It’s comforting to know when we (Portsmouth’s I.T department) are bucking national trends in instructonal technology. In a recent survey/study conducted by the NEA, teachers are feeling underprepared in the areas “that matter most: instructional software, technology integration, learning outcomes management, and designing individual lesson plans.” ["Classroom Technology 'Woefully Inadequate,' Study Finds," David Nagel, T.H.E. Journal, June 2008]. The study conducted was Gains and Gaps in Technology by NEA, finds that teachers feel technology in education is important:
95 percent said that technology improved student learning, when used properly;
88.9 percent said technology is “essential to teaching and learning”; and
89.1 percent said that technology helped their students enjoy learning more.
I also found interesting from this article: “For the most part, educators did report that they’d received “adequate” training in the technologies they use for teaching and other aspects of their work. Again, however, a large minority said they did not have at least adequate training in using technology equipment (31.7 percent reporting inadequate training), using administrative software (also 31.7 percent), using instructional software (38.7 percent), using technology to evaluate student progress (42.4 percent), integrating technology into instruction (44.3 percent), and using technology to design individualized lesson plans (54.4 percent). The category of using the Internet for research was the only area in the study in which dissatisfaction dipped below 30 percent, with 71.1 percent of respondents saying they were happy with their training, rating it as “adequate” or “more than adequate.”
Our Instructional Technology Department is conducting a week long technology intgegration session for many areas: Adobe Photoshop, Promethean Board integration, Movie Making in the Classroom, Podcasting, and many, many more. Feedback has been positive: around half wish that there was more time in each session (good–you want more!).
Nancy and I are leading the workshop for video production and ways to integrate this into classroom instruction. We reviewed the AFI Screen Education program (great oohs and aahs!) and are excited to see how movie making is going to be used in our schools this fall!
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