[Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

Wed Sep 6 12:44:12 EST 2006

Depends on the culture of the school too.
I think wholesale systematic change is hardest for schools to deal with.
I am sure we have all had dealings with some teachers that have the
"this is the way we have always done it" attitude and fight change. They
often have the loudest voice in meetings and have the "fear-factor" in
their favour. Other schools have leadership that encourages change and -
dare I say it - "taking risks". A culture like this can help reduce the
effect of the nay-sayers and will provide the resources to facilitate
change.

I have also had a few teachers close to retirement refusing point blank
to learn any new systems or procedures. I have been told "I am retiring
next year, I am not going to worry about learning something new now." On
the opposite side, you have those who just want to keep learning -
regardless of their age or circumstances. I really admire that, as that
is exactly the attitude I would want to instill in the students -
life-long, ongoing learning.

So that change can happen, how do you encourage "recalcitrant" (for want
of a better word) teachers to accept that we must constantly change and
adapt to new circumstances so that it is not seen as a burden, but an
opportunity?
Would love any additional strategies people can suggest.

Cameron

-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Murray O.
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 11:17 AM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
Teachers'MailingList
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

Mark
I disagree with you.
Based on my experience, I think teachers are highly adaptable to change
be planned or unplanned. That being said I too get frustrated at trying
to facilitate change in schools.

Can you tell of other professions or groups of adults that change
quickly?

Regards, 
Oliver Murray
Web Developer
Westbourne Grammar School
www.westbournegrammar.com

-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of Mark Scott
Sent: Wednesday, 6 September 2006 10:30 AM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
Teachers'MailingList
Subject: RE: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

We are talking teachers.

This is a species renown for not changing quickly.

Mark 

-----Original Message-----
From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
On Behalf Of jturner
Sent: Wednesday, 6 September 2006 10:11 AM
To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
Teachers'Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage

The big mistake people continue to make is seeing technology as the 
catalyst for sustainable change in education when it should be people. 
Technology is invaluable whatever its peculiarities but learner 
centered means people at the center.
John

On 05/09/2006, at 3:41 PM, Mark Scott wrote:

> I have said it before and no doubt I will say it again.
>
> The biggest advantage in introducing student owned laptops into a 
> school
> is that it can be used as a catalyst for change.
>
> You can start to talk about learner centred classrooms instead of
> teacher centred ones.
>
> ... and of course this is not the only strategy you try, just one of
> several.
>
> Mark Scott
> Luther College
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:ipm-bounces at edulists.com.au]
> On Behalf Of Michael Walker
> Sent: Tuesday, 5 September 2006 3:06 PM
> To: Year 12 Information Technology Processing and Management
> Teachers'Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Year 12 IPM] Computer Lab usage
>
>>>> Laurie Savage<sav at pvgc.vic.edu.au> 09/05/06 12:07pm >>>
>>> And now we have a generation of people who cannot do the simplest
> calculation in their head.
>
> Laurie
>
>>>> Mark Scott wrote:
>> They said the same thing about calculators back in the early
> seventies.
>
> Ah generalisations, you've got to love them... 8^)
>
> I would argue that with the use of calculators, you don't need to do 
> the
> simplest calculation in your head. However, it requires a different
> skill set to check that your calculator is giving you an accurate 
> answer
> rather than no skill set at all, hence the higher emphasis on 
> estimation
> that occurs in teaching maths now than when I was at school. Tempora
> mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis...
>
> I would also argue that those kids I know of who have trouble 
> performing
> the simplest calculation aren't all that flash on using the calculator
> either. I would suggest that a greater cause is lack of interest for
> whatever reason from boring teaching methods in previous years showing
> the kids how irrelevant maths is to lack of support at home for doing
> homework and school in general. Now there's a can of worms or three...
>
> Although I don't think laptops are a cure for all ills, I suspect that
> under some circumstances they can be a useful tool in the hands of the
> right practitioner, and in others are a complete waste of time when
the
> circumstances of the school and students are taken into account. To 
> give
> some examples, I am sure that in some laptop schools, the laptops are 
> an
> expensive pseudo notebook / electronic textbook whose primary
advantage
> is larger capacity, neater handwriting (typing vs scribble) and better
> searchability. Obviously Mark's school is not one of them based on his
> response. That's not to say schools with poor use of laptops don't
> exist, and anecdotal evidence would suggest that they do. On the other
> hand, the same applies to schools who have changed their teaching to
> make good use of new teaching methods available from every student
> having the tool and having been taught a proficiency with it.
>
> On the other hand, I would suspect that there would be scenarios where

> a
> $2000 laptop would be a poor use of family or school resources for the
> perceived benefits compared to alternatives. Would a struggling
western
> suburbs secondary school be able to justify making every student buy a
> laptop, even on finance? Would alternative approaches such as good use
> of Moodle with external access be more appropriate in terms of bang
for
> buck?
>
> I would suggest that neither black nor white are correct and that
> although there is a place for laptops in schools, it would be silly to
> try and suggest that it would be desirable for every school in the 
> state
> and every student in the state to have a laptop and be in a laptop
> program. Or to suggest that every maths student in the state can't do
> simple calculations in their head...
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
> http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
> IPM Mailing List kindly supported by
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>
Dr J Turner
Head of Information Technology / VCE Coordinator
Presbyterian Ladies' College
BURWOOD Victoria 3125

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