[etni] Technology
- From: Rivka Lewenstein <rlewen@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: drh16@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:11:05 -0800 (PST)
David,
I absolutely agree with you. I am all for technology - I would be lost without
my computer and handy multifunction printer, and I drool over new gadgets about
as much as a lot of computer geek guys. But I teach at a school where I'm
afraid to go to the computer room because the chances of having enough working
computers for the whole class (of 10, working in pairs) is fairly low, and we
won't even talk about the printer working / having toner, etc. or the network
being up and so forth. Forget about computers.. I'd be happy just to have a
disc player in school - at the moment we're down to one cassette player (yes,
remember those things from the Dark Ages), and all my repeated requests for a
disc player have not yet been answered. But I still manage to teach despite the
low-tech environment, and I don't feel powerless at all. Yes, it would be nice
to have some technology, but honestly, I'm not even sure how much I would use
it unless I was really
convinced that that would improve my teaching. I mean, I've never once used
PowerPoint to teach, not my high school students, not my college students, and
not at ETAI presentations. I just haven't seen any need for it.
And as you pointed out: If we could choose the best way to spend our education
budget, would we really choose technology? Again, nothing against technology,
but maybe increasing teachers' salaries and thus attracting more qualified
teachers would go much further in raising the level of education here? Just a
thought.
All the best,
Rivka
David R. Herz wrote:
A good tool in the hands of the teacher who knows how to use it can
certainly enhance a child's education. I will not here question the value
of a smart board in the hands of someone with the savvy to use it well.
But there are a lot of ifs in the prior sentence and even more unanswered
questions. The most important: "Is this the most efficient use of our
educational capital?"
Ms. Raemer may do magic with her smart board, but my guess is that she is
just as capable of making magic happen without it. Where is the research
that establishes that her students are better thinkers or users of English
because of the teacher's access to a smart board?
This is where I surmise Mr. Abramov is wrong: "A great teacher with no
access to technology is powerless.." This is horse droppings as far as I am
concerned. A great teacher can't help being inspiring. Not to claim
greatness, but I had a walk in the woods turn into a lesson on erosion with
my kids. A great teacher capitalizes on teachable moments. She, like Ms.
Raemer, may use whatever is at her disposal to further her end, but she has
never been limited or defined by the technology available. She may also
avoid or be afraid of technology or a late adopter and still teach her
children English at the same level as a smart board user.
And then where is the cost analysis that establishes that the money spent on
Smart Boards will have a greater effect than the same money spent on teacher
training and support, or even putting a morsel of food into the kid that
shows up at school hungry?
As to educational goals, I think Mr. Abramov is way off. The goals are
outdated, to be sure, but the answer is not to create a connection with some
potential career, but to imbue a child with a sense of wonder, teach him to
ask questions, make logical connections, and give him the confidence to take
great risks and bold actions. Then he will be prepared for anything that
comes his way.
Yours truly,
David R. Herz
drherz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.educatingisrael.com
Bet Rimon
052-579-1859
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