Conditions for Classroom Technology Innovations
Quote: "The primary purpose of the study was to address "why don't teachers innovate when they are given computers?" and "why don't teachers integrate computers in their teaching in more meaningful ways?""
Comment: Excellent questions. Significant (successful) change is rarely mandated - it is fostered. Currently, technology and teaching are still in early stages of courtship. I think administrators should focus on making resources available to those instructors who are interested, and initiate a soft "change management" campaign to promote the uses and values of technology...and stop expecting teachers to become IT staff. Let teachers be teachers - and give them access to resource people to help them integrate technology.
Most instructors who are resistant to technology don't fully understand what a quality online course looks like. Common conversation: A: "This can't be taught online."...B: "Have you taken an online course?"...A:"Ah...no." First instructors need to be introduced to what technology and teaching really is all about. Let them see a course...let them watch students interacting digitally...let them observe a facilitator interacting with students. For many, online learning is still fuzzy. The view needs to be focused.
Posted by gsiemens at August 2, 2002 6:44 AM