Where can we really go???
The question I listed above is one that I wonder
about a lot. As I listen to Karen Cator talk about Transforming America, this
question is like a broken light that keeps flashing in my brain. The reason I
feel this way is because where can we really go with technology, especially in
schools with lack of funding? I hate to be the Debbie Downer of the topic, but
if we lack the funding, how can we possibly implement the high expectations in
which they are hoping for us to achieve. I would like to think of myself as the
"cheerleader” of my teaching staff, but reality also needs to come in play
at some point. Take for example a student in your class or mine, we would love
to say that yes they are going to get an "A" on this test, but
reality is outside factors might enable the student from accomplishing that(
example: up all night taking care of their siblings, while the mom is working
to support the family). In Karen Cator lecture she speaks that in 2020
President Obama would like us to have the highest graduation rate and that we
need to pick up the pace, but how do we do this with just words and ideas? I
believe that we are going in the right direction with teachers certifications
and NCLB, but to really advance and to prepare the future for technology
advances is impossible if we do not have the funding to support it. I know some
districts in which I have been at did not even have enough textbooks to support
the class, rather than having smart boards to advance in education. In order
for us to even "Out Innovate, Out Educate and Out build" we as
educators are going to need more support.
Even though I feel that this discussion is hard, because all I can think about is how this is
possible when in schools we might not have funding or in the community having a computer might not be possible, I did enjoy some things she did express, Key points I enjoyed, especially with me being a special education teacher are:
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Personalization
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Focusing with the connection of interest
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Multiple ways to show a concept and demonstrate
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Being a highly effective teacher /Re-inspire
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Mapping out learning progression
Jacquline,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your post and how honest you are in your response to Karen Cator's presentation. Whenever I think about educational initiatives, whether technology driven or not, money always comes into my head as a huge obstacle to overcome. I think of myself as a technology nerd, so I really like the idea of having so much available to our students, but like you point out...it will be difficult if educational spending is being cut left and right. My only hopeful thought comes in the affordability of technology as we develop it further and further. The things that used to cost an absurd amount of money become affordable over time. I guess then there will be a concern with being out of date with the technology you have as the world continues innovating.
Funding is a huge issue. There is a big disparity between the schoos that have and the schools that have not. How do we fix this? Is the digital divide getting wider? Let's ask Karen Cator about this.
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