Response Week 8
Tony Reetz
The Question:
A fellow teacher, Ms. NoTech, has complained to you that she has been asked by your principal to use technology for teaching and learning -- and to relate that use of technology to meeting standards. Ms. NoTech feels she must comply, but doesn't know where to begin. She talks of no time, no computer skills, no help, no resources, no interest, no benefits, no knowledge of the standards, etc. She does have a new computer connected to the Internet, both in the classroom and at home.
You want to be helpful. Based on your experience, your knowledge of what's available online, plus Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace, write a response to Ms. NoTech, explaining what some of her options are in trying to meet the principal's expectation.
Location: An unnamed Title 1 elementary school in Anchorage, Alaska.
Date: November 3, 1999
Time: 4:03pm
Background:
Mrs. Maria Notech, a veteran teacher with 28 years in the District, has just left the principal's office with his ultimatum: all of her third grade students will meet or exceed the Student Technology Performance Standards by May 15th, 2000. She is thoroughly overwhelmed. Maria has no experience with computers even though she been given a state-of-the-art desktop computer with internet access for the classroom, and a powerful laptop computer with a built-in modem and free ARA account for home use. Simply put, she has not seen the need to incorporate technology into her traditional teaching style. In distress, she telephones Mr. Julio Computo, the school's Technology Coordinator and Network Manager.
(bbrringg!...bbrringg!...)
"Hello, Julio here. Can I help you?"
"Mr. Computo, this is Maria Notech, the third grade teacher."
"Oh yes, Maria. How are you today?"
“Terrible, Mr. Computo. I've just gotten out of a meeting with Mr. Admin and I am devastated,” lamented Maria. “He wants me to start teaching my students how to use computers, and I don't even know how to turn the stupid things on.”
“I see,” replied Julio. “So you haven't taken any classes or tried typing a letter or anything?”
“No, I haven't. I don't like computers. I don't see that they're necessary for a child to be educated well. I think that they're just a toy for grownups and kids both, a distraction, another fad sweeping through education. I've made it 28 years teaching just fine without a computer, and I don't have the time to learn a whole new complicated skill now. Besides that, I don't need a computer to tell me what my brother-in-law's wife's mother's maiden name is.”
“But the principal says...”
“Right.”
“OK. I get the picture. I'll take care of getting the principal off of your case, but I'll have to make a deal with you.”
“You will?” exclaimed Maria. “What kind of a deal, Mr. Computo?"
“Well,” began Julio, cautiously. “I've got my wife's relatives from Puerto Rico coming to town next week, and I want to treat them to a real Alaskan meal with fish and potatoes and peas from the garden and salad and blueberry pie. You know, real Alaskan stuff.”
“Yeees...?”
“So, in trade for no more pressure from the principal, how about hosting us all at your house for the meal? We just don't have the room for fourteen at our house.”
“Fourteen!! Well, well I suppose so, if it means not having to deal with the principal,” replied Maria.
“The principal is not a problem. And you know the old saying, 'You get what you pay for!'" exclaimed Julio. “Oh, I forgot to mention. We want to do it without any modern appliances, you know, real Alaskan. Just a wood cookstove like the old timers used. I understand you have one.”
“Now wait a minute! I may be old-fashioned, but I'm not that old-fashioned. You can't feed a crowd of people that kind of a meal with just a wood cookstove in this day and age.”
“Maria, you're right,” replied Julio. “You also can't prepare a whole classroom of today's kids for tomorrow's world with simply a chalkboard and books.”
“Excuse me, Julio. What do you mean?”
“I mean that just as you need all of the appliances in your kitchen to prepare a major meal for a crowd of people, so you need all of the instructional and reinforcement and communication and record keeping and management and research and motivational tools that computers can provide a classroom full of students with diverse needs.”
“I don't get it.”
“Okay, “ replied Julio, “how would your cooking be impacted if I came over today and took your microwave out of your kitchen?”
“You wouldn't! I know I was slow to get one in the first place, but now that I have one, it has saved me an incredible amount of time.”
“Okay, then. But remember, your computer has much more usefulness than your microwave. In fact, that computer on your desk collecting dust is more powerful than everything in your whole kitchen put together. With it you can prepare fantastic educational "meals", write and store lesson plans for the whole year, keep detailed information on individual students, track behavior, track grades, print report cards, do research on the internet, communicate with your colleagues, communicate across the planet..."
"Stop!" interjected Maria. "I don't want to do all those things! Like I said, I've done fine without one until now. Besides that, I couldn't tell you the difference between the internet and an innertube."
"Maria, I'll help you. Look, forget about all of my relatives coming over to your house. I know you're already overwhelmed. And forget about having to learn about all of the things computers can be used for in the classroom. Let's just take it real slow. And remember, the principal..."
"OK, OK," conceded Maria. "But I still don't have any extra time to put into learning some new thing."
"Maria, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to get you the time. What would you say if I got you some release time to observe what other teachers at your grade level are doing with computers in their classrooms? And would you be interested in attending a basic course on computer skills here at the school? I've got some grant money to put into staff training, and I'm looking for people just like you for whom I can pay for their college credit. Now I don't want to go too far too fast, but there are other options available, like professional step-by-step tutorials and training you can get at home from all over the world right on your computer. I can even get a team from Instructional Technology to work individually with you while your class is also being trained."
"Well, you certainly are giving me lots of options," said Maria. "If you can get me the time to work with other staff members who are in the same boat as I am, and you can get me individual help, I'm willing to give it a try. I don't want to be the dumb one who asks all of the stupid questions."
"Way to go, Maria," said Julio. "You're in for some exciting additions to the tools you already use so well in the classroom."