Thing #15

I came across something very interesting as I was reading D.W.'s 2 cents worth blog. There was a post called Technology and Teaching. The post discussed a recent poll asking the question: Can a teacher be a good teacher without using technology? The basic idea in this post talked about technology in the classrooms and in education. It refered to the idea that a classroom with out technology is not in the best interest of the students. If a teacher is not up to date with technology than he/she should find another calling. Alot of comments were ragging on teachers who don't use technology, describing the non-use of technology as unacceptable, etc.



The reasoning behind the immediate need for techonology in classrooms (which I 100% agree with) is written in the blog as follows:



Today, being able to read and write and pass a test are not enough. They are not nearly enough. Today our students must become information artisans, able to learn, work, play, contribute, and prosper in a new and constantly changing and enriching information environment, and do so in a way that conserves the planet — rather than consum it. We can not do this today by scratching and printing on pulp-based paper. Teaching and learning must be digital.



My feelings after reading this blog post and the reactions of others following this blog were pretty strong. I absolutly agree that teachers should be trained, professionaly taught, and required to learn the newest technologies, to teach through technology, and to prepare students for the future using technology.

Is anyone outside of education aware of how much is demanded of educators? Do you know how many hours teachers work- beyond the hours of 7:45-3:45? I wouldnt be surprised if the hours a teacher works in the nine months of school are far beyond the total hours some professions tally through out the year. Has anyone looked at a teacher's paycheck lately? Did you know teachers are in the same pay category as Garbage Disposal workers?

As a teacher, I feel disrepected by society. I feel taken advantage of and used. 20 years ago, teaching was all paper and pencil. Teachers used textbooks and simply read the same story to the same kids.

Now, there are no text books, computers line our classrooms, every student requires a different method of teaching. A different book club, a different discipline plan, and varying mathematic levels are taught to each individual student during the same hour. The strong teachers change lesson plans, and academic plans every year to keep up with the newest trends and technologies. We even pay for professional development and certifications out of our OWN pocket with no raise.



On the inside so much has changed in teaching, the demands are higher than ever. Yet, nothing around us has changed. We are still payed the same as if all we did was walk in the room, open a basil and read or hand the kids a worksheet and sit at our desks.



I want educators to be held accountable to learn the newest technologies. Educators need to be held accountable to train and learn how to teach students technology applications. Teachers should be required to know and teach with the most recent computer softwares and programs. However, if this is the case, if this is where education is moving... will you please respect us more? Maybe even move our pay scale out of the gutter. If you are not an educator and ever thought teaching would be easy or "fun"....I Dare you to try it.