Put the Spotlight on the Teacher Behind the Technology

A thought question was prompted to my technology class this week. "Where are you on the technology integration spectrum between "no use at all" and "all the time"? Are you comfortable there? What would it take to change that for you?"

It reminded me of a blog I read not that long ago and luckily I was able to find it again! It's Smart Blog on Education - Are Students Really Motivated by Technology?

Engaging kids
Motivating kids

Discovering how to do these things is like finding gold. I think before I started my journey in grad school to become a teacher, I would have placed myself in the "use technology all the time" end of the spectrum. It seemed rational to think if a student had a technological device in their hands they would instantly be engaged in learning whatever material I put in front of them. After all, I would be! At least that's what I thought, when the reality is more like I would be fascinated, engaged with the device; engagement with the content would be secondary. So what happens when the device isn't new and using it is commonplace? It won't be as exciting, or engaging, is my guess.

So while I started out thinking technology was the magic wand of teaching, though my classes, research, observations and field experiences, I'm learning that the spotlight needs to be on the teacher behind the technology. Technology can be engaging; how the teacher uses the technology and presents the material is still going to play a bigger part in student learning than the device its self. I no longer place myself at the "use all the time" end of the spectrum but a little bit more towards the middle. I will be careful about choosing the technologies appropriate to the lessons and careful in my planning of presenting. In the end, teaching is my job, not the technology's!