Re-thinking technology in the classroom (1)

• Until recently, I have been pretty unconcerned, indifferent towards the use of technology in the classroom. I basically taught in the traditional way. The more recent EDRL 6004 classes have caused me to really start thinking about actually trying to infuse technology into my future teaching. Much of the literature stress that it is a necessity to use technology to enhance teaching and learning. Tileston (2004) went so far as to say that children are placed at a disadvantage in today's world if they are not exposed to the use of technology in schools. Through my own training in the use of Web 2.0 tools I have realised that technology does indeed support learning that is active, collaborative, reflective and constructive (Norton & Sprague, 2001). Furthermore I can see that pupils would be motivated, engaged and develop higher order thinking skills.
  
  
  Of course, now that I have rethought the use of technology in the classrooms and as I am undergoing training to infuse technology into my teaching I do have a few concerns:
  
  *Why are some schools still without internet access?
  *Why are computer hardware resources at the schools so few, old and slow?
  *Where are the technological experts on staff to assist teachers and pupils at the schools?
  *Why haven't we placed more emphasis on making pupils computer literate? We cannot assume that all pupils at our schools are.
  *Why are we still in the computer lab phase when research has shown that it is more productive to have the computers in the classroom?
  *Are pre-service teachers being trained to infuse technology into teaching at the training colleges?
  
  
  As a country, if we are truly serious about preparing pupils to function effectively in a fast- paced technological society then we ought to really put the resources and personnel in place so that this goal can be realised.
  
  
  References
  Norton, P. & Sprague, S. (2001). Bringing technology into the classroom. Oxford:
  Oxford University Press.
  Tileston, D.W. (2004). What every teacher should know about media and technology. California:
  Corwin Press.