Subversive technology integration
Friday, April 28, 2006
I’ll fix your printer and tell you about new technology.
This falls under the “whatever it takes” school of technology integration. Teachers are often strapped for time, poorly trained for technology, and often struggle to understand how technology can work.
So when we are called into a classroom to fix an annoying technology problem, we have a temporary open door. The teacher is focused and energized on technology. Despite the feelings might be negative, once we have fixed the problem, we have an opportunity to introduce a new idea.
Without belaboring the point, this is also why IT IS SO IMPORTANT YOUR TECH SUPPORT PEOPLE ARE NICE. Teachers often seek the “teachable moment” As instructional technology coordinators, we need to also find the “teachable moments” for our teachers. When teachers encounter a mean-spirited technical support person (or a very lazy one), it does nothing but hinder, hamper, impede, and obstruct successful use of technology in your school.
On 28 April 2006, Raj Boora inscribed the following thoughts about this post:
I don’t think it can be said enough that the tech people need to be approachable - to the point where they seem to be always available or there on short notice. That is essentially how we run the two support units in our faculty and we get great results.
The techs also need to be sure not to press too hard when they are seizing the opportunity that they have. The teacher is in a very compromised power position if the assistance is required in the classroom and likely won’t be open to suggestions. The tech may want to try to follow up later on and see if there are any ways to “avoid” (nee try something different) the issue in the future.
Granted in many schools, the techs are other teachers, but the same model should apply there.
On 29 April 2006, Tony Forster inscribed the following thoughts about this post:
Be nice to your tekkies!
Tekkies have a lot to offer students. They are enthusiastic about the technology and enthusiasm is infectious. They are using web 2 and the teachers aren’t. Non-teachers can contribute to education. At one school, I see a group of tekkies who are isolated from the education and the students. Consequently they have boring and unfulfilling jobs and I dont particularly blame them if they are grumbling and unhelpful.
On 29 April 2006, Bill inscribed the following thoughts about this post:
Great points from both of you.
I think including techies into the educational process is very important. Now that I think about it, the techies-o-death I have encountered are totally divorced from the educational process. I wonder if giving them a small class might help?
Thank you for your comments!
On 02 May 2006, Raj inscribed the following thoughts about this post:
I don’t know if I would give a teddy bear to some of the techs-o-doom that I have seen in the past. Many hide in the computer back rooms because they don’t want to deal with people… they are called by “their preeeschiousssss”.
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