I recently watched a presentation by
Karen Cator titled transforming American Education. As an educator who
has embraced the use of technology in the classroom, though at times
reluctantly, I welcomed the message of a government policy dedicated to an
Anything Is Possible approach to technology integration in our schools.
The lecture style presentation designed
as an informative platform to bring about awareness the to the current
administrations education policy on technology integration was ironically
delivered in a stale 90’s style PowerPoint presentation. I would think the material would demand a
more cutting edge approach to rolling out the carpet on technology policy. Maybe some strobe lights and an iPad could
have helped, but I digress. The point
was driven home; Digital literacy is an issue we face in a globally connected
world that thrives on the geniuses of that next great technological
invention. The question is how do we
make use of all these tablets, pads and Internet sources?
The movement to reshape the way we view
education has been active for sometime. The
point I believe Karen Cator was making is that unlike previous decades and
generations, when the talk of recalibrating education in our country and the
world surfaced, it was often just a redressing of traditional models of
education. Cator places use at a
crossroads when the best of traditional education and modern technology based
learning can be fused to create a new form of educational schooling that is
still anchored in concepts and standards but approached in a more inclusive and
individualized format that meets everyone’s needs. It is like one big IEP for the education
system and the mandated requirement is that the infusion of technology be used
as a guide, similar to the roll of the 21st century teacher.
Transparent data, inspiring people of
all ages and addressing the current gap in digital literacy are just a few of
the points touched on her mulit-step platform toward integrating technology both
now and the future generations to come.
I find it so funny that she did the presentation in a PowerPoint as well. More hands on and updated technology (ipad, smart board) would have been a way better idea to get across the excitement she had about the program. I think my favorite part of your blog was how you referred this program to a universal IEP. I am a special education teacher and it really allows everyone to make progress at their own speed and level. I think again the only question I still have and what I stated in my blog is who can we implement with no funding?
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think about the use of PowerPoint until you pointed it out. But, I agree it was ironic to deliver a presentation about the importance of technology while using outdated technology. I also agree that there has been a push to change what education looks like for quite some time. However, while the words are there, the action is lacking. You can't change education when you are still training pre-service teachers in the same way, teachers are being given less time time for professional development and planning, and administrator training appears to remain the same.
Delete