At the schools where I have done the majority of my field experiences, I can honestly say that the LMS does not do a good or adequate job of training the faculty or promoting technology use. At the middle school, in particular, I am not really sure that the LMS considers this part of her job. There is a technology specialist that is on campus 3 days per week and this person handles responses to problems with technology that is in the classroom. There is also a county level person whose job it is to train faculty on NEW technologies that are being brought in to the schools (either updating older technology or purchase of new items such as Promethium Boards). The LMS DOES put instruction materials on all of the equipment so that teachers will know the basics when they check something out. She also posts signs for some of the larger equipment (poster maker, laminators). I have only seen the county level training and there are no trainings available on the website. As far as I know, there is no blog, wiki or separate webpage. There is a podcast section on the main website and the last one was done in 06-07…pretty pitiful!
I believe that the LMS has a responsibility to all of the shareholders to educate on current technology---how it is used, how it can be used to benefit instruction, safety issues, ethical issues, and proper use of these technologies. I think the LMS should be on the cutting edge of technology advances and how these advances can be used to excite our students about education. In order to do this, I would say that a big job that we have is promoting technology in the media center. If we use the different types of technology, then we can be the best advocates of their use to teachers. Also, we should try to find guinea pigs that will try things….there are always people that love to use technology in the school. Get them on board and use them to promote new things or try new things in the classroom. I believe that using technology can be intimidating for teachers…they think it is extra work. Show how to use things easily…don’t get bogged down in instructions. Have a show and tell, or a Tech Tuesday or a Tech Tip of the Week online….anything to build excitement for and use of great technologies. Most importantly, I think the LMS should have a plan and keep up the enthusiasm for new ways of learning and teaching.
DO use technologies that you want to promote to shareholders.
DO keep the instructions easy, bulleted, and visual.
DO keep a record of people that try new things….use them to promote for you.
DO sell your ideas to faculty. Know your students and faculty and what they are interested in.
DO set goals for yourself…and your media center (4 new podcast users this year J)
DO be an optimist!
DON’T underestimate how difficult it will be to sell some teachers on the use of technology.
DON’T get discouraged if teachers don’t show immediate enthusiasm.
DON’T teach technologies that you don’t really believe are great and can be helpful.
DON’T underestimate your ability to make a huge difference in your school!
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I agree that teaching new technology should be a large part of the media specialists job. I also can relate to the media specialist that you refer to in your blog. My school also has a tech that is at our school. He is there all week and the job of new technology seems to fall to him. In the past the librarian did not do technology and so teachers do not naturally gravitate to me for technology. The tech and I are trying to push teachers in my direction for the training of new technology. We (the tech and I) get together once a week to go over any new technology or new programs. This is helping tremendously because now I am in the tech loop and actually have some training on the new technology and feel secure in helping others.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Lori that technology should fall more with the media specialist. This is one area in which I have a lot of room to grow. My school has a computer lab technician. She is a parapro that has been trained to run the computer lab and handle computer related problems at the school. She has been a huge help to me this year. She takes care of the school's website and has helped me with the yearbook. The computer lab is attached to the media center which makes it easy for us to work with each other.
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals next year is to develop a website for the media center and to offer more assistance to teachers with technology.
I have had a similar experience, Peggy, with the MS where I have been working for my field experience: she doesn't do much technology training. I agree with you that the MS should be "on the cutting edge" of new technology and how to incorporate it in the classroom. I hope that when I am a MS I can serve as an advocate for using technology in the classroom. That should be a big part of our job.
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