Reading Reflection 1

The two articles this week do what it is so hard for we as educators to do, which is strike a balance. The article Of Luddites, Learning, and Life by Postman does not necessarily call for the elimination of technology, but does ask why are we using it and what do we need that for? Beyond Technology Integration: The case for Technology Transformation by Joseph discusses the move from standardization to customization and the how technology fits in. I really enjoyed both articles and shared them with a few colleagues at work. I work in a newly remodeled school with technology enhanced classrooms and many in the staff are struggling with this new technology in different ways. Some are struggling because it is new and different, which always requires some time to adapt and learn. Others remind me of the Postman's reference to buying a new car in which he states, "What is the problem to which this is the answer?" The nice thing about the new tech our staff is experiencing is that we have training available for not just the hardware and software, but also on how to incorporate it into what we teach. We are now incorporating our technology, with the PLC's (Professional Learning Communities) we use and our building initiative with RTI (Response to Intervention).  These are all designed to move us away from the Industrial Age model cited by Joseph and towards the student customization of the information age.  We do struggle with some of the same questions in the Joseph article, such as "How can a teacher help 30+ children to all learn different things at different rates and in different ways utilizing authentic task?" So what is technologies role in these transformation? Some things are in place like Michigan Virtual High School for credit recovery, but just as there are individual students with individual needs there are individual schools with individual needs. There is of course fear of the unknown and change. Then of coarse there are the "Luddites and the indifferent", which like to see it works before putting fourth the effort.  As Joseph states in his article, "transformation will not be an easy task".

Postman, N. (1993). Of Luddites, learning, and life. Technos Quarterly, 2(4).

Reigeluth, C.M. & Joseph, R. (2002). Beyond technology integration: The case for technology transformation. Educational Technology, 42(4), 9-13