Week 2

What are two issues shaping the role of technology in education?

One issue that has an impact on the role of technology in education today is the No Child Left Behind Act.  This law has created schools and teachers that feel forces to get the right "score" or grade.  In order to do this, teachers feel pressure to teach to the test.  They only have time to teach the children what is necessary for them to do well on the standardized assessments.  Because of this, teachers are not able to devote as much time to technology since technological issues are not part of the test.  Technology information as basic as typing is not always intergrated into the classroom because teacher simply do not have the time to teach to the test and prepare students for the "real" world.  This is a problem that needs to be given some real attention.

Another issue that affects technology in education today is the lack of funding.  The economy has taken a serious dip in recent years.  States are hurting for money, which leads to cuts in school funding.  "Proration" has become a nasty word.  With the cuts in funding, schools have to figure out how to get everything paid for.  Technology is considered a frivilous expense when compared to paying salaries and utilities, so it gets cut.  This cut means that teachers can not get the needed technological supplies to assist them in the classroom.  The cuts in education budgets also mean that teachers get cut.  With fewer teachers to teach, classroom sizes increase.  The increase in classroom sizes means that there may not be enough computers or programs to go around.  Another example of the pain of proration.

What is one thing we have learned from the history of educational technology that can help us shape today's uses?
Something that we have learned from the history of educational technology is that technology can not replace teachers.  No matter how technologically advance we become as a society, we will still need teachers to help mold our young people.  We need teachers that can see the impact that techology has on the world right now and use that knowledge to educate the students.  Technology doesn't serve to replace teacher, but instead, serves to enhance both the teaching and learning experience.