#13 - Technology Interview Reflection

When we were first asked to do the technology interviews I was surprised at the questions and the purpose. However, having completed the interviews I think I see the purpose. Doing the interviews helped me realize how technology is used in schools and the need for change and improvement as it relates to technology and the students. I interviewed the computer teacher and the library/ media teacher. I was surprised that although the school does have quite a bit of technology, students really don't have the freedom to use a lot of it. They are able to use the computers in the computer lab it seems only when they have class or if their teacher brings them in another day. As for the 5 computers in the media center, there are educational games on there for students to play. I am curious to know if students are free to use those computers at any time and whether they can access the internet from those computers. As for the lack of CD rom's or other materials, I think that this school does have quite a bit of technology that can be used considering that there are some schools who have none, so I wouldn't complain about what they lack.

As a future teacher, this experience taught me that it will be important to find out the technology available and to take every advantage as possible to allow my students to learn using the computer. In this circumstance where the computer lab is free on Monday's, I would take every opportunity to teach a lesson with my students using the computers each and every Monday I could. I would do as Mr. Wyatt has done and use other technology such as CD players and perhaps IPOD's and show the students how those items can be used to learn. I get the feeling in the Elementary school setting that the technology is kind of hands-off for students. At least in the context of letting them explore and discover. In this day and age it seems a little silly considering the students likely know better than we do how to manipulate and use such technology. I hope that eventually we get to the point where technology in the schools is very much a hands-on thing for the students to help them learn and prepare for the future.

I have definitely had my eyes opened since that first day in Doc Waters Instructional Media class. Prior to that first class, I thought technology was fun and great to use in the classroom but saw it as a nice garnish instead of part of the main dish. I am happy to say that I have come to realize through additional research, that incorporating technology in the classroom and making it part of the learning process is essential if we are to really speak the language of students these days and prepare them for the future. The majority of students come from tech-rich homes and if they haven't experienced today's technology in their own homes, they have likely experienced it at a friends' home. Knowing the importance technology plays in the learning and preparation of students makes me have really strong negative feelings for NCLB and makes me realize that the way schools are funded needs to change. While many students do have access to technology at home, there are many students who are from poor homes, poor families that do NOT have access to technology at home. The next best place for them to have access to technology would be school. However, the way schools are currently funded, if they are from poor neighborhoods, then it is likely, they attend a school which is run off of less money, which means they probably cover the basics with the funding they receive and are lacking funds to put toward technology. So, these students are deprived both at home and at school of the opportunity to learn, interact and engage with technology and therefore are in effect, LEFT BEHIND and unprepared for the future. I think there has to be a better way to ensure all students of all schools access to technology - even the most basic tool of a computer. I think it is wrong and unjust that students in our own country, our own cities, our own neighborhoods are deprived of accessing the most basic tool of technology - a computer, and yet in richer more affluent areas students have lap-tops at their desks. I wish we as a nation concerned with the education for all children, could see past the streets and borders that separate the rich from the poor and see the benefit of ensuring all schools are meeting a minimum standard of technology so we as teachers CAN prepare students for the future and so they are NOT LEFT BEHIND. What's the point in us as future teacher's being required to take classes to teach us how to integrate technology if there is no technology to integrate in the schools we teach?! (Can you tell I am passionate about this?! How can I NOT be when I am preparing to become a teacher, being taught and understanding the importance of technology, and realize that if I teach where I most desire - in a lower-income school, it's likely they will lack the technology I am being taught to intigrate!) That passion comes from a deeper and greater understanding of the importance of teaching our students using technology - a world that they have been born into and the future of where they will become the leaders.