Is there a disconnect between what students and teachers think about how effective technology is used to promote learning?

The notion that most of our teacher population has not grown up in the digital world and that, on the most part, technology is a new idea and tool for teachers does confirm the annalogy that we are "immigrants" to the field. We need to learn from our students, the "natives". Embrace them as our teachers and let them show us what you know.

Embracing technology means learning new ways and changing how we teach, which can be very intimidating for those teachers who are content driven, inflexible, and have no extra time. They cannot see the jewel that shines out there because they do not know what they do not know. Sometimes technology is viewed as a separate subject taught in isolation, rather than part of the plumbing that helps the learning happen. Often teachers do not know how easily students incorporate technology in their daily lives and what students are capable of. This can lead to fluffy assignments with minimal expectations for tech. use. Use of technology may be confined to researching however the kids can figure it out and writing a report with a little fancy formatting. The teacher may think he/she did a unit with technology use when the students view it as the normal task. Teachers need to learn the use technology in their classrooms that has meaning for their students, with authentic and effective expectations that adds to student learning. This was illustrated in the "Digital Divide" through some comments of what students find to be valuable to their education. Example: Outside of school they find far more freedom to explore, use many technical resources and ways of communicating. They see the need for teachers to get on board and embrace technology in a more interactive way, become educated as to the depth of the Internet, and help students with some of the basics of searching, reading, communicating, etc.

Granted, there are many teachers who ARE life-long learners and embrace technology in ways that enhance learning. Many also realize what research has shown, the younger population who have been born into the digital world ARE the natives and have much to teach the adults. The natives come with a different perspective, use and comfort. It can be threatening for some teachers to "learn" from their students, but what a powerful opportunity we have to reverse the roles. It can be a win-win experience.

Highlighted experiences this week:

• A success without a wasted period... In the lab, I unexpectedly supervised an enrichment group working on "movie making". Their teacher was absent, and the sub had no clue. I asked "Who already knows how to do this? I need a teacher." Several eager students raised their hands and felt honored they could have this role, use the LCD, and reinforce what they already know by teaching their peers and show ME a new perspective! I was an accessory able to supply the tools, give them access to folders and files, and ask probing questions.
• Publishing Club - Young technology enthusiasts come once a week to work in whatever direction on the computer they are interested. I introduced one of my 5th grade students (who thinks he knows it all) to FrontPage and web design. He is making a classroom webpage and having lots of positive communication with his teachers as he fetches files and creates the web. I could see he was making some mistakes but he did not want help. The learning happened when we put it online and nothing worked. A good teachable moment for me and the student. Now he will let me share what I know, because the product is very important to him.
• Wasted time and resources - Teachers bringing students to the lab to DO research without knowing the tools of good research themselves. Students do need help with the reading, keyword, skimming, and printing skills. The teachers are not teaching this, as they assume the students know. Not so on the most part. I saw many many printed pages and lots of wasted time finding very little of importance for their topics.
• Ethics & Responsible Use - Negative communications through "My Space", school e-mail, and cyper-bullying. Because young people often do not have coping skills, may lack good judgement, and not have respect for polite communication, letting them loose with this powerful tool can be very dangerous. EXAMPLES: 1.) 8th grade boy playing with mail and writing one mail that appeared to be a very innapropriate, and was a pretend, fantasy conversation back and forth between himself and a girl. He was very tricky in his emulating of replies with the date/time, etc. and then the conversation was finally sent to several girls. They thought someone had their password. My role as detective, uncovered the reality of what happened and yes, it was a teachable moment for all. He knew better, but the invisibility of online can allow for negative communication that would not happen face-to-face. 2.) A parent of a a 13 year old boy who commit suicide came and presented his story to our students in an assembly. As a parent he talked of his online home rules, his son's desire for help with some negative things happening at school and online, and how the IM/chat-rooms/sharing passwords/and ability to pretend/hide all added to his son's desparation. A very powerful message for our students! 3.) Checked out "My Space" via zip-code search and found many of my students and past students putting very inappropriate pictures and bios out there and doing lots of pretending...14 year olds were claiming to be 27, etc. I showed this to our principal....she was totally shocked - a dissconnect of what young people use the computer for!