Steve Burt is vacationing in Peru, but the other three of us got together Thursday night via Skype for a discussion centered around barriers to implementation of some of these technologies in our schools. I’ve been writing quite a bit about this lately, and I worry that I’m starting to paint a picture of teachers that they are more resistant than they really are. Listening to this discussion again, I think the time issue is really such a big part of it. Tim Lauer has been able to carve out different ways for teachers to start working with these tools in a pretty seamless way, and I really admire the way Tim Wilson approaches the sales part of this with his staff. It’s true that a part of this is going to be helping people to understand the need to make these changes. Lots of work to do.
At any rate, here is the link to Ed Tech Coast to Coast Podcast #2. All feedback is surely welcomed.
ETC2C-20050901 ((18.7 MB, 40:43)
Barriers to Implementation:
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Oh I could go on and on about this one. Here’s a little background on my perspective: I worked for 5 years as a “Central Office” computer coordinator for elementary and middle school teachers and principals (1985-90) and then for 3 years more recently as a middle school-based computer tech support contact (2002-2005) in a public school district in North Carolina. I bailed out of the tech support role in the spring of ’05. Why? Because neither teachers nor administrators cared. They simply don’t want to learn new skills, challenge their students with technology, attend technology classes, or even THINK about integrating the “read/write web” into their teaching. I’ve really given up on them — even my own team mates (I teach 7th grade science on a 4 person team).
So, I only have myself to challenge. I enjoy reading your blog but you and I are AT LEAST 20 years ahead of everybody else. I am amazed at the general laziness of teachers. I’ve been teaching for a LONG time — since 1971 and my current estimation of the intelligence and go-power of teachers in general is at an all-time low. They leave school 15 minutes after the kids, never do any interesting projects, and NEVER, NEVER try to do anything interesting with technology. Why? Because they neither have the skills or the interest.
While your posts are provocative and motivating for ME, I would say that teachers in my school have a zero understanding of where the web is going. Here is a list of vocabulary they have no idea about: blog, RSS, HTML, moodle, podcasting, constructivist activities, etc., etc., etc. I’ve taught hundreds of staff development technology workshops over the last 20 years and I suspect that the final output to all of this activity is under 15%. Why? No follow-up. Incompetent, computer- illiterate administrators, and teachers who basically don’t care. It’s depressing and sad. So, I’ve really given up on teaching others and just work on myself. I AM interested in blogs for my 7th graders. I AM interested in using Moodle this year. I’ve started a podcasting club with my 7th graders and I’m excited about the possibilities. But as for the others — they’re just pitiful goofoffs that I ignore more and more as time goes on.
So my overall assessment for the wonderful things that you mention in your comments — is that maybe, just maybe in 30 years or so, people will finally get the idea and begin DOING some of it.
Sadly yours,
Tom Clauset
veteran 7th grade science teacher in the NC public schools
website: http://www.tclauset.com