Reading Reflection Week 5

Three factors that could have contributed to this project having little effect on the instructional practices employed by the teachers could be teachers being resistant to change, problems with the computers or wireless signals, and teachers not having the proper training to teach using this technology.

                Education has changed so much with the growth of technology in schools.  Technology was very limited when I was in elementary school and many of the teachers I had are still teaching today.  With the ever changing technologies in schools and most teachers working for twenty-five plus years, there is no wonder that some teachers are resistant to change.  Many of our older teachers are used teaching a certain way.  When administrators or society itself asks a teacher to change the way they have been teaching for many years, it is easy to see why they may be reluctant.  In this instance, some of these teachers may be older and have been teaching for many years.  They may not be as open to sending their students home with laptops as newer teachers would.

                Another reason this project may have had little impact on instructional practices is problems with the technology itself.  Computers have a tendency to act up; they may shutdown and lose data which in turn will affect how students learn using the technology.  Also, wireless signals and internet can be unreliable.  If any of the technology is not working properly, students will have a hard time completing assignments and students (and teachers) may get very frustrated.

                One last factor that may have contributed to low impact on this instructional practice is that teachers may not have been properly trained on how to teach using the technology.  If teachers are not properly trained, how can anyone expect them to teach effectively?  Especially is the case with the technology, there are so many ways to do things and teach content that teachers need to be given the proper training in order to carry out lessons effectively.  Also, if teachers aren’t trained effectively, they will have a hard time assisting students on how to use the technology or helping them when they run into trouble.

                Two strategies that could have been employed to help mitigate the factors that I think contributed to the minimal effect this project had on instructional practices are showing all the teachers the effect it could have on their teaching and proper training for these teachers.

                If all teachers were given reasons on how using laptops would help facilitate teaching methods and students’ learning, they may be more open to the change.  Also, if teachers were shown how it has worked in other schools and given testimonials by fellow teachers, they would see that the new technology could really help their school.

                Along with giving teachers reasons, they would also need the proper training.  If teachers were given the proper training they could use the technology effectively and therefore the teachers would welcome the change and students would be better able to use the technology themselves.