tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20103655.post6247122494106728938..comments2023-06-18T02:43:38.768-07:00Comments on EdTech from the Valley: Aren't we in the business of Education?Kyle Brumbaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18413242430252219403noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20103655.post-39524954067682979542007-01-22T20:25:00.000-08:002007-01-22T20:25:00.000-08:00You know, I can't help but dwell on a conversation...You know, I can't help but dwell on a conversation I had recently with a teacher at my school. All the teachers in the grade below hers, and all the teachers in the grade above hers, have scheduled regular weekly times to bring their classes to our open lab to work on projects they're doing themselves. This is above and beyond the one period a week their students come and work with me and my co-teacher in our lab for regular technology class.<br /><br />The crux of her sentiment, regarding why she does not make the time in her already busy schedule to bring her class to the open lab to work on stuff, is that she fears she would be "doing more harm than good" in letting them continue to keyboard without their "hands on the home row," even if they were producing better work and learning more by incorporating technology into some of the work they're already doing the traditional way in her class.<br /><br />She prefers reading handwritten papers.<br /><br />Now, I don't know what grade level y'all teach, but my five years in 5th grade and the subsequent year in 6th, not to mention the eight or so years of teaching before that, have taught me that if there is one thing I DON'T want to read, it is the handwriting of a child. Times 30.<br /><br />Know what I mean?<br /><br />Too many teachers, I believe, are under the false impression that they have to know how to use the software and hardware in order to have their students use it. If we waited for that, we'd be back to slate and chalk. They just need to supervise, oversee the non-technical aspects, and know who to call if something does not work.<br /><br />I personally think that "keyboarding," as such, is a non-issue. Kids are going to IM their friends, text on their cell phones, and manipulate text in more ways than we can imagine. What's the point of spending class time "teaching" them (via Mavis Beacon or some such software) what they can practice at home if they have computers. (Note: where I teach, pretty much all the kids have computers with Internet at home. And I DO use Mavis Beacon with my first and second graders for short bursts about every other week or so.)<br /><br />So what do I do? It's just as wrong to "force" a teacher who is not comfortable with technology as it is to deny technology to kids who can handle it. Do I continue to wait for the dinosaurs to retire into extinction and plot my overthrow of the status quo in mumbled whispers to myself?<br /><br />For now, I shall.Diane E. Main, GCT NorCal 2006https://www.blogger.com/profile/01604373649158850063noreply@blogger.com