn about technology when I went back to school and I also knew that I would need to know about it for employment. But I think the "digital immigrants" that are educators will vary in their degrees of technological abilities, much of that will depend on the resources available to train them about how to use technology in the classroom. Certainly, there is some fear in venturing into the unknown, something our students have no trouble doing. But I am less fearful to try new things if I have had some training. I guess that is one of the things that I think the author fails to address as a real solution to promoting technology in the classroom. As human beings, we "adopt and adapt" to news things all the time (cell phones, GPS, etc) and the same can be done for educators and technology. I guarantee that if you expose and train enough teachers on how to use the technology and all the benefits that come with it, there will be a greater emphasis, basically a cheering section, to have it integrated into the classroom. I can tell you from experience that just putting the computers, for instance, in the classroom/school is not enough. What will happen is that the computers will sit there and collect dust! I think that teachers should take a course, or courses, like the one that we are in right now, "Teaching with Technology." Some kind of training....and, if necessary, make it mandatory because this is how kids are learning and socializing and educators need to understand that these tools are out there and these tools will help them communicate with and teach students better.