On January 15, 2014 my Blog will be three years old. With this post included I have written 223 posts just for my blog. In addition, I have done several dozen guest posts for other blogs. On a week-to-week basis I strive to write something new about education, or at least a new take on an old subject, but there are some subjects that linger with very little change.
Social media’s influence in education is a great example of slow change under the influence social media itself on education. The acceptance of social media in our culture has allowed social media’s slow acceptance into our school system as a source of branding, collaboration, and communication. The idea of blanket banning of students and teachers from all social media, although, unbelievably, still existing in some less enlightened districts, has been a declining practice. There are far fewer posts about that narrowly considered practice. At least this is progress.
Technology’s acceptance in education however, seems to be a never-ending subject amongst bloggers. Many refer to the fear factor involved with educators and technology. I do not understand what there is to fear from technology. It is what we all depend on to drive our civilization at this point. It is part of our world, and will continue to be so into the future. Our kids will use it and rely on it more than we do, as we used it and relied on it more than our parents did.
There is no longer a choice as to whether or not educators should incorporate technology tools for learning into education. That boat has sailed, that train left the station, that genie is out of the bottle, and that horse got out of the barn. Time to close that barn door and get on with it.
If there is nothing to fear about technology, why are so many educators fearful of it? I have often read that there is a technophobia among some educators. Could it be a fear of being replaced by a computer? I doubt it, because educated adults, especially educators, should be able to recognize that as a myth perpetrated by science fiction. Computers cannot replace teachers, but they can make teachers more effective and efficient.
I think the real pushback on technology from educators comes not from fear, but rather a reluctance to give up time and effort to have to learn something else. Teaching is not an easy job to begin with. It requires not only subject or content knowledge, but education knowledge as well. It requires mastery of two areas and that comes with a price. It requires more than a specialized degree, but additionally, an ongoing struggle to stay relevant in a society that is undergoing continual change at an ever-increasing rapid pace. Learning about technology and how to incorporate it into learning specific to one’s class may be a bridge too far for many educators.
This dilemma, as pervasive as it seems to be, is not totally the fault of the educators. Many educators have taken to learning on their own. They have personalized their learning to address their needs, as well as the needs of their students. As educators we know that self-motivation in learning is not a common commodity. It also holds true for educators who are learners as well.
If our education system requires that our educators maintain their relevance through education than the system should have a responsibility to provide the support and security to do so in terms of time and access to learning. Professional Development needs to be more than an occasional workshop that can then be checked off of an Administrator’s list of things that need to be done for the year. PD must be prioritized and supported on an ongoing basis. It must be part of the workweek. In addition to providing access to new ideas, technology, and methodology, time must be afforded for educators to collaborate on what they have learned. Educators need time and support to put into practice what they need to learn.
In an ideal world every educator would pursue relevance on their own as life long learners. They would seek out the latest and greatest methods and technologies to enhance their teaching and all would benefit. All would be right with the world. Unfortunately for us, we do not live in that world. Educators are strapped for time and money as much as anyone else. Fear of learning something new is far less a factor than time or inclination to do so. If we want to incent people to learn more, we need to prioritize it with time and money. It always comes down to this.
Professional Development for educators for the most part has been left to the individual educators. The hours spent on PD are often mandated by the district, or state and described in teacher contracts, but the learning often comes at the expense of the educator. This is a model that does not work. We are a system obsessed with assessments, yet we fail to assess many of the things that would really make a difference. Try assessing the effectiveness of PD in a district. Is it making a difference to the entire system, or are only a few educators benefitting? If your system’s method of PD does not do what PD is supposed to do, than maybe you need to change the way you are doing it.
Tom,
I agree with you there is reluctance but don’t think your assessment of fear is the real reason behind the reluctance. I believe a more persuasive arguments could be made. In our age of tests scores, accountability and the threat of raise scores or else, many leaders don’t see how technology can improve the chances of raising scores. They are FEARful of trying to using social media because they do not see the BENEFIT it provides. You and those like you who preach about the benefits need to continue because Social Media in education is a slow movement that, in time, will gain steam.
Tom, PD is definitely pushed to the way side too often. We’re calling for all this change and demanding our teachers to not only learn new skills, but new languages (regarding social media, digital literacies, etc.) as well. I’ve tried to address the issue of time for PD with a “Lunch & Learn” approach. So far it’s gone pretty well. Check it out if you have time: http://talktechwithme.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/collaboration-in-the-classroom-teacher-pd/. Take care!
Hello Tom,
This is one of your best posts of recent memory, and while I agree with your assertion of outdated, ineffective PD structures, I have a different perspective as to the explanation why. In discussing PD with several of our more innovative teachers, they have explained that stretching, reaching, and taking some risk with innovative teaching methods, including using social media in the classroom, runs in opposition to our teacher evaluation requirements. As you would guess, a significant percentage of our evaluation document is to provide evidence of student growth measured through standardized tests. So, while there are a few fearless teachers pushing the learning envelop with innovation and relevancy, there are many others “teaching to the test” in the name of job security. Congratulations on your upcoming blogging milestone. I appreciate your commitment to advancing socially networked learning.
Bob
Good points. Think also of the history of PD (at least how it has been dealt with in my experience) – an endless series of great new ideas that promise to revolutionize education! … Only to be dropped to the side when the next great idea surfaces. The PD legacy, then, has become one not to be trusted: to be ignored because whatever it is will soon fall to the wayside.
We have a lot of work to do to change this cycle!
Hi Tom
Enjoyed this and agree that we need to allocate more time for learning and professional development. Why do we not provide more time? I am afraid not much will change until school leaders take the risk to provide more opportunities for teachers to learn and grow professionally. From my experience living and teaching in Japan, I can tell you that my fellow teachers spent far more time out of the classroom preparing lessons, creating assessments, meeting with students, etc. than we ever do here in the US. I think our BOEs think that if a teacher is not teaching as many hours as possible, they are not representing the tax payers. That certainly was the excuse I received from my former employers BOE President. Their way of thinking must be challenged too in order to bring the changes we truly need.
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Another great blog Tom,
I think that one of the big issues with professional development is that we are not very good at recognising it. One of the reasons is that there is a blur between professional and personal learning.
I have written a more extensive response in my blog post ‘Tinkering, Passion and the Wildfire that is Learning’ (http://readingwritingresponding.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/tinkering-passion-and-wildfire-that-is.html)
Hey Tom…just curious about this quote:
“Computers cannot replace teachers, but they can make teachers more effective and efficient.”
What if they are weak teachers? Do you think technology could replace them?
For example, if teachers do not connect with their students, build no relationships, and teach the same way as the “khan academy”, why wouldn’t kids choose to stay home and learn from their couch?
I know there is more great than bad, but I also think that technology has raised the bar for what is expected of teachers. Is this a bad thing?
I agree 100%, particularly with the idea that reluctance is not often about fear but a lack of interest or willingness to learn something new. I know this certainly may not apply to all circles, but it resonates with me as a cause among some in higher education. Thank you for this post!