Let me explain... I am working in a school that has extremely high test scores. The teachers are great and the students are amazing. My title is Technology Instructional Partner and I work side by side with teachers as they use technology in their classrooms.
There are many teachers who really want to use technology. For a few it comes easily and even if I weren't there they would figure out how to do things and even write grants
to get equipment if necessary. There is a second layer of teacher that is open to use technology, but needs a little carrot or stick to help them to move. It is great sitting with this type of teacher and brainstorming ways to use technology that really enhance their curricular goals. There are two other types of teachers (at least). There are those who do not want to use technology or consider themselves too old to learn new things. Then there are those who are totally focused on their subject teaching enthusiastically and effectively without technology. This is the teacher-type that I am wondering about. If they are already getting top scores on the test; if they are teaching in an active and engaging way and emphasizing higher thinking from Blooms Taxonomy; if there is technology in their classrooms which is never used; why should I spend time and energy making them change? What if their test scores go down? What if they are not able to cover all of the curriculum the way that they used to without technology? What if they are frustrated instead of receiving energy from trying it out?
Somehow I know that they are cheating out their students and themselves by not using technology more. I just need more of a solid conviction that it is worth doing and maybe some suggestions for how to approach it. I hope I hear from some of my readers. (if there still are any!)
Thanks to yewenyi for use of the photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/yewenyi/300115429/
