While I’m glad this chapter supported certain ideas such as allowing adequate training time and creating a stimulating learning environment for students through the use of technology, I also found this chapter lacking any actual new insight for me. Nonetheless here are a few of my thoughts:
The main reason preservice teachers don’t use technology is due to the fact that they themselves were not taught by teachers who incorporated technology. Most students who grow up to become teachers do so because they generally enjoyed the teachers they had (or at least a few of them). Technology alone wouldn’t be a necessity to keep them engaged and learning. Then, in their own teaching, they are just doing what they know which is to follow the examples of those who taught them. (Besides, technology has evolved a great deal since 2000…eleven years is enough for me to question the validity of the study at this point.)
There was also mention of teachers relying on past experiences. This is what teachers do! This is how teachers (new and old) survive at difficult times…by relying on what they already know and what experiences they’ve been through. Just because a teacher does this, doesn’t necessarily mean they are closed minded to learning new things. As a new teacher, though EVERYTHING is new, technology included. In my experiences I have found that some veteran teachers rely solely on their experiences (or “what they’ve always done”) and resist trying new technological strategies in their teaching.
When schools provide educators with the time for content centered technology education, then more educators (new and veteran) would be willing to incorporate these strategies in their teaching. Laura used the internet and Nell used her own personal time and motivation, something many veteran teachers are not willing to do.
Relating this to my own personal teaching: Mt. Blue is fortunate to have the one-to-one laptop program and lots of other technological resources. We are still lacking the content centered training and the time in which to plan and integrate it all into our teaching. Until we get this, we will not be where we need to be in terms of technology integration.
