Unrealistic Expectations: Wanting Teachers to Incorporate Technology but Not Requiring It?
Image by deanj via FlickrWe would never ask a teacher to teach something that they had no experience. It would be unfair and something we just wouldn't do.
Or would we?
In fact, that is what is happening right now. Across the country, colleges are putting out teachers that are not required to take a course in technology. Droves of teachers are emerging into classrooms not knowing what a blog or wiki is and how to select tools for their classrooms as appropriate.
Do we wonder why so many obstacles exist? Do we know that right now, if we want to have competitive students in this technology -rich world that we must equip their teachers with competitive technology skills?
We had a discussion tonight at the table in Maine about just how many states out there do not require any sort of technology course AT ALL for their teachers. Zip. Zero. Nada.
So, don't be surprised when the students in your school don't get technology in their classes. Zip. Zero. Nada.
The teachers are just doing what they were trained to do.
