Technology Integration and the Digital Divide

Upon visiting my block 2 placement school, I am really excited about the attitude towards technology. The school has put in a short term initative to purchase technology and incorporate it into classroom learning. During the previous school year there were only two SMART boards, however the school has made some purchases and now owns seven. The school is dedicated to using their limited budget to try to upgrade their technology in order to benefit teaching and student learning. However, I was surprised to hear from a few teachers that although the school did have these technologies that they had never used them. I think that one of the reasons that technology is not having widespread in education is due to the lack of knowledge of how to use them.

I cautiously expressed to these teacher that I had experience and training using the SMART board (as I did not know how they felt about technology integration). I offered to teach my associate teacher and a few of the other teachers sitting around the staff room table around me to operate the SMART board. They were very excited and open to the idea. This was somewhat surprising to me because I keep reading and hearing about how the lack of technological integration is partially due to uncooperative teachers who are “set in their ways”. However, I am relieved and thrilled that this is not the attitude that I am encountering within the school. These teachers were genuinely excited to learn how to operate the communal technology that is currently being used exclusively by the same handful of classrooms that are familiar with how to use them.

And as a young teacher, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of sharing my knowledge of technology with these knowledgeable and experienced teachers whom I am certain I will be learning from during my stay at the school. I feel fortunate to have something to offer these teachers, especially my associate teacher who was kind enough to invite me into her classroom. I will begin my quest to technological leadership in this school. Stay tuned for updates…

Educational Leadership: How can an individual make a difference?

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
~Edward Everett Hale

This quote encompasses how I feel about education and my role as an educator. Although I realize that I am only one person, I know that one person can have a positive influence on a student, a school, school board and beyond. Therefore, I believe that individual leaders CAN make a difference. Being a leader is about taking a risk. It is about being creative, innovative, and wanting to make a change. Taking risks and participating in new activities are expectations teachers have of their students each and everyday. However, as teachers we owe it to our students to do the same. Taking a risk and trying something new, different, creative and innovative (even if it doesn’t always turn out as planned) is a chance that educational leaders take. It is what sets one apart from the status quo. However, I think that bringing about change in an environment in which people are used to routine can be met with some skepticism. This is why I think that many teachers try to play it safe (especially new teachers trying to establish themselves). However, if everyone always played it safe and never bothered to follow their visions and be innovators than we may never see any positive changes. Someone, somewhere needs to be willing to take that risk and try something new so that others are able to see the positive outcomes of change. Who knows, maybe by taking a risk you may inspire someone else to do the same?

The type of leadership that I most closely align myself with is moral leadership. I am a huge advocate of equal opportunities, inclusivity, and cooperation for everyone. I think that as role models in schools, teachers have the duty of presenting themselves in a moral manner and instill moral values in students. By instilling values of inclusivity, respect and equality, students will be accepting of others regardless of their beliefs. This is a characteristic that I feel ALL individual should possess. People are bound to have differing opinions and beliefs however how people handle these differences is an important skill that students need to observe and be taught. Although this is not something that is included within the formal curriculum, teaching students to respectful of others and be inclusive is something that I feel strongly about teaching. Students spends a great deal of time each day, week and year in school, so I feel that as a teacher I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students.

Furthermore, I think technology can be used as a tool to facilitate equality in the classroom. More specifically, different technological tools can be used as a means to provide differentiated instruction for students with special needs or who simply require additional assistance. Technology can also be used to incorporate different learning styles as many technological tools appeal to kinesthetic learners and visual. These tools are also a great way to enhance learning for all as they may help students who require additional assistance but they also help to enhance the learning experiences of students who do not necessarily need the extra help.