Ready or Not?

2/22/2015

When I got my undergrad I did not even have to take a computer class to get my BME. We did use computer for papers and music notation. There was a SMART Board in T.Berry 209 but we never got to touch it (and my Professors used it as a projector screen for notes on Power Point) . We were not prepared for the world of Technology that was out there then and there is no way we could be ready for what we have today. This brings me to this weeks question....Are teacher education programs preparing teachers for the 21st centenary classroom?

Pat Tracy

2/22/2015 11:28:18 pm

I believe some educators are preparing future teachers how to educate, but most are not. A lot of classes use traditional methods of teaching to get educators more adapted to using technology for lessons and what not. Depending on the professor, in my undergraduate, we would either use very little technology, where everything was on paper, or I have professors where we would do everything online with google docs, dropbox, and what not. Then there were some professors that would use some technology, like make a presentation or something along those lines. I believe there should be more involvement of technology in lessons while individuals are in undergraduate because it will allow them to use different tools after undergraduate more effectively and be more efficient in the workplace.

J. Golden

2/23/2015 12:15:28 am

I agree with what you're saying! The use of technology in classrooms is lacking so there needs to be a change so our future students and teachers will be familiar with the newest technology. The traditional methods are fine for simple assignments and daily work but the bulk of the classes should be taught and assignments should be done with some sort of technology.

Taylor West

2/23/2015 12:31:17 am

I completely agree with trying to use more and more technology in the class room. Time is changing, so we need to role with the times to keep kids acclimated to the better use of what is coming out. There is only one problem to this situation. Education funding is not great in school districts. So it will be hard to get stuff for each class room. The only reason I know, is I went and grew up in a very rural area. The school always had problems even providing books for kids, so there is also that aspect to look at when trying to implement all this new technological improvements. After reading about Google Chrome, just keep it easy and go with that. Easier said than done though.

Kim Welch

2/23/2015 10:42:01 am

Hi Pat, this is Kim. I completely agree with your statement about using more technology in undergraduate classes. I feel like education programs try to have students use a variety of technology resources, like PowerPoint, Google Docs, and others that you mentioned, but they don’t really touch on the kinds of technology students will be utilizing in the classroom, such as iPad’s, etc. If education programs just added a class that focused on the newest technology available for teachers, and how to use it in the classroom, it would better prepare teachers for what they will be facing once they enter the work world. It would also make them more marketable, less stressed, and more confident in their ability to use a variety of technology in the classroom setting. I don’t know how many times I have seen veteran teachers struggle because they don’t know how to use a SMARTboard, and I’m afraid that trend will continue, probably with other technology, if teacher education programs don’t better prepare people for the every-changing world of technology.

Simon Barinas

2/26/2015 02:44:28 am

Pat,

I completely agree with you, the implementation of technology should be mandatory nowadays because it will just make the transition easier for those teachers, and they would have the knowledge already once they come out of school of how to implement technology in their classrooms.

Jodi Himmelberg

2/26/2015 04:48:47 am

I agree with you but I also think that this may be due to the fact that the teachers teaching the classes are inexperienced. This is not the way that they were taught to teach when they grew up. The school needs to educate the teachers as well. Our school district makes sure that we are up to date and using advanced methods in our classes by having weekly and monthly tech. training sessions. I think all schools, even universities should have tech. PD.

J. Golden

2/22/2015 11:50:04 pm

I think that in most cases that teachers are not preparing future teachers and students for the technology. While I was in my undergrad, most classes used very little technology, which meant we used books, paper, pen, and traditional classroom items. I saw the most technology used when I was at a big university. There the professor used a smart board, YouTube, Google Docs, among other resources. Professors need to transition to using technology in all classes because it will better prepare the students for the real world and how fast technology changes.

Taylor West

2/23/2015 01:32:53 am

J. The first few sentence you say it all. Teachers are not prepping future teachers. It's as simple as that. All we need to do is implement the new with the subject being taught. I think it's hard since there is so much that needs to be taught already. But it is getting to a point now that teachers should take time and make sure they teach about using gear and tech in the class. If not it makes it harder to understand how to use it in the class room.

Devin Beasley

2/23/2015 08:45:22 am

I agree when you bring up the point that most teachers are not prepared for the future and the technology that comes a long with that. I think the most common form of "modern technology" is the use of Google Docs and YouTube. I remember lots of times where homework was turned in via Google Docs (which I really enjoyed using). I do think it is a great way for class discussion and I think more teachers should be aware of it. Also, YouTube is another form of "modern technology" that is used a lot for examples in homework, assignments, etc. Beyond this, I was never using any other form of serious technology. I think teachers need to be more educated on the different technology that is available to them before we are over taken and overwhelmed when technology takes over us.

Terry Keown

2/28/2015 06:21:57 am

Devin,

I agree with you on the benefits and usefulness of the technologies you mentioned and that the instructors should be at the minimum capable of using the "most common" technology out there. What I suppose might be my only thought of reservation in throwing my hat completely in the ringer in the use of these technologies exclusively is that it is akin to placing all of ones eggs in one basket. When I think about doing so it raises some "what if" questions for me in regards to if exposing the students to one form of technology or type over another is/isn't beneficial to them. It is true any type is better than nothing at all but one has to wonder if a broader spectrum of instruction and use in the technology selected can be beneficial to them.. .

Paden Kleinhesselink

2/25/2015 09:36:12 am

J. I agree with you. I do believe that most students are behind in technology in the class room. I was like you and didn't start using different technology until I was in college and even then it was very limited. We had a couple SmartBoards in high school but that was pretty much the extent of it. I just started using GoogleDocs a year or so ago. I think this needs to be a push in technology in the classroom.

Ryan Ellis

3/1/2015 12:27:20 pm

Google docs is a great tool. I wish that more schools would integrate that into the teaching world. It seamlessly expresses what most companies Try to accomplish by having all their personnel in the same page. It even has been used for hw at my previous college.

Simon Barinas

2/26/2015 02:41:52 am

J,

That is a great point during my undergrad I mostly used books and all the traditional or "old school" as people might call it, I think that if the professor is not implementing technological tools in the classroom nowadays the school should make it mandatory that they do.

Jodi Himmelberg

2/26/2015 04:51:19 am

I agree. I remember during my college career, having a lap top was required. All assignments and lessons were interactive in the business school but when I started in the Education field, nothing of the sort was required or available.

Taylor West

2/23/2015 12:20:32 am

This is a subject matter that will only change with time. Seeing that all my professors for my undergrad, all in there 50es teaching the subject. Understanding what they used when in school, and where comfortable with was the older stuff. So why change since technology is more advanced. I have asked a lot of my professors why they don’t use the equipment in the class room that is given. Like smart boards and such. They simply say, it’s too complicated and I like using what's easiest. So they feel no urge to use the better equipment then the traditional dry erase board, and the classic pens and paper. Over time in the next 10 to 20 years I bet with time. The way teachers use technology will improve since its kids that grew up with the technological age. Teachers will realize it is better to use other equipment to get a better hold on students, when using cool gear.

Devin Beasley

2/23/2015 08:35:51 am

Taylor,
You bring up some great points about why technology is not used a lot in the classroom when we were going through school. Like you, in my undergrad, a lot of my professors were in their late 40's/50's. I remember a time when my professor first got her Ipad and was just amazed on how much she could do with it. We almost spent a whole class talking about the opportunities the Ipad could bring to her in and out of the classroom. I think the professors whom I learned under were so used to simple typed and emailed papers, that they stuck with what they knew and it worked for us! Lots of lectures and powerpoints later, I seemed to get my degree just fine!

Kim Welch

2/23/2015 10:50:39 am

Hi Taylor, this is Kim. I think you made a wonderful point about a lot of teachers in education courses often using what is comfortable to them, such as pencil and paper, because it is what they used when they grew up. Like you also mentioned, I think as time proceeds, future professors in the education department will transition to using more “up-to-date” technology, such as SMARTboards, iPads, and other items, because it will be comfortable to them. I still see the use of the old pencil and paper as important though, because writing is essential for the development of the brain, etc. I can see technology being a main resource in teaching future college classes for education majors, but I hope those professors don’t forget about “concrete” materials to help their students get a hands-on approach to learning. Most of the time, change is good, but totally getting rid of old methods and ideas can backfire as well.

Paden Kleinhesselink

2/23/2015 04:53:39 am

I think that most of the teachers coming out of college are somewhat prepared for the technologies. Most the of students have an idea of what technologies that are out there. I don't think they know how to use them because most probably haven't been able to use them. I wasn't an education major in my undergrad but my roommate was and he always tried to use technology as much as he could. I think that most are not taught how to use technology properly or efficiently.

Jeromy Layman

2/27/2015 12:31:56 am

I somewhat agree with you. I think that education is naturally a few steps behind when it comes to technology because it changes so rapidly. By the time an instructor in a education preparation program gets a handle on a new technology and starts teaching it, the next generation has come out.

Devin Beasley

2/23/2015 08:30:20 am

I do not think that teachers are being educated and taught how to use technology in the classroom. In my undergrad, the most technology that we used probably was Google Docs. We did not use smartboards, ipads, etc. We typed our papers and emailed them into the professors or turned them into sights such as MYCMU. I think there should be a whole class dedicated to how, when and why technology can be used in the classroom. This way, our teachers of the future are prepared and have more access to the technology that will be available to them. We have to try our best to keep up with the modern world and all of the amazing technology that could be a HUGE help in the classroom and any educational settings!

Paden Kleinhesselink

2/25/2015 09:49:19 am

Devin. I was in much like your boat. All we used was Google Docs in our classes. We just started using iPads to do some things but other than that it was pretty limited. As I think much of the class agrees is that there needs to be a large push in improving the technology used in the classroom.

Tyler Fritz

3/1/2015 04:22:23 am

I agree Devin, I don't think teachers today are being properly taught how to use this new technology in the classrooms. I am in the same boat as you we really didn't use any of this new technology, but I think the main reason for this was because I had older PE teachers who were stuck in their ways and did not want to change. I agree with you as well about there being a whole class dedicated to technology.

Kim Welch

2/23/2015 10:34:17 am

As far as my undergraduate classes preparing me for the 21st century, I would have to say that they did a pretty decent job of doing so. I feel kind of fortunate to have gone to the University of Central Missouri (UCM), because they provided me with quite a bit of technology to better prepare me for a career as a future teacher. I was able to get a lot of experience with SMARTboards, used a variety of computers, and created numerous presentations using PowerPoint and other software. I was also able to become familiar with how to create class websites, Web Quests, and utilize other online resources to better prepare myself as well. Even though I had a decent amount of exposure to technology in my undergraduate years, I wish I had a little more experience using iPads and other mobile technology devices. I know iPads are kind of a recent craze, but I never used one in my undergraduate years. Just like most people, I still used regular pencil and paper to complete a majority of my assignments. I remember writing out just about all of my papers in pencil first, then typing them out on the computer. I eventually transitioned to just typing my rough draft on the computer, because it saved me a lot of time – I mean A LOT OF TIME! Overall, I believe a majority of teacher education programs do a pretty good job of preparing students to be comfortable with using a variety of technology, but they will always be behind the eight ball. Since technology is always updating and changing, continuing education courses and other professional development seem to be one of the best ways to keep up on the newest tools of the trade.

Julie Crawshaw link

2/25/2015 11:47:26 am

Kim,

I think you make a great point about how educational programs will always be a little behind the most current use of technology. New products are always being created in hopes of beginning a new popular fad. Schools first have to see what is being utilized by the masses, and then find ways to incorporate those products into the classroom and deal with limited funding at the same time.

Dawn Macklin

2/25/2015 10:36:55 am

When I did my undergrad at Central Methodist the “technology” class was called Audio Visual. Yes, we learned how to use the overhead projector, VCR, and yes even copy machine and mimeograph. Now this wasn’t back in the dark ages, although compared to what we have today it seems like it. It was in the late 80s early 90s. Wow! How we have grown!
I don't believe that teachers are being prepared enough for using current technology in their classrooms. Many upcoming teachers may know about some technology, but through the use of their own devices. I also think it depends on the school they attend. It it’s a school and the technology resources they have. I think larger universities might have more money to invest in technology. For smaller schools it may be more difficult to keep up with the ever changing technology that is available. When I first received my SMART board and “clickers” for my classroom, the I/T department didn’t even know how to use them!

Julie Crawshaw link

2/25/2015 11:54:08 am

Dawn,

I agree that most teachers who are using the more current technology are using their own devices. Schools want teachers to use the current technology, but are not necessarily providing funding for the cost of the new technology.

Jeromy Layman

2/27/2015 12:34:30 am

Technology is improving and changing so rapidly, it's hard to keep up. I think that this younger generation is better at adapting to new technology, but everyone has that moment where their adaptability stops and the next new fangled thing will be too much to handle. I think that the best things a teacher prep program can do is give a solid foundation that can be built upon through future professional development.

Terry Keown

2/28/2015 06:04:56 am

Dawn,

Sounds quite similar to my region of the country as well;new instructional technology creates more of a hurdle for those responsible to maintain it than those using it. Which sort of paints a picture I believe in so many ways of how educational equity can be elusive. Many school administrations in implementing new technology are so happy to have it that maybe they miss a few of the touchpoints with the technology. For example downtime (repairs), upgrades, and infastructure are all needed considerations before implementation. what good is the technology if it can not be supported thus the reasons larger school systems and universities have an advantage in this area.

Julie Crawshaw link

2/25/2015 12:16:50 pm

I believe educational programs are trying to incorporate the instruction of technology in their curriculum, but the difficulty is that technology is constantly changing. One of my first computer courses in college required the class to create a computer program using the BASIC computer language (yes, I am giving my age away). I later had a class that require a COBOL computer program to be created. I don't believe either of these computer languages are being used any more. The best schools can do is to introduce technologies that are presently available and to show how to use these new technologies in the classroom. Teachers will have to seek out professional development opportunities to learn how to use newer technologies in the classroom. Conferences are also a great way to share ideas of how to use technology in the classroom to help students learn course content. The focus should always be towards helping students learn the material of the course.

Dawn Macklin

3/1/2015 11:26:14 am

Julie,
I agree with you that teachers are going to have to take the initiative and seek out their own opportunities for professional development regarding technology. Other than sometimes learning from my students about some things I don't feel like I do a good enough job of this and would like to do better at it.

Simon Barinas

2/26/2015 02:39:47 am

I do not think most of the programs are preparing the teachers for the technology world that is out there, and in part I highly think that it is not because of the educators fault, but there can be a lot of factors like budget in the program, accessibility to technology, etc. In addition to that, if the educator is stuck in his/her old ways is not going to provide the newcomer teachers with technology advices and instructions that will help them in the future.

J. Golden

2/26/2015 03:19:44 am

I hadn't thought that a professor might be limited to resources because of a budget. That's a great point and might make some professors stuck using "old technology". I think all educators should be open to trying "new technology" and implementing new ideas to the classroom.

Jodi Himmelberg

2/26/2015 04:45:38 am

I don't think teacher education programs do a good job of preparing teachers as far as technology goes. I got my degree in accounting and then did the quick certification through CMU to become a certified teacher. I think the program did a great job getting me ready to handle students and manage my classroom but it did nothing to teach me how to use all the tools we have today. With that said, I was one of the teachers who had more techinical ability because of my degree and all the technology that I used in that area. I think most of my learning came from the student teaching piece and that can be a good or bad experience based on your teacher. If you teacher used a lot of technology then you learned it during your student teaching session but if you got someone who did not then you missed out.

Jeromy Layman

2/27/2015 12:29:54 am

I think that teacher education programs are always going to be a step or two behind the technology curve. Technology development is moving so fast, there is a new device or development every month. But because the instructors teaching new educators have to get trained on the new technology before they can teach it, they are perpetually a step behind. Now, I do think that teacher preparation programs are pretty good about giving a basic foundation of understanding that can be translated to newer technologies that may come up, I think that it is up to educators to keep abreast of the latest technologies through a career-long commitment to continuing their technology education.

Dawn Macklin

3/1/2015 11:21:25 am

Jeromy,
I agree with you that teacher education programs will always be as step behind and that it is up to the teachers to keep abreast of the lateste technologies. I for one, don't do a very good job of it sometimes but that is one thing I would like to do better.

Dawn

Terry Keown

2/28/2015 05:50:01 am

During my early college years my intention was to be either a science or music teacher. I strayed away from being a music teacher because I found science a more reliable source of income if I wasn't teaching. My graduation year from college back then was to be the last year in the state that they offered life time teaching certificates. I passed on obtaining it at the time because I thought science would end up being my bread and butter. I have regretted that decision a few times over the years because I enjoy teaching;but not so much in recent years. The reason for the loss of my regret in not obtaining the life time teaching certificaate lays in the fact that I don't think it would of propelled or required me to stay as current with technology as I have had to with science in the medical industry. Therefore in answer to the question "are teachers prepared" I'd have to say yes and no. I believe teachers are being prepared more via their own iniative rather than it being mandated by the state or federal government. Additionally, I think the developers of new instructional technology fall short in preparing teachers for new technology on the horizion that could enhance the learning experience dramatically for students. Just watching the youtube videos on the capabilities of Microsoft's new Windows programs can really generate some ideas of its use in a classroom situation. Thus, in some ways teachers are being prepared but on so many different fronts I believe they are not.

Tyler Fritz

3/1/2015 04:18:28 am

These days I think that there are some professors in college that are getting us prepared for the technology of today, but then there are others that are not. Some of the classes today still use the old traditional ways of teaching because they don't even know anything about new technology. That is kind of the problem for us today because there are some younger professors who know and will teach this new technology and then there are still some older professors that are still using old methods. This wont work it self out for at least 10 more years I think.

Ryan Ellis

3/1/2015 12:22:11 pm

I honestly think that teaching classes are behind in their technological lessons. In my high school we had early tablets and computers in all of our classrooms where we would integrate chat rooms And online video boards into every lesson. I haven't really seen much effort being put into practical use besides our classes. Other teachers didn't receive any training for practicality.

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