Survey reveals gaps in school technology perceptions

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/05/05/survey-reveals-gaps-in-school-technology-perceptions/

This article, concerning the gaps in views of technology and the use of it in the classroom, was very interesting.  I saw that the article paralleled the thoughts and concerns that I have of technology use in the classroom.  The article noted that a large number of administrators and teachers saw the use of technology as a positive tool to help facilitate learning in the classroom.  However, the study showed that a lot less teachers actually use the technology in the classroom.

As excited as I am with the theory of using technology in the classroom, I am also reluctant because of several things.  First, the logistics of using technology are complicated and hard to get around.  A lot of my students do not have access to paper and books at home, let alone computers.  That means that any technology used in the classroom must literally be used in the classroom alone.  That is using a lot of time in the computer labs.  (Which other teachers do not appreciate, because they also want a lot of time in the lab as well.)  Another issue that worries me is the liability issues in the classroom.  If my students have access and are being encouraged to be on the internet and something happens, can I be held legally responsible for that?  If I need parental permission before I start anything and I do not receive them from all of my students, then I need to adapt my lessons again to accommodate those students.

I think that, as with everything else, there needs to be a balance between using technology in the classroom and adapting my classroom to address these issues.  Above all else, there needs to be communication between teachers, students, administrators, parents, and any other stakeholders that I missed about technology and what everyone sees as acceptable behaviors and objectives in using technology.

Stay tuned to the World of Education!

Anna