Are new teacher prepared in their teacher training program to teach in a 21st century classroom?
Is there enough support for more experienced teachers to add technology to their classrooms?
I have two questions that I feel need to be addressed as apart of this class. 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? Is there enough support for more experienced teachers to add technology to their classrooms?
44 Comments
Igor Misljenovic
9/23/2012 11:18:49 pm
I believe new teachers are prepared for teaching in the majority of today’s classrooms. Principles of education in Croatia have not tremendously changed over the last century. Technology is very, very slowly being introduced to classrooms. Meaning, that technology is also very slowly penetrating teacher training programs. Major changes have been seen in music education, and somewhat in art with the use of projectors and stereo systems. In the end, I base my claim on the fact that teaching curriculum has not seen drastic changes in the last 15-20 years (you could say that we are still in the 20th century).
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Brittanee Jacobs
9/24/2012 02:03:27 am
I think it is absolutely mind-boggling to know how far behind Croatia is compared to the U.S. with the incorporation of technology. I would never have guessed that they would just now be getting things like stereo systems and projectors. Since we are at such an advantage at having technology, we need to make use of the resources we have available to us.
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Michelle Unnerstall
9/24/2012 11:19:26 am
WoW! I can't beleive what I read also about you only having projectors. I can't believe what technology opportunities you are missing out on. Do teachers know how to use the technology?
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Igor Misljenovic
9/25/2012 12:34:44 am
Michelle, teachers are not very experienced using technology. Such things are not taught when you go to college to become a teacher. Many minutes are spent just adjusting a projector (my school had only 1 in my time) and figuring out how to exactly hook it up to the computer since they are seldom used. There is also a great variation in equipment between schools, some have more, and some have none.
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Kristi Harms
9/25/2012 05:12:34 am
I think we definitely take for granted the availability and the vast technology advances that we have in the USA.
Michelle Unnerstall
9/25/2012 11:09:28 am
wow. I always go to the tech guys at schools, where it is there job to help with problems. I bet you don't have those people to help either. You really must have tough times with technology. I need to remember to not take stuff for granted.
Angel Massie
9/26/2012 09:41:46 pm
Wow! Just when I feel under-privelaged for not having enough training, I read your post and think, "maybe I don't have it so bad after all..." I definately still feel as though our students in the U.S. are far more educated in ways of technology than teachers that have been in the field for several years. I think it is up to the districts/government to fund training programs for our teachers to help properly educate the students. Students educating themselves is not always a good thing.
Igor Misljenovic
9/28/2012 01:55:13 am
Michelle, a few CS teachers will help you with problems but in the end it is not their job to fix problems on student's computers.
Brittanee Jacobs
9/23/2012 11:26:31 pm
I do think teachers are prepared to teach in the 21st century classroom. Classes like these are very instrumental in keeping teachers up-to-date with the resources they need to be using in order to best engage their students in learning. However, the learning by the teachers cannot stop at the end of their schooling. They must continue to find new resources to help their students.
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Michelle Unnerstall
9/24/2012 11:21:09 am
I have found out that students are more engaged when using technology because that is what they use in the world today. Technology, I feel also takes a lot more time to get tasks completed to beacuse you have to teach them the technology aspects before going on to the learning part.
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Angel Massie
9/26/2012 05:33:24 am
You are correct in saying that funding and budgeting is lacking in training for experienced teachers. However, I will say, that MOST of time the new teachers that come into a district are more than willing to share their knowledge. Most school environments are welcoming to new and fresh ideas while the new teachers benefit from the help in lesson planning and standards needed from the experienced teachers.
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Lauren Robb
9/26/2012 07:35:20 am
I agree with your comments. I think the teachers need to keep learning and stay up to date with new technology. I believe using technology in the classroom is such an advantage. It's a new way to keeps students attention and keep them wanting to learn in new ways. It will be hard for the older teachers to learn the new technology without the help of a new teacher, I agree. Hopefully there are some patient newbies out there willing to lend a helpful hand and show the older teachers what they're missing out on.
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Becky Rose
9/26/2012 09:50:25 am
Brittanee,
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Scot Davis
9/30/2012 05:23:24 am
I don't think that new teachers would be against helping the other ones learn about technology because I feel that a lot of the times younger teachers look towards the experienced ones for help when new situations arise in the classroom. And due to this, I think that the younger teachers would return the favor; however, I do not feel that school districts should rely upon new teachers to educate the older ones about the use of technology. There should be something else to teach them about technology, such as in a teachers workshop. Or summertime seminars over using technology.
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Mike Tzianos
9/30/2012 11:34:27 am
Hey Brittanee,
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Lauren Noble
9/24/2012 12:11:48 am
I believe that the newer teachers and educators are better prepared for the 21st century classrooms. At universities, they are offering all kinds of technology classes for every major almost. At SBU we had two different technologies in the classroom that were mandatory to have to get your teaching degree. And in most of our teaching classes we had to use different technology while teaching to our class.
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Brittanee Jacobs
9/24/2012 02:01:34 am
I think it's awesome you had two required technology classes for future teachers. I think sometimes we assume everyone is up-to-date and fully capable of using technology. Some college students don't even know how to use Twitter (when just getting started with it), so how can we expect older adults to use something that the younger generations aren't even fully aware of?
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Lauren Noble
9/24/2012 03:58:06 am
Yeah I really enjoyed taking the two different technology classes. Learned a lot about the new SMART board system and how to present better to my classroom using the newer technology. There's only so much you can do with an overhead projector!
Michelle Unnerstall
9/24/2012 11:17:38 am
I believe also there is big technology gap between students learning and know things about technology alread and the older teachers that have no clue what they are doing. I wish there was a way to close that gap. Technology is hard and not something that can be picked up on. Teachers should have PD on technology because it is an important tool in our learning world today.
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Chelsea Loethen
9/26/2012 06:08:42 am
I really like the fact that SBU had mandatory technologies for teachers. All though I don't believe they should have stopped at only two because there are way more than only 2 technologies.
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Mike Tzianos
9/30/2012 11:39:18 am
I agree that the older generation teachers do not adapt to new technology as much as they should. But I believe there are many factors that contribute to this. One major factor is funding for continuing education. Another is limited requirements for continuing education. I think that if there was more funding and continuing education was pushed, then older generation teachers would adapt and utilize new technology in the classroom.
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Michelle Unnerstall
9/24/2012 11:15:02 am
I feel like new teachers going into teaching have a better knowledge of technology because they have used it more in learning than say older tenure teachers growing up. I, however, graduating from MIzou a year ago didn't have any classes using technology. All of us in the program really wanted a technology class on integrating the SMART Board in to lesson plans, but they wouldn't offer anything. I am hoping that more technology classes are being offered in undergrad programs.
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Kristi Harms
9/25/2012 05:10:11 am
I agree with you Michelle, having the technology available but not knowing how to use it would be so frustrating to many older teachers. I am sure that they would like to know and learn as well how to use the technology in order to be more effective teachers to their students. I think that frequent training on technology should be a must for school districts, so that their teachers can be knowledgeable and not be afraid or intimidated to use the technology that is available to them.
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Angie Richardson
9/25/2012 09:02:17 am
I am so surprised that you didn't have a required technology course required before graduation. I definately think that would have been beneficial.
Michelle Unnerstall
9/25/2012 11:11:45 am
I agree about the class. We all thought it was crazy too! It would have been very benefical. They always told us we could go to the library and play with the SMART BOARD, but in reality we needed training to see how it works and all the neat tricks to it. We were all pretty disappointed. I'm not sure if that is a class today or not in the Mizzou program. I hope so!
Becky Rose
9/26/2012 09:56:33 am
Wow; I am amazed that there wasn't a required technology course in your education curriculum at Mizzou! I graduated from UCM in 1997, and had a basic micro-computers course (not sure if that was required for my degree) and a required "Technology for Teachers" course. I've taken several classes off and on over the years since then, and almost all have had some component of technology. I definitely believe Mizzou has an opportunity for improvement there!
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Kristi Harms
9/25/2012 05:06:21 am
I agree with the comments so far, that new teachers today are more prepared technologically for the 21st century classroom. I think it is because they have been exposed to more technology throughout their lives and have used the latest technology in their college classes. Using and being familiar with technology is what it takes to suceed in implementing various teaching techniques into today's classroom. The more our society advances in technology the more our children will need to be taught in advancing classrooms as well.
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Angie Richardson
9/25/2012 09:11:09 am
I do think new teachers are better prepared to teach and utilize technology in their classrooms than some of the more seasoned teachers. Many colleges offer a basic technology class which helps students prepare for their future classroom but often I don't think universities are offering enough technology options. It has been twelve years since I attended my undergrad but I know I had the option of taking tecnology or bowling for my electives. I chose tecnology. I do think technology should be a requirement and not an elective. Often these newer teachers are also younger and more experienced with technology in general. I personally just got a cell phone two years ago and I know alot of the younger generation have had them for years.
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Lauren Noble
9/26/2012 04:35:35 am
I agree with a lot of what you have to say. I also agree with you on how technology classes should be a requirement rather than an elective. I understand and completely agree with how the older generation wants no part in this newer technology because they've gone almost their whole lives without it. But I think if they're wanting to educate the newer generation coming into schools they need to step outside their bubble of old school ways of teaching and get on this younger generation level so that everyone is on the right track to a good education.
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Angel Massie
9/26/2012 05:29:14 am
In the realm of technology, I believe new teachers are far more prepared than those that have been in the field for several years. Teachers just graduating from college and starting their first job have been inundated with technology as students in elementary, high school, and college. As an experienced teacher, I find myself telling 6th graders that I remember the bag phone being "so high-tech"! Smart boards did not even exist in my world until my 3rd or 4th year of teaching and then only the luckiest schools that had a grant-funded program had Smart Boards.
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Chelsea Loethen
9/26/2012 06:11:34 am
I completely agree that schools districts have an extreme lack of funding when it comes to sending their experienced teachers for more training. I also think that is why those teachers are falling behind because it is expected that they do those professional development things on their own. I believe if school districts offer more support we can help bring those teachers up.
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Chelsea Loethen
9/26/2012 06:00:49 am
I am a second year grad student at CMU and have had some problems with lack of preparedness for the growing technology from our grad teachers. Several of them have had to ask for help on how to open, a powerpoint, turn on a projector, etc. I feel like the older generation of teachers are not prepared to teach in the new world so to speak. As far as new teachers, I know that lot of my friends I graduated with are all teaching now and it absolutely amazes me with the stuff that have come up with technology wise for even their middle school math classes. I feel that for the most part our teachers are becoming more and more prepared to change with the trends of technology in their classrooms.
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Lauren Robb
9/26/2012 07:31:22 am
I agree with the older teachers needing help with technology. I have experienced the same issues with some of my undergrad teachers. They won't know how to upload videos or sometimes don't know short cuts on a computer or other technology to speed things up. I think if a younger teacher or student would just be patient with these older teachers they could learn new ways. I know it's hard picking up new skills but If they're open minded it can be done!
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Scot Davis
9/30/2012 05:12:53 am
I also see how older teachers have difficulty learning how to work with the newer technology. The new teachers who are just starting out have an understanding of how social media works and the use of computers and applications. Having younger teaching collaborate and help the older teachers with technology can be benefit both sets of teachers.
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Lauren Robb
9/26/2012 07:28:32 am
I believe new teachers are well prepared with new technology. I just graduated from College and I know several fellow students that went on to be teachers. My sister for example is a new teacher and she knows a lot about new technology for teaching. She can use smart boards, clickers, different types of projectors, she has an Ipad, and other smart technology. In my generation we grew up with technology I believe. We were old enough to understand the ipods, iphones, and tablets when they first came out. So overall for the first question I think new teachers definitely understand new technology.
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Lauren Noble
9/29/2012 08:09:39 am
I agree about how having younger teachers help the older teachers with the newer technology. I think once we get both generations working together and not being divided up teaching will be a lot better for students.
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Aaron Schroeder
9/26/2012 08:10:28 am
I have mixed feelings in answering these questions.
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Becky Rose
9/26/2012 09:37:07 am
Hi class,
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Daniel Simmons
9/27/2012 01:33:02 pm
Becky,
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Daniel Simmons
9/26/2012 10:17:44 pm
Because of the introduction of technology to more college classrooms, I believe new teachers are more prepared now than they ever were to teach. Technology has become a large part of how students learn in the 21st Century Classrooms. Because teachers who are getting ready to enter the work force have been so exposed to technology they have the tools needed to run an effective classroom. Also, new teachers could be beneficial in helping more experienced teachers understand technology and introduce it more in their classrooms.
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Scot Davis
9/27/2012 02:13:41 am
I do not feel that I have been prepared to use technology in the classroom at all for my undergraduate classes. I have typed a few papers and used myCMU. Other than that, I have had one class that frequently used technology and it was more on how to properly write instructions to be easily understood. However, I feel that those that are going into teaching have grown up using technology, opposed to teachers that have already been teaching for ten years or more.
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Igor Misljenovic
9/28/2012 04:29:49 am
This is a question for everyone. What kind of technology can you find in a 21st century classroom, except a SMART board? I am having problems visualizing completely what the room would look like.
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Aaron Schroeder
9/30/2012 08:57:40 am
I really am not sure what the classroom would look like. I envision it having tablets or laptops for every student and accessories for the SMARTBoards. I see it as having a teacher run website that welcomes students' input. I would like for a 21st classroom to have clickers that assessed student learning instantly. The last item is what I envision being in an ideal classroom, which isn't necessarily a 21st classroom by my definition. I would also like to add that we are in the 21st century and my classroom only has a SMARTBoard. .
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Igor Misljenovic
9/30/2012 11:07:57 am
Would all that equipment lead to a teaching style which differs from the one employed in the last 50 years? Meaning that the technology would be used for dictation, calculation and similar tasks. Leave a Reply. |
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