My “teacher’s technology manifesto”

January 10th, 2006

I’ve just read Doug Johnson’s “The Teacher’s Technology Manifesto“. He writes passionately, and I’ve got really carried away reading it. Here goes my reply:

Dear Doug:

Please allow me to start by saying that I deeply agree with you when you say “as a teacher, I consider myself first a child-advocate, second an educator, and only third a technology-user.” Perhaps I’d place “educator” first, probably because I work mostly with teens and adults… Keen as I am on integrating technology into my lessons, I can only see a point in it if it’ll contribute to enhancing my students’ learning…

Now about your views:

You say: “ I will enthusiastically embrace technology only when the following conditions have been met“:

Teaching students technology skills is a priority. In today’s world, Doug, equipping our students with technology skills is a priority. We need to help them narrow the digital gap, or they’ll be left out of most learning opportunities as soon as they walk out of our classrooms.

Technology use is supported by research showing it is more effective in teaching skills than traditional methods. I’d say, if technology is not providing you with a better way to teach than paper and pencil, just don’t use it, in the same way you don’t use the telephone to talk to a student who’s sitting in front of you. I strongly encourage my students to use a word-processor when teaching process writing because I’ve seen them achieve better results this way.

Technology in my school is reliable, adequate, and secure. Well, man, you’re really lucky! In my classrooms, there’s no telephone, no overhead projector, and the VCR might be working or might be gone! And I “create lesson plans for when the technology works and when it doesn’t”, in the same way I create lesson plans to stir my students up if they’re quiet and settle them down if they’re high! Just one more thing: if you have 30 children in your class, 10 computers actually working in the lab will do (or you could even make use of the students’ home PCs!). As regards “effective means to reduce my worries about online stranger-danger and inappropriate websites”, you must know technicians can enthusiastically restrict access to most sites , and there are many educationally safe environments available to us all.

Technology use is proven to be safe and developmentally appropriate. You say: “Please let me know when playing with blocks on the screen is proven as beneficial as playing with blocks on the floor.” Well, they’re two different skills, aren’t they? They shouldn’t be serving the same purposes, at least that’s what I think… And can’t we encourage children to try both?

Technology comes with support people with interpersonal skills. Here I totally agree with you. Yet, technology is not people, and tools are nothing but what people make with them. Luckily, I’ve found online communities such as Webheads in Action which help me here, though I definitely agree schools should do something about this.

Technology comes with effective training. Absolutely! That’s why I’m committed to sharing what I learn with others, and learning from other colleagues who try things “at the trenches”. We can’t ask technicians to become educators, right? The only cases I’ve known of so far have been Martin Holmes, the “father” of HotPots, and Markin, and Martin Dougiamas, founder of Moodle… No wonder their products are so popular among teachers!

Technology is a genuine time-saver. As I’ve said above, if you try it and it isn’t, go for something else!

You add: “You want me to use technology, give the users a say in how it is used, deployed and controlled.” Possibly in my teaching context the “demand” should be give us some tools and support, not so much freedom that we’re totally on our own… Funny, isn’t it?

In short, I’m all for blended learning. No use of technolofy for the sake of “being cool”, but no putting it off because of the many hurdles we have to face!

Thanks, Doug, for having helped me think so much about this issue!

Teachers and technology | Comments (9)

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9 Responses to “My “teacher’s technology manifesto””

Doug Johnson on January 10, 2006 2:02 pm
Gladys,

I LOVE your post. Thanks for sharing it with me.

I think we both agree that good technology skills is a priority. My question is: Does your local school district, state or the feds? Ethically, do I as an educator teach what I feel is important or what my society (reflected in a mandated curriculum) is important?

Keep writing. You are now in my Bloglines.

All the best,

Doug
gladysbaya on January 10, 2006 2:12 pm
Good question, Doug! I’ll pass it onto my Teaching Ethics students (at teacher’s training college)as soon as our new school year starts.

In Argentina, first we teach, then we regulate, I’m afraid… A new curriculum design was passed in 2001, and many teachers still ignore it (control is erratical!). In the favour of authorities, I must say they mention technology integration as a characteristic of good teaching, and they do look for ways to help schools get the means, though it’s not enough. But I mostly work for a private language school, and there technology is totally neglected! A cassette recorder is the only thing you cant always count on!
How can I learn more about Bloglines?
Doug Johnson on January 10, 2006 5:03 pm
Hi Gladys,

Send me an email address and I will give you some information on Bloglines. You will love it.

Also, readers of your blog might want to have a means of contacting you and some biographical information.

All the best,

Doug
Graham Wegner on January 11, 2006 4:28 am
This post details how to set up a Bloglines account in a lock step way – if I was a beginner, this would be really handy. If you want to see some of the blogs I access, here is the link to my Bloglines account. You might find something of interest. Other bloggers, like Doug, also publish their Bloglines account links for public perusal – it is a great way to find additional blogs of interest. BTW I think you’ll find Doug is one of the best practicers of blogging etiquette – he always follows up comments or e-mails me after I comment on his blog. I’ll keep following your blog – you’ll see it in my Bloglines public link.
teresadeca on January 14, 2006 9:36 pm
Hi, Doug and Gladys!
I’ve been teaching EFL for 30 years in Portugal (my country) and, though restrained by a curriculum most of the time, I’ve always taught what I felt was essential, chose quality in my teaching rather than quantity, and have always done it “my way”, like Frank Sinatra!
In Portugal we’ve had reform after reform ever since I started teaching and things go from bad to worse, so if I hadn’t followed my feelings, I wouldn’t have had the rewards I’ve had with many of my students.
My two euro cents,
Teresa
gladysbaya on January 15, 2006 2:11 am
What a pleasant surprise to have you here, Tere!:D. Your remark “I’ve always taught what I felt was essential” made me reconsider Doug’s question: “Ethically, do I as an educator teach what I feel is important or what my society (reflected in a mandated curriculum) is important?”
As a member of a democratic society, I now feel “making whatever is my hands so that my learners succeed at learning” is all I’ve “promised” to do… Since integrating CALL into my teaching is just a tool, and a powerful one indeed to increase their chances of learning a language, I’ll keep going ahead! It’s great to feel there are many many of us all over the world… some one has to start, right?
Doug Johnson on January 15, 2006 4:16 pm
I wonder if we could say that we need to teach to set of mandated goals (the curricular outcomes), but as professionals have the the right to choose our methodology?

All the best,

Doug

PS. Gladys, I will add my request that you add a short bio to your blog. My reasons can be found at:

http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2005/12/12/may-i-see-your-id.html
gladysbaya on January 16, 2006 3:08 am
Discussing CALL research, Ken Beatty (2003:190) writes:
“the question is no longer whether or not computers should be used in the classroom. Questions now include how computers should be used and for what purpose.”
That closes my case, I’d say!

PS: Dogu, I’ve created an “About me” page.. hope that meets your expectations for the time being.. please leave a comment with questions if you’ve got any, I’d be glad to answer them all! Loved your linked posting, BTW!
gladysbaya on January 30, 2008 5:23 pm
Over two years later, I found a reference to this post in one of my own drafts… ! Re-reading it, I can still feel the passion that pushed me to write it, and the enthusiasm I felt at the discussion it generated. Doug Johnson was the first stranger who ever commented on one of my posts… I guess he never realised he turned me into a passionate (though extremely irregular, I know) blogger just at the moment when I was wondering whether to go on along this path…
These days, I encourage teachers and my students alike to find their online voices… Glad I came back to this post just as I’m reflecting upon the importance of readers in teaching writing! (I’m drafting a chapter on wikis in language education).

I’ll be around!