What are we if we don’t have a dream? A dream is a wish your heart makes… is a quote from Cinderella in the original Disney animated movie. As much as I want to believe Cinderella, and my mother assured me that she would get the “prince” in the end, not everyone’s dreams come true. I’m not sure Michigan’s Technology Standards will either but then again, who am I, to squash someone else’s dream?
As I read the standards (and I did read all of them and not just the technology ones) I felt as though I were in a dream world. Each standard (or should I say recommendation?) seemed so “pie in the sky.” In a dream world my teacher would have all those abilities, but in the real world, “forget it.” Some are lucky to just show up each morning.
I am not a current teacher and so my undergraduate preparation was not in this area. My daughters have been lucky to have some really great teachers, but I'm not sure they have met these technology standards. Not because they don’t want to, but more because some just don’t have the training or the time to receive the training. Each day, they are asked to do more and more in the classroom, keeping track of this and that, little things that boggle and confuse the mind. There are so many different requests daily, that I sometimes wonder if they get through their simple lesson plans, let alone try to incorporate something new with technology into them.
As I perused this document, I felt there were many similarities with the objectives outlined in our syllabus for EDU 590. In fact, I think our instructor was mindful of these standards when putting together the course objectives. I don’t see that we will be researching the legal issues outlined in 7a on page 6 of the Professional Standards of Michigan Teachers, but we will certainly be aware of some that will come into play as we start to incorporate technology into our practices. Understanding the use of technology in the classroom is indeed a wish that my heart makes.
Works cited:
Professional Standards for Michigan Teachers.(http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ mde/SBE_approved_PSMT_May_13_2008+coverpg_258601_7.doc).
Photo credit:
http://th6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/memetician/th_pie.jpg
This is so true. I always want to incorporate more technology into my classroom and sometimes get bogged down or the technology is not available so I just don't use it. I, like you, am hoping that the state of Michigan will make this a more attainable goal for all of us. It seems like if we could just get the ball rolling and some different technologies up and going that it would really make everyone's lives easier and students could learn more effectively. I know even as much as my district has to offer that I still get frustrated with some of our resources and attitudes toward technology. What a dream… :)
ReplyDeleteI think you have pointed out the elephant in the room. The dream you speak of is just that, and yes it makes people feel good that they put another on teachers to be responsible for. Its great to have some guidelines, but like you I read all of them...are you kidding? How could anyone be responsible for adhering to those in totality! You need a spread sheet just to keep track of them. Sometimes I wonder, were the creators of the "dream" those of us who work on degrees like we are doing now, and create monster documents like the Professional Standards knowing that most people wont have time to read them?
ReplyDeleteMy first year in Grand Ledge(2007) my computer was 14 years old. It took me at least 5 minutes per class to take attendance. Since then we passed a technology bond and we have been vaulted into the digital age. Unfortunately we still have teachers who only use their computers to take attendance.
ReplyDeleteThe monster document that is the Professional Standards does provide some good reminders and some new good ideas. I enjoyed looking it over because it validated some of the things I currently do, and it also gave me some ideas on areas I need to improve. I am a huge believer in technology. I think the future of education is going to rely heavily on technology. Our students today are so infused with technology, it won't be long before our teaching is strongly embedded in the new technologies available.