Are new teacher prepared in their teacher training program to teach in a 21st century classroom?
I just have one question and I want to see what you all have to say. I know that some of you have not taught in the classroom but think back to you schooling and make some observations.
Are new teacher prepared in their teacher training program to teach in a 21st century classroom?
60 Comments
Robert Thomas
2/5/2012 11:14:03 am
For the most part I would say yes to the question. There are so many different types of advancments everyday it seems. It is hard to stay ahead of the curve. I think once people students or teachers have something figured out when it comes to technology they seem to change to something else. And you have to be able to reprogram yourselves to learn something different.
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Prof. Myers
2/5/2012 11:20:24 am
So are the teachers that are entering the classrooms able to make the switch?
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George Pincock
2/6/2012 01:23:51 am
True. Technology does change everyday. We have to be willing to change everyday as well to keep up with that. Perhaps another thing we must consider is a school's commitment to helping teacher stay up to date with current technology.
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Elyce Lamphere
2/6/2012 05:37:34 am
Having the money and the resources for the update in technology is something that is very important, and not always available. Many school districts do not have a lot of money and struggle with updating technology. It is hard to have our teachers have high expectations if the resources we expect them to use is not in the classroom.
Ryan Mansfield
2/6/2012 11:34:23 am
Unless teachers are able to afford the education in order to stay up to date with what is going on in the tech world, there is no doubt that in time they will fall behind. Simply look at some of the teachers in today's educational world that are still using some of the tools of the past simply because they are a) not willing to change or b)are not able to adapt to today's technology.
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Jeremy Esry
2/7/2012 03:37:59 am
There are a lot of free or inexpensive programs out there that one can use to stay up to date with the tech world but I believe you hit it right on the head when you said they are not willing to change or adapt to today's technology. I think some of the teachers embrace their oldschool ways and do not want to accept the change.
Jeremy Esry
2/7/2012 03:47:32 am
Technoology is changing every day that is why I think it is important to stay up to date as much as possible to lessen the learning gap when it does change. If the teachers are already familiar with technology it should not be as difficult for them to learn newer concepts.
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Nick Camp
2/8/2012 12:14:11 am
I agree Coach Esry, If teachers take all the measures to better understand the technology they have available in the classroom the learning gap will not be as large. Teachers that are familiar with technology will be far ahead of the learning curve and make adjustments much easier.
Cara Barth-Fagan
2/12/2012 02:51:31 am
It's important for teachers to keep learning, no matter what age they are. If we want to keep our jobs, we have to keep up to date on the current trends, methods, and curriculum we are to use with our students. We are trying to create a bridge here at SFCC with a local school district to offer technolgoy trainings for teachers during the year or summer months. It's in the baby stages now, but we hope it will gather full force and move forward to provide a place for teachers to continously learn.
Popi Stevens
2/8/2012 12:30:44 am
Technology is always changing and evolving and i believe that is why it is important to have Proffesional Developement Days (and new technology could/should be covered during those times).
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Kelli Miller
2/8/2012 02:53:26 am
I think using the Professional Development Days is a great idea of introducing teachers to new technology. I know some school districts either let out for half a day or there is a full day of no classes (I think they call it "In Service") so that teachers can be caught up on work and perhaps learn about new trends in education.
Christopher Sandefur
2/5/2012 10:49:34 pm
It depends on the teacher and how the decide to teach the class. I believe a lot of resources are there to further advance yourself for teaching in a 21st century classroom. While I was in school we had classes for educational technology that taught us how to use technology in the classroom. Some choose to use technology and some teachers decide not to incorporate technology into lessons. During my student teaching I notice technology is being used a lot more than when I was at that level. I would answer the question as yes new teachers are more prepared than past professionals. I believe that teachers still decide whether or not to use those resources.
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George Pincock
2/6/2012 01:28:26 am
What are factors that lead to a teacher deciding to use technology? I can for see that subject matter would definitely play a role (web design class vs biology). Does the age of the students matter? What about the teacher's age. I guess there is a lot of questions to consider when deciding if a teacher will or will not use technology.
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Casey Costa
2/6/2012 04:29:45 am
I agree that there are many ways to advance oneself as a teacher or in any other profession. I feel like a problem with this is finding the time and patience to learn these new techniques
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Audrey Crabtree
2/8/2012 12:13:56 am
I agree, the oppurtunity is there for new teachers to learn. The new teachers just need to make the most out of the experience.
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Cara Barth-Fagan
2/12/2012 02:53:16 am
Those who choose not to embrace the technolgoy will most likely be left behind and possibly not be rehired. Teachers need to encorporate technology into the classroom, using some type of media outlets (audio, video, manipulatives, people, visuals, etc). It's important to keep the attention of students as well, as many of them have been "entertained" by media all their lives. They are used to it.
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George Pincock
2/5/2012 11:04:44 pm
I think that all depends on a few factors. There are numerous training teacher training programs that help prepare for their time in the class room and non of these training programs are the same. Some focus on the technology side of things, some focus on other things. The decision to be prepared as a new teacher to use technology falls directly on the teachers shoulder. I would advice new teacher to seek out resources to help further there knowledge about technology. On a whole a believe are teachers are better prepared then those of the past.
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Elyce Lamphere
2/6/2012 01:39:13 am
I agree completely. There are so many different programs around the country, that some programs prepare their students better than others. As a whole, our future teachers are being prepared better then in the past.
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Ryan Mansfield
2/6/2012 11:37:50 am
Today's teachers may be able to use and teach with today's technology but will they be able in lets say five years, be able to teach with the new technology or better yet, be able to explain it to the next generation that will have to use them?
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Robert Thomas
2/12/2012 09:21:32 am
That is a good question. Teachers like students need to keep learning things everyday because you never know when you will be able to use that information later down the road in your life. You might not think you need it at that exact moment but who know what is ahead of you. Everyone needs to keep working to try to stay ahead of the curve. From day to day work on getting better at whatever your profession is.
Elyce Lamphere
2/6/2012 12:17:05 am
Today's new teachers I would say for the most part are prepared to teach our students in the 21st century. However, there are factors that can contribute to whether our future teachers are learning the skill needed for today's society. A factor can be, the institution a person graduates from. Did that program prepare the students the way the needed to be prepared? Also, the amount of time teaching students get to be in the classroom I feel can be a factor in preparing the students. The teaching profession should always be evolving, just like any other profession.
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casey costa
2/6/2012 04:31:32 am
I agree that the place someone comes from has an influence. For example from my undergrad and here there are different techniques that are used and stressed preparing each student respectively with different skills. Continuing education really comes in handy with all of these changes and keeping up
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Heather Kirkendoll
2/6/2012 05:45:06 am
I agree that the continued education helps teachers stay more current. I have found different resources from different assignments that I have done in my courses.
Christopher Sandefur
2/7/2012 01:13:54 am
Elyce-I believe that most institutes are starting to prepare students to use technology. I know during my undergrad we were required to use technology in most of my classes. I can see how some subject areas might not use technology more than others. I student taught for PE and did not use technology once in the actual classroom. It was one of my standards to complete but I made up that standard.
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Kelli Miller
2/8/2012 03:07:17 am
I agree. Just as our society and trends evolve, so too should the teaching profession. The two influences you mentioned (institution and obervation hours) no doubt way heavily on the preparedness of the the student-teacher.
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Cara Barth-Fagan
2/6/2012 12:30:50 am
I am teaching the preparation class at SFCC (Technology for Teachers) and taking this class at the same time . . .
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Heather Kirkendoll
2/6/2012 05:49:23 am
I agree with the statement that many of the children in school today know more about technology than those of us in our 30s. I had to ask some of my students about one of our Twitter assignment to see if I was doing it correctly. I asked some fellow teachers, and they didn't know, so I went to the next generation. I think outside influences have probably helped them discover these things on their own. I'm not sure the school building is where they are learning it. I could be wrong.
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Audrey Crabtree
2/8/2012 12:22:26 am
I too see a huge technology gap between my sister and I and she is only 9 years younger than I. She was using stuff I didn't learn about until high school in middle school. The only reason she didn't start sooner was because my parents wouldn't let her. I believe that students are so interested in the internet and technology that they become immersed in it. Younger generations are always looking for the next better thing. I think that the future with technology in classrooms is going to boom. It’s the funding that is holding schools back right now.
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Stephanie Armiger
2/6/2012 04:15:05 am
I believe this depends on whether the district that they teach in has educated the current teachers on the latest technology.
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Christopher Sandefur
2/7/2012 01:11:03 am
Stephanie-I agree with you and have experienced your situation myself. It really depends on a combination of the teacher and the classroom sources. I find it interesting that the teacher had the resources and did not use them. I wonder if she was trained or not?
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Stephanie Armiger
2/10/2012 06:47:34 am
Christopher,
Stacy Crommie
2/7/2012 01:57:29 am
It is true that sometimes those who teach us do not realize that we may not have the knowledge to use the technology. I was lucky in the fact that my clinical supervisor asked what I was familiar with and expanded my knowledge upon that.
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Stephanie Armiger
2/10/2012 06:51:10 am
Stacy,
Stephanie Armiger
2/10/2012 06:51:12 am
Stacy,
Melea Shimkus
2/12/2012 01:58:30 pm
I agree with you that it depends on where you're teaching. Some schools have access to more advanced technology while others are pretty far behind technology wise. But if the teacher has access to something like a smartboard, then he/she should ask how to use it so it does not go to waste.
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Casey Costa
2/6/2012 04:28:24 am
I feel like a lot are not ready for the classroom. Thinking in the elementary levels that are many schools now that are integrating a diverse student body, which many teachers only touch on in their four years at school and when they get to a class and have to teach accelerated, slow, and students with disabilities all in the same class they struggle. Also, in terms of technology not all schools have the technology that classrooms have, but overall I feel like undergrad programs do a good job at preparing teachers for the broad technology that is in the classroom setting.
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Heather Kirkendoll
2/6/2012 05:39:32 am
I believe this question, may invoke other questions? Are we talking about ready to teach? If that is the case, I don't know if you can ever be fully ready. Each day is a new day with a new situation. Someone may have completed all their classes with perfection, yet after stepping foot in the classroom, they may find this profession is not meant for them. Vice versa as well. I don't think you "know" until you are actually teaching. If we are talking about ready to use technology, I think today's students are better prepared than past students, but I think that some more hands on work with technology would definately be beneficial.
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Jeremy Esry
2/7/2012 03:41:49 am
Heather, great post. This question definatly invokes alot of other questions and there probably is no definate answer. Every day is definatly an expierence and you never know what kind of mood or attitude the students will have. I also agree that more hands on work with technology would be beneficial.
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Melea Shimkus
2/12/2012 02:11:03 pm
I agree with you about each day being a different experience. As a teacher, you never really know what to expect. The truth is, there's no way to prepare yourself for what to expect in the classroom. The only way to become a good teacher is through experience. So, really the first couple of years of teaching is finding out what works best for you as a teacher.
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Ryan Mansfield
2/6/2012 11:31:44 am
I would have to say the answer to that question would happen to warrent a yes and a no answer. It depends on what level of the educational latter you are teaching on, where you are located and what your school is able to afford. If you happen to be teaching at a very small rural school, your knowledge of the modern technology used in classroom may not have to be as far along as others who happen to teach as schools were money may not be an object. But to the point of the question: for the most part I believe teachers are mostly equipped to teach in today's modern classroom but will not be within the next 5 to 10 years depending on the speed and development in technology.
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Stacy Crommie
2/7/2012 04:00:26 am
I can't say I would totally agree with the fact we, as teachers,will not be equipped to teach for the simple fact of the workshops we are required to attend. They should be sufficient to keep us all equipped sufficiently if attended and affordable.
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Stephanie Armiger
2/10/2012 07:05:59 am
Here is a link to an article, that talks about how this school encourages their teachers to practice and be up to date on the latest technology by providing technology learning days for the teachers. http://www.edutopia.org/martin-behrman-charter-school-technology
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Matthew Clanahan
2/12/2012 06:30:19 am
Wow, Stephanie! I love the idea of "technology learning days"! I know countless people where I teach, including myself, who could really benefit from something like this. Many of our adjunct instructors have little or no knowledge about the tech we use in the classroom. Who would provide the actual training, though?
Stacy Crommie
2/7/2012 01:05:13 am
I believe for the most part teachers are prepared but I agree with what others have stated. It all depends on his/her background education and what technology was introduced to him/her. A lot depends on his/her internship and what his/her clinical supervisor has available to him/her and what he/she actually shares of this knowledge. It also depends on what kind of teacher he or she wants to be. If he/she wants to be a very good teacher, he or she will have to broaden his/her horizons and attend workshops and research new methods and technologies.
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Robert Thomas
2/7/2012 02:45:13 am
I think that the new wave of teachers are prepared with the new technology that is out there today. I know for myself that I wouldnt be able to run a smart board or anything like that. But thats why im not teaching in a classroom, or I would make myself learn how to use that kind of stuff.
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Jeremy Esry
2/7/2012 03:35:38 am
I do not believe that teachers are prepared to teach in a 21st century classroom. From previous expierence I can tell you that I definatly was not prepared to teach in one. I wish that I would have been able to take more teaching technology classes in college that would have better prepared me, instead at the beggining I was pretty much stuck with how my past teachers had taught me (PowerPoint, YouTube Videos, DVD's) I believe I would have been a much better teacher if I would have incorporated more technology in my lesson plans.
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Melea Shimkus
2/7/2012 01:34:35 pm
For the most part, I think the teachers are prepared to use whatever technology is available to them. The majority of new teachers are fresh out of college, which typically means that they are in their 20's. Some one in their 20's has grown up using technology regularly, a lot of this kind of technology is/can be used in classrooms. Even if the new teachers are not in their 20's, they can easily learn how to use the technology from other teachers at the same school.
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Nick Camp
2/8/2012 12:06:47 am
Are new teachers prepared in their teacher training program to teach in a 21st century classroom? When thinking back to my schooling, We did not have anything out of the ordinary in our classrooms, simply a few computers and an overhead projector. I remember my teachers using the overhead projector and transparencies quite a bit growing up. I think they favored the overhead rather than the chalkboard for its easy accessibility. To answer the question whether today's teachers are ready to teach in the 21st century classroom my answer is yes and no. I believe the teachers that take the time to attend workshops and better familiarize themselves with today's technology will be more successful than those who attempt to 'wing it'. In my opinion teachers who have been in the field for more than 10 years or so may have more difficulty adjusting to the 21st century classroom. I believe teachers that take the time to actually learn all the possibilities they have with technology will benefit from it the most.
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Audrey Crabtree
2/8/2012 12:11:54 am
I believe you get out what you want of an experience. I believe student teachers have ample amout of oppurtunity to learn what they need too. They are put with a teacher that can teach them whatever they ask. At some point you have take responsibility for your education and your future carreer. I think this is why you find such a gap in teachers. Some take all they can out of the experience while others do the bare minimum.
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Nick Camp
2/8/2012 12:18:44 am
Audrey, maybe teachers should be required to attend mandatory workshops that will show them how to properly use technology that is available in their classroom. There could be some kind of a system put in place where teachers must master the use of technology they have in their building and receive 'certificates' when they have demonstrated they understand all the concepts that the technology has to offer.
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Popi Stevens
2/8/2012 12:28:18 am
I agree, if someone just tries to get by then the will not be near as prepared as someone who is trying to get the most out of there learning experience.
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Popi Stevens
2/8/2012 12:26:05 am
I think that people are prepared for classes when they start teaching. Classes are there to prepare you for most everything. I realize that situations arise that can only be learned through experience, but for the most part, new teachers "get the Gist of things". People and services are out there to provide you with ample amount of information. All you have to do is ask.
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Matthew Clanahan
2/8/2012 01:46:33 am
Most of my preparation for teaching in a 21st century classroom has been from my own personal interest in technology and from watching my own professors use technology. I am thankful for this class and classes like it, which will hopefully serve in helping our future teachers become more techno-literate.
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Kelli Miller
2/8/2012 02:47:23 am
I believe that some teachers are and some teachers are not prepared to enter a "21st century" classroom. I know in the state of Missouri, the teacher training programs at colleges and universities have a set mandate of which courses students must pass in order to be a teacher. However, I believe that the mandated classes are not uniform when giving out teacher certificates. Some schools require different objectives for students to pass. States other than Missouri have different requirements, some providing more technological centered courses than others.
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Thomas Buehler
2/10/2012 01:42:25 am
I agree with what you say about depending on the college or university. My undergrad had a lot of technology in our classroom and training room that all apply to athletic training. Here at CMU our AT students haven't seen or had experience with any of this technology other than reading about it in a book. Going from a big university to a small university isn't as difficult and going from small to big.
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Thomas Buehler
2/8/2012 04:27:00 am
I think that new teachers are being prepared well on the technology front. With that being said, I have come from educational institutions where there have been enough funds to delegate to technology in the class room. I've been around computers from kindergarten through present. It has not been a struggle to find and possess technology. Some students aren't so fortunate and aren't familiar with present technology. I think that it is a new teachers responsibilty to educate themselves on all advancements in technology and prepare their students for introduction to this technology.
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Popi Stevens
2/8/2012 05:01:19 am
Thats a great point. Funding for education is very important as far as technology goes becuase you cant educate properly without the proper equipment.
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Matthew Clanahan
2/12/2012 06:24:25 am
I agree with Thomas that it is our own responsibility to educate ourselves and stay up to date with technology. However, I've run into the opposite situation this semester — I've been scheduled to teach a writing class in a classroom with no technology, not even a projector. This has proven to be a challenging experience, since I'm used to using tech in the classroom.
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Thomas Buehler
2/12/2012 12:15:00 pm
What kinds of strategies are you using to supplement for the technology your classroom is lacking?
Robert Thomas
2/12/2012 09:31:05 am
Like some people have said, you are only able to use what you have avaiable to you. What I mean by this is some schools that you teach in wont have the funds for the new advancments that can be used by the teachers. We need to use what we have at our finger tips the best we can. Not only for ourselves more importantly for the students because that is why we are there.
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