Module 4.2/”Digital Literacy”

In the article “Five Reasons for Integrating Technology”, I found that the article was written with well balanced thoughts.  The article questions why we as teachers and school districts have so many demands placed on us to improve test scores and student performance, yet states continue to deny or reduce the funding that provides the technology that is needed to make these improvements.

The article gives you five typical arguments against technology in schools, and five better reasons to use it:

1. The legal issues are daunting: what if a student writes inappropriate content online?  Answer:  Parents and teachers must be a part of monitoring and modeling.  It may be scary, but without teaching students about appropriate use, the will surely encounter exactly that which we are most scared of.
2. How ever will we train all those teachers?  Answer:  It’s simple.  Have teachers train teachers.  Give teachers who know how the paid release time to be trainers during their contracted hours of those who don’t know how.
3. Where does the time come from?  How can we add more to a teacher’s plate?  Answer:  How ‘bout this?  Don’t.  Instead, take something off teachers’ plates rather than put more on.  We have to prioritize, and including technology is too important.  We can’t continue to have teachers waste their time on the curricular needs of yesteryear.
4. Some students don’t have access to technology at home so how can we expect them to use it for assignment?  Answer:  The fact is that it’s a school’s job to step up to provide and instruct.  Even though some students may not have access to a computer at home, the school needs to see its role in equalizing the differences between those who have and those who don’t.
5. It’s expensive.  Answer:  Nevertheless, we cannot afford to fall any more behind in our comfort and use of technology.  Policymakers need to start backing up their demands with funds.

She ends the article by stating, “We can’t allow fear to dictate our progress, nor can we allow those who won’t move forward to dictate whether we do move forward.  We cannot allow policymakers to insist on adoption and not provide for it, or worse yet, tentatively provide it and not find bravery and support by those within education’s walls.”
Very good article!