The role of Good Technology Education in teaching has a vital role in the learning program of a student. The goal of education is not necessarily practical in itself because it has aims that are curriculum based, compulsory, and or academic in nature. However, in the practical mindset, I firmly believe that education is a vehicle in achieving our goals. The use of the Internet is rampant now a days. And the way we are educated things from school, if it will be thought of as the vehicle that we ride, needs an overhaul--redesign teaching in such a way that it is technology powered or equipped.
Chris Lehmann tries to answer the question What is Good Technology Education Leadership? In his blog, A Whole New School, he provides two answers: a simple answer and a complex answer , both, shall we say, in the academic perspective.
According to him, "The simple answer is that good technology educational leadership is no different than good educational leadership; that the choices we make with technology education should be deliberate, thoughtful and in line with the overall educational goals of our organization.
But that answer falls short because it fails to take into account that the technologies at our disposal should transform our classrooms as well. Neil Postman, in Technopoly, wrote that some technologies are not merely additive, but transformative. The example he used was the Guttenberg printing press. His argument was that after Guttenberg’s invention, we did not have Europe plus books, we had a new Europe. The Internet — and the incredible changes it has brought about — has transformed many of the ways we live our lives, but as of yet, it has done very little to change our schools. We need to understand that with these tools, we should not have schools plus computers, we should have whole new schools."
But that answer falls short because it fails to take into account that the technologies at our disposal should transform our classrooms as well. Neil Postman, in Technopoly, wrote that some technologies are not merely additive, but transformative. The example he used was the Guttenberg printing press. His argument was that after Guttenberg’s invention, we did not have Europe plus books, we had a new Europe. The Internet — and the incredible changes it has brought about — has transformed many of the ways we live our lives, but as of yet, it has done very little to change our schools. We need to understand that with these tools, we should not have schools plus computers, we should have whole new schools."
And he proceeds with his more complex answer, "First, we have to recognize that to use these tools only for two periods a week is not transformative, and it perpetuates the problem of access. If we only transform learning for those students who can afford the equipment and the access outside of schools, we continue to reinforce the class stratification that currently exists in our country. (And yes, I know that the digital divide is closing, but that does not mean that we as educators can now ignore it.) These technologies must be ubiquitous, necessary, and invisible. They must be everywhere, touching the way we learn in all aspects of our schools, and they must never be the first thing we think about.
Secondly, these tools allow all of us — students and teachers — to do five things better than we’ve ever been able to do them in our classes before: Research, Collaborate, Create, Present and Network."
So what is practical in technology based education or learning? Imagine, learning things without boundaries, accessing books and information without being constricted because you can't buy their high price, presenting your own ideas in the most diversified ways, getting ideas from different experts when speed is in its at most demand, working with other people with the same line of interests, and more importantly, letting the world know that you and your idea exists.
Therefore, if education is our vehicle towards our success, then good technology education in teaching can be construed as giving as a free ride with a Ferrari.
No comments:
Post a Comment