http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/11/20/how-proper-ed-tech-implementation-can-transform-learning/ Just another eSchool Media site Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:37:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/11/20/how-proper-ed-tech-implementation-can-transform-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-167613 lmrance@yahoo.com Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:46:36 +0000 http://www.eschoolnews.com/?p=117191#comment-167613 I taught adult learners for the military and the government and then became a high school teacher. High school teaching lasted 2 years. In that two years I became convinced that there is inadequate support to assist teachers in transitioning the classroom into a more tech savvy, learner centered, teacher guided experience. I am now in grad school for a Masters in Educational Technology. School districts fall short because they assume underpaid, overworked teachers have the time and inclination to figure out how to accomplish this change in the classroom. If districts want success they should task their IT department to develop courses that the teachers can be trained to deliver. This would require teacher input on content but the IT guys can do all the interactive programming, etc to make it really cutting edge. Students today have short attention spans and need interactivity. Imagine videos, drag and drop quizzes, simulations where the actions of your avatar prove your mastery of the subject... Once a teacher is trained, and feels confident, they will create and contribute even more to the course. It is overwhelming to feel like you have to invent the wheel from scratch while grading papers, teaching daily, doing projects, etc. I taught adult learners for the military and the government and then became a high school teacher. High school teaching lasted 2 years. In that two years I became convinced that there is inadequate support to assist teachers in transitioning the classroom into a more tech savvy, learner centered, teacher guided experience. I am now in grad school for a Masters in Educational Technology. School districts fall short because they assume underpaid, overworked teachers have the time and inclination to figure out how to accomplish this change in the classroom. If districts want success they should task their IT department to develop courses that the teachers can be trained to deliver. This would require teacher input on content but the IT guys can do all the interactive programming, etc to make it really cutting edge. Students today have short attention spans and need interactivity. Imagine videos, drag and drop quizzes, simulations where the actions of your avatar prove your mastery of the subject… Once a teacher is trained, and feels confident, they will create and contribute even more to the course. It is overwhelming to feel like you have to invent the wheel from scratch while grading papers, teaching daily, doing projects, etc.

]]>