Source:
Amirian, Susan (2007). Digital Backpacks: Facilitating Faculty Implementation of Technologies for
Teaching. Vol. 24, No. 1, 5-12
This article addressed the always important issue of teachers learning how to effectively use the always-evolving technology that is being integrated into school curriculums. According to the article, many types of teacher-training for technology use seemed to not be as beneficial as all would have hoped. In order to help teachers to better understand and properly use technology in the classroom, the strategies were offered at a different angle called The Digital Backpack. This experiment was first done in 2002 with twelve applicants from a university and it would consist of twelve sessions. This digital backpack contained all different types of hardware and software that teachers needed to learn about and how to use so that it could be implemented into the classroom. For the twelve sessions, the participants would meet and discuss one piece of hardware or software from their digital backpack- focusing on how it worked, actually getting to use it, giving feedback on how they felt about the particular technology, and most importantly, finding out how they could implement it into their curriculum. Though the sample size proved ineffective for information on how well the digital backpack worked, the participants still said that they were highly satisfied with this method of training for technology use.
I was very pleased with all of the information from this article. I worry often as a future educator that I will have a hard time implementing technology into my lessons because I honestly do not look forward to trying to understand certain software. I like the idea of a Digital Backpack because you have multiple objectives for what the participants must learn, however, you are breaking down your objectives until everyone understands how these pieces work. Most importantly, I really liked the fact that each week, the participants were able to give their feedback about how they felt about certain types of technology. I feel that this type of feedback is important for teachers and instructors so that they can figure out ways to teach more effectively about certain parts of technology, and so that teachers can understand they can work together to help each other to understand technology. I hope that this type of training becomes more available, so that future educators like myself are able to get a closer look at all technology that we will be able to use in our classrooms.
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI have to say that technology training has come a long way in the last 15 years. I remember some of the first training I received. It was a struggle. The applications were programs that computer programers understood, not teachers. The learning curve was so steep that many teachers fell off. In fact it was easier to do it the old fashion way then try to convert everything to the computer.
Computer technology is constantly changing and this is good and bad. It is good because upgrades usually mean the application can do more and is more user friendly. The down side is that more training is required and that is costly and time consuming, and finally files that teachers have created cannot always be converted to the new technology which means all the hard work they did (two or three years worth of work) has to be done again in a new format. I think teachers overall need more in-house support with technology, but too often there's one or two training sessions and they (we) are on our own.
I love Web 2.0 Tools because most of them are free and easy to use. A teacher can follow a few simple steps and really provide their students with a great online learning experience.
I think teachers are the key. As educators we have spoken out the computer programers have listened and made their sites and resources reflect educational objectives. As teachers we have a strong voice and I am so glad we have used it in this situation. It has caused great improvements for everyone using technology in an educational setting.
I have to agree that there seems to be so much new technology that it is basically impossible to be up to-date on all of it. The idea of having a "digital backpack" would really help teachers who are already overwhelmed with all the curriculum and standards we must follow. It would be nice to know it they have done more studies since 2002, since I bet we now have even more available technology. I do hope that the support for teachers in the schools does go up and that like the Professor said we are not on our own!
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