Factors contributing to teachers’ successful implementation of IT / Journal Of Computer Assisted Learning (2002) 18, 480 – 488. C.A. Granger, M.L. Mor

This article deals with 4 different schools and their educators’ perspectives about teaching technology in their classrooms.
Although this article has been published a few years ago, and deals with Canadian schools, it seems that not much has been changes over time regarding teachers’ feelings and thoughts about this subject, and that those feelings and thoughts are universal. By providing some examples I will clarify what I mean.

In the following lines I will relate to teachers’ experiences and attitudes towards teaching technology in their classrooms as indicated in this article.

First interesting point is related to one of the schools’ principals who found she was learning from her own students when it relates to technology. This is something we talked about in class in the beginning of the semester – that since technology is constantly changing and being innovated, young students are many times much more informed and involved than their “old” teachers. Hence, they can contribute from their personal knowledge. This is something I am “taking” home with me from studying technology and reading this article – let my students help me if needed and be comfortable with that.
A second interesting matter in this article is concerning teachers’ ICT experiences and skills. The interviewees were very heterogenic with regard to their teaching experience (in years) and fields of teaching. Also, they all had at least Bachelor degrees. However, almost all were lack in ICT specialization. I think it is very beneficial for a teacher (and eventually to her/his students) to have an ICT professional experience, especially nowadays where so much is going on the www. I think today computers and the internet are becoming an integral part of our lives and it is important to educate students about how to use it right. It reminds me of what we studied regarding a proper use of the keyboard as well as social networking. If we, the teachers, will be educated about it, we will be able to teach our students to do a positive and constructive use and to benefit from technology.
Third, the teachers that were interviewed in this research ranged in their views regarding the goals of using technology in their classrooms. On one end were those who saw it merely in the playing level while others acknowledged its importance for students with learning difficulties. One of the teachers said it can be isolating and even detrimental “because it is missing the human component of relationship”. I am happy I have learned it is possible to incorporate technology to benefit students with some learning disabilities; I have also learned that even by something that seems like “merely playing”, a student can learn! I do believe, however, that we should not entirely rely on computers while teaching in the sense that a human interaction is very important.
Another excerpt: “teachers wanted to justify or to be assured that the time they were injecting into technology was not taking away from the language arts…or the math they had to cover”. Sounds familiar? :-) Right now I am not teaching, but when I will, I will do my best to incorporate technology in my classroom as a tool to achieve curriculum objectives and not only as an end. From what I heard in our Tech course this semester, it is very much possible.
A further point that was raised is regarding technical problems in schools where many of the computers do not work properly. What does a teacher supposed to do when suddenly some of the computers do not work? It is very frustrating. Teachers showed concerns of shortage of technical support when those problems occurred.
Last interesting point for me was that many teachers found that “just in time” and informal learning is the most useful for them to learn technology skills they need. Is it really so? I wonder about it. Is it possible to learn so much this way? I think that if you need to solve a problem it might indeed help, but to get more comprehensive knowledge about teaching technology may require a more thorough training.