Well, school is back in session. Today was the last of two "teacher workshop" days and the students will arrive tomorrow. I can't wait to see all of the students. I have been brainstorming so many cool things that I want to do with my students this year; podcasts, blogs and other social networking tools. Unfortunately I have spent the last week trying to get someone to help me get things working in my room. Software that needs special permissions to work, software that just does not work on our network and on top of that, all of the sites I want to use with my students are blocked by our school's filter. GRRRRRR. So today I am feeling a bit defeated.
I need to make a list of priorities. One, get all of the essential software running. Two, get the "nice to have" software running. Three, get the sites unblocked. Number three is going to take some work. Unfortunately we have a tech department that is comprised of people who put technology before education. I'm not quite sure how to get the point across that the students needs are the key to everything. I am a classroom teacher, and in their minds we do not know what we are talking about when it comes to technology.
So my question is...how can I start the conversation that we need to look at curriculum needs, student needs and how social networking fits in to all of this? Oh, right and to have the conversation with the policy makers? I'm not sure where to begin.
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2 comments:
I've been frustrated with the blocked sites in my district too. Although I recognize the need for filters for students, I don't feel I should have to spend time filling out forms to get sites unblocked that should never have been blocked in the first place.
I feel that as a professional I should be trusted and if I request a site to be unblocked then it should be unblocked without the unnecessary and time consuming "approval process."
I work in the technology department of a large school district and feel your pain! I am the only member of our team of six with actual school building experience, so I’ve seen what teachers go through on a daily basis to educate our students. I have a passion for learning and technology and am frustrated by the bureaucracy that ties the hands of innovative teachers by insisting on doing the same old thing in the same old manner. Professional Development sessions at start-up consisting of new text books and pedagogy that do not include consistent use of technology are becoming, quite frankly, boring. It’s unfair to put the task of integrating technology solely in the hands of the teacher; administrators, teachers and support staff need to think outside the box to foster multi-faceted learning environments that truly reach every student in authentic ways.
Understanding is they key to bridging the gap between the classroom teacher (such as yourself) with great ideas and the “textbook” administrator and system focused techie…introduce them to blogging with a tour of your blog site; share your ideas on integration at grade-level meetings and via email; work with the techies to help them understand the impact that “blocked” websites and technologies can have on students…baby steps.
As techies, we tend to get so focused on ensuring that systems work as designed that we tend to miss the impact that innovative technology use in the classroom can have on learning (and not just for the student).
Cliché as it may be, knowledge is power! You might do a presentation at a district meeting, or to your Board of Education on how social networking fits into your classroom goals; and how, when properly structured and monitored, social networking (specifically via the Web) can be a powerful tool both in and out of the school setting. Supportive links on your blog site and/or suggested reading (such as Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts…by Will Richardson) might help you open dialog and get the ball rolling in your district as well.
Good Luck!
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