Comments on: Poking the fire while it is hot… http://blog.brettmoller.com/2007/09/04/poking-the-fire-while-it-is-hot%e2%80%a6/ Thoughts on education and educational technology. Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:06:17 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tim W http://blog.brettmoller.com/2007/09/04/poking-the-fire-while-it-is-hot%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-11136 Tim W Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:04:52 +0000 http://blog.brettmoller.com/2007/09/04/poking-the-fire-while-it-is-hot%e2%80%a6/#comment-11136 As an IT guy for a school, I'd love to see the school develop the requirements for such a system. In my experience, academia says, "It's technology, let the IT guys handle it." instead of doing any research whatsoever. They simply see (or more often hear) that a competing school is doing it, so they have to have it too. No one considers the ongoing cost of maintaining these new toys. Like I said, I am an IT guy and I understand computers and networks, but this is audio/video/presentation stuff and I have a huge learning curve for this. I'm glad I found your blog though. It's good to see someone asking the hard questions about using technology. As an IT guy for a school, I’d love to see the school develop the requirements for such a system. In my experience, academia says, “It’s technology, let the IT guys handle it.” instead of doing any research whatsoever. They simply see (or more often hear) that a competing school is doing it, so they have to have it too. No one considers the ongoing cost of maintaining these new toys. Like I said, I am an IT guy and I understand computers and networks, but this is audio/video/presentation stuff and I have a huge learning curve for this.

I’m glad I found your blog though. It’s good to see someone asking the hard questions about using technology.

]]> By: Tim Goree http://blog.brettmoller.com/2007/09/04/poking-the-fire-while-it-is-hot%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-8811 Tim Goree Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:39:14 +0000 http://blog.brettmoller.com/2007/09/04/poking-the-fire-while-it-is-hot%e2%80%a6/#comment-8811 Regarding who should make decisions on technology integration in schools: I think it is important to realize that it takes a village on this matter. When you refer to "curriculum and sound pedagogical thought", who exactly are you referring to? I agree with your sentiment, but my experience has shown that some of the most illogical and wasteful technology programs to date have been conceived and ramrodded through the system by those who live only in the very tiny world of "curriculum and sound pedagogical thought". I am not intending to be adversarial with this post, and I agree that about 97% of the technology heads in the educational industry are very unconcerned about the true goals of the system within which they work (that would be student learning, I hope!). However, I believe that the ultimate relief for the problems identified in your post will come from two things: 1) The recognition by technologists in the educational realm that their job is ultimately about enhancing student learning. This recognition SHOULD drive them to become students of the educational process, which SHOULD begin to give them a legitimate say in how technology fits in to the educational process. 2) The recognition by teachers and certificated administrators that "curriculum and sound pedagogical thought" is not rocket science, and that those without masters degrees and doctorates may have extremely valid ideas within that realm. I submit that it is more likely (given the desire) that a technology person could become an expert in the art of teaching than a teacher could become an expert in the use and configuration of technology. There is a reason, after all, that you find a shortage of technology folks in this arena. I'd love to see technology staff taking more of an interest (and ownership) in the over all mission of the schools that they work for. I'd really love to see administrators and teachers encouraging technology staff to take that ownership. Who knows, we might actually see sharp technologists stick around longer if they actually bought in to the overall objective. We do, after all, work in the most noble of professions... Regarding who should make decisions on technology integration in schools:

I think it is important to realize that it takes a village on this matter. When you refer to “curriculum and sound pedagogical thought”, who exactly are you referring to? I agree with your sentiment, but my experience has shown that some of the most illogical and wasteful technology programs to date have been conceived and ramrodded through the system by those who live only in the very tiny world of “curriculum and sound pedagogical thought”.

I am not intending to be adversarial with this post, and I agree that about 97% of the technology heads in the educational industry are very unconcerned about the true goals of the system within which they work (that would be student learning, I hope!). However, I believe that the ultimate relief for the problems identified in your post will come from two things:

1) The recognition by technologists in the educational realm that their job is ultimately about enhancing student learning. This recognition SHOULD drive them to become students of the educational process, which SHOULD begin to give them a legitimate say in how technology fits in to the educational process.

2) The recognition by teachers and certificated administrators that “curriculum and sound pedagogical thought” is not rocket science, and that those without masters degrees and doctorates may have extremely valid ideas within that realm.

I submit that it is more likely (given the desire) that a technology person could become an expert in the art of teaching than a teacher could become an expert in the use and configuration of technology. There is a reason, after all, that you find a shortage of technology folks in this arena.

I’d love to see technology staff taking more of an interest (and ownership) in the over all mission of the schools that they work for. I’d really love to see administrators and teachers encouraging technology staff to take that ownership. Who knows, we might actually see sharp technologists stick around longer if they actually bought in to the overall objective. We do, after all, work in the most noble of professions…

]]>