From Technophobes to Tech Believers

Fox, Christine (2007) From Technophobes to tech believers. T.H.E. Journal, 34(7), 36-37

Summary:
In this concise article Christine Fox highlights the importance of sustained professional development in educational communities, such as school districts, to bring us up to speed with the digital age. Traditional professional development, what Fox refers to as "Saturday standalone workshops" will hardly make a dent in giving teachers the tools to become tech believers. Based on the research of Glenn Kleiman's "Meeting the Need for High Quality Teachers:e-Learning Solutions" Fox points out the key features of effective professional development and gives examples of two districts that have implemented such.

Reflection:
I found this article in the reference list of another article, "Electronic Portfolios as Catalysts for Change in the Summer Institute", that was sent to me by the National Writing Project. The title of this article caught my attention because in no way do I feel confident in technology. Although I use the computer daily, I do not feel "savvy." Although this article does not directly link with the action research question I am currently entertaining (How can technology help students make connections in writing/history?), the main idea, professional development, is paramount to the i21 technology teachers will be receiving. The 6th grade teachers received the technology this year, and a half day of training was offered. The teachers have been pretty much left to learn it on their own and fend for themselves. It has been reported that one teacher still has not pulled his students' netbooks out of the cart. How can we be expected as professionals to embrace the digital age, when little time and training are allocated to us? This was one issue that my living resource, Jennifer Andrade, our school sites tech, and I discussed last week. We are devising a plan to present to our principal to coordinate an August, pre-school technology retreat.