More Stupid Mistakes
Doug Johnson
had a great post last week on Seven stupid mistakes teachers make with technology . (OK, I am behind on reading my RSS feeds, but I have excuses). I might have been gentler in calling them “misguided or erroneous actions and assumptions,” because I feel great empathy for teachers. Look at the title of this blog, for heaven’s sake! Been there, done that…though I never taught lecture-style. My additions:
- 1. Not seeking help with technology. We condemn our students who do not ask for help before the test or clarification of comments we write on their papers, but teachers don’t often speak up and participate in pointing out what they do not understand and making the effort to change that. When a student ignores the repeated comments about misplaced modifiers on his English papers, the English teacher expects him/her to ask what that is and how to fix it (if he/she does not know). Why don’t teachers inquire aloud, “What is that and how do I do it?”
- Corollary to #1: Giving up instead of risking mistakes (another thing we condemn in our students). If the first person a teacher asks for help speaks in techno-ese and says “It’s easy…watch this “ (zip-zop-zip-zop with the mouse — too quickly for a teacher to grasp), this provides an easy excuse to say, ” I can’t. I don’t get it. I don’t want to look stupid in front of the kids.”
- Asking the wrong people for help. They do a wonderful job of keeping things working, but if they have never been teachers (or taught at a similar level), the tech folks may not be the best ones to ask. If they go zip-zop-zip-zop with the mouse and don’t listen to your questions and have YOU touch the mouse — not them — find someone else. If they don’t ask you questions or recognize your fears, find someone else. If they don’t suggest simple, meaningful options to master first (see Greg Carroll’s comment on Doug’s post), find someone else.
- Thinking there is a formula or pattern to follow for student-centered, inquiry-driven, technology-infused lessons. As with so many issues in the 21st century, the real answers are more often variations on “It depends” than something formulaic and patterned. Tolerance for ambiguity and flexibility have never been strengths of many who gravitate toward becoming teachers. These skills can be learned, however, and technology happens to be a great way to master them: no product is EVER “done,” since revision is so easy and collaboration so inviting. Teacher ed programs can be guilty of this mistake in teaching new teachers lesson planning.
- Thinking there is a linear sequence of skills needed to learn about technology’s role in learning. Many commercial “professional development” package providers have created technology skills assessments and tutorials, but most of these oversimplify (see tolerance for ambiguity above). You won’t reach the end, and you’ll never be “done.” Using technology is like reading: first you decode and pronounce, but somewhere in there reading becomes a much more complex process, connecting known to unknown, thinking, reflecting, imagining…. Infusing technology is as complex and unending.
I guess Doug accomplished what he set out to do. I could go on and on writing about this. Through the blessings of technology, these thoughts will never be “done.” If you’re a teacher who has never commented on a blog post, come on—try it! Avoid #2 above!
Hi Candace,
Thanks for running with this one! We all have our list, I am sure, and my own actions would probably make the list of others!
Please note that I qualified rather carefully my use of “stupid” in my pre-list narrative. I too was a classroom teacher for many years.
All the best,
Doug
Comment by Doug Johnson — December 13, 2008 @ 9:04 am
I have been a science middle school teacher for two years. When I took my teacher education courses, we were required to write many lessons plans. Everything was a step by step plan that would go as planned perfectly in a nice neat little package. I found that in the real life of teaching there are many, many things that can go wrong. I have also found that I will have students who will not want to ask questions about what they do not understand in fear of looking “stupid”. I think that when pre-service teachers are in college they need to have classes that will let them know that teaching is not perfect. They need to know before they are to teach they need to be able to roll with the punches.
As for technology in the classroom, I liked your comment about how learning about technology is like learning to read. I am working on my masters in integrating technology in the classroom. I have found that you are right about how I will need to decode and then connect knowledge of what is known to the unknown. I am the type of person who needs to actually physically navigate my way around the computer and the internet to learn how to use it better. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and thank you for helping to see that the baby steps that I am making in technology will take me to a better place in my teaching
Comment by Amy — January 7, 2009 @ 7:56 pm
I am currently working as an 8th grade special education teacher in a new building (this is our 2nd year in the building) that is equipped with a lot of new technology. Many of the teachers do not know how to use all the technology that is available to them. There has been some training on using SMART Boards and creating websites, but there is still so much to learn. Sometimes it’s hard to ask questions when technological experts are hard to find and there is limited free time in school.
I am currently working on a master’s degree in integrating technology in the classroom and I hope to learn many new ways to use the technology that is available to me. There is so much to learn and I know the learning process will be never ending. With all of the technological advances, there is always going to be something new to learn about.
Comment by Toni — January 11, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
I’m one of the newbies where technology is concerned and can appreciate your list above. New things in technology seem scary until you just start trying and doing, just like everything else in life. I see how my mom reacted to the computer, the internet, and email when it first came out, and we all made fun of her because it was so “easy!” Now, here I am, trying something new and feeling exactly how she felt. It’s all relative; we need to keep moving forward to best serve ourselves and our students.
Comment by Mary — May 10, 2009 @ 5:46 pm