School
Education Administrators Leading the Way in Education - Digital Technology
in the Classroom- are the Strings Attached too Cumbersome By Mrs. Dorothy
Barron
Many are aware of the great benefits of
technology, but that which is occurring in Education with digital technology
appears to be shaping up much like it did some years ago with the advent of
computers in some schools’ classrooms. The strings attached were simply too
cumbersome and not worth the effort in the long run for some schools.
The following short narrative recounts one
school’s dilemma, which will follow with three considerations, which I feel
School Education Administrators should give serious thought to before hopping
on the Digital Technology bandwagon, especially if they do not have wealthy
patrons, funders or excessive funding to contribute to their schools and
academic and educational program.
Getting
Computers
One particular school seemed to have waited an
extremely long time before having gotten computers; eventually, grant
applications, one after another written by school personnel finally paid off.
The Computers were coming and they came. Wait! Crucial components did not
accompany them; no training in use of the computers occurred and teachers did
not have the knowledge or expertise; nor were they interested in learning with
their already busy curriculum schedules. So we went to the classroom set aside
as the Computer Lab and sat and sat and looked at the computers. In an effort not
to inadvertently break them, they were not touched. After one teacher was
relieved of her position because she adamantly refused to learn to operate the computer,
other teachers made half-hearted attempts; some at least allowed students to
turn on computers and we watched computer screens.
Quite naturally, such did not sit well with
the students and having complained did not accomplish much for either students
or teachers. I guess no one wanted to admit that the school had been the
recipient of computers that did not include necessary components or training in
the use of them.
As students will be students and fascinated
as to how the computers worked, a few tinkled with them and created horror when
they opened one and took it apart having assured us that they could put it back
together. Mind you; these were Sixth Graders and they not only put the computer
back together, but explained certain aspect in the building of the computer, the
students had had no previous exposure to computers. The purpose for which the computers
were intended did not take place that year and after a short time students lost
interest in the computers. Quietly, computers were deemed a failure at this
school without their ever having been given a fair trial or students a chance
to succeed with them; they instead became a cumbersome burden on the school and
to teachers. However and on a positive note, the computers did serve at least two
purposes; some students were introduced to computer hardware and demonstrated
to other students and teachers their capability in the area of Technology; here
was Technology in S.T.E.M., at work, initiated by Sixth Grade Students.
School
Education Administrators before you hop on the Digital Technology bandwagon:
Even though there are a number of things School
Education Administrators should consider before hopping on the Digital
Technology bandwagon in an effort to obtain and bring digital technology into your schools’
classrooms, at this point I will place three considerations in the form of questions;
they are as following:
1.
Will digital
technology meet your teachers and students’ needs and enable them to accomplish
the goals and objectives set forth in Education? In other words, does the
digital technology for classrooms and your school come with all necessary
components (both hard and software) and training in the use of, resources and
maintenance?
2.
What is
your back-up strategy when students lose interest in the newest digital
technology? Should you place all your funding, resources and base your entire
curriculum on digital learning and its technologies and will you be able to
keep apace and on target academically when students become bored and lose
interest in the newest digital classroom technology?
3.
Few even discuss the aspect of Digital
technology in the classroom in terms of health and safety, but questions should
be raised as to, what mode of transmission will power the technology entering
your schools and classrooms and whether you as the school’s leader will/should
place limitations on students’ exposure to this transmission, as well as how
much time students will spend in front of the computer screen or monitor? With
the use of digital technology; you, your staff and students are exposed to some
form of transmission daily; it would be best to invest some time in inquiring
and learning which form is safest for you, your staff and students.
School Education Administrators, you are expected to lead the Way in Education;
digital technology in the classroom is becoming a major and driving force in Education
and with the possibility of it entering and increasing in your schools and
classrooms, you must determine as to whether it will benefit and be beneficial in
accomplishing the goal in Education or will it come with strings attached which
will become too cumbersome for you and your school? Digital technology is not
the solution in Education; at least not in and of itself or if it does not accommodate
your individual schools’ needs; meet the needs of staff and students and include
all components necessary to enable those using it in accomplishing your
individual school’s education goal(s). Will digital technology assist by
helping you accomplish your school, staff and students’ goals in education or
come with strings attached which will instead be too cumbersome for you and
your school?
Mrs.
Dorothy Barron, Founder
E-mail:
barron.dorothy@yahoo.com
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