Through examination, I have found that...
- there are many equipment-type technology resources (such as a SMARTBoard, computers, video cameras, etc) but many of the computers we have are being occupied by students using them for online learning. This is an obstacle in that it is difficult to find enough computers to complete the assigned task.
- even if I had enough computers for each student to work independently (or as a group), I am realizing that many of the resources I would like to use in my lessons require internet access. However, with the current district filter this has become quite troublesome and frustrating--requiring a form to be filled out and reviewed before access may be approved.
- many of my students do not have access to computers and/or the internet at home. Though many of the students have cell phones and iPods, there is still a great number of students who are not privileged to computers outside of school.
I am attempting to think positively about technology integration but I keep hitting walls. If you have some ideas on how to overcome the above obstacles or have any other information to share concerning technology integration, I would love to hear from you.
3 comments:
With such tight constraints and limitations it might be worth your while to focus on something other than a specific tool but rather a much broader concept such as a teaching strategy. I have always found that students are far more resourceful than they are usually given credit. One suggestion would be to challenge students to achieve an end result or create an end project without showing them the tech tools they could use to get there but at the same time not limiting them to any specific method. Basically treat district imposed restrictions as obstacles to overcome in the problem solving process. Demonstrate or talk about the possibilities, discuss the obstacles, then ask them to overcome them.
I do not have quite as much trouble with filter issues but I know the frustration of not having enough computers. I usually pair students up on computers. One advantage to that is you have half the computer problems. Running around to students at 12 computers is vastly easier than running around to 24.
There is plenty of evidence out there that suggests that students learn better in a 2 to 1 environment anyway. Often the scarcity of resources works to our advantage. In this case it forces us to design work that forces the students to work collaboratively.
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