Creating Educational Change: An Alternate Route

The book, The Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, deals with the need to pave a new path in education rather than try to renovate what is already present (Christensen, Horn, & Johnson, 2011). When looking for educational change, schools typically attempt to make a fancier version of what they already have through the use of technology. While technology has an endless amount of uses in education, the norm is usually not that innovative.

This is an idea that I have thought about for awhile. What exactly would it take for change to occur? An increased amount of technology is nice, but that has not shown revolutionary change. I feel that for technology to be valued for something more than just an bell or a whistle, change needs to come from the top...at the state and federal level. This can come in the form of fewer restriction like No Child Left Behind, and an emphasis on assessing for quality and innovation rather than the ease of tabulating for statistical reasons. The blog, Two Cents Worth, agrees and thinks our bubble test society is hurting creativity and teaching our students to think unilaterally (in a bad way).

Let's be realistic, I see standardized tests and mandates being around for the foreseeable future. That leaves teachers and their own classrooms. Teachers must be the innovators with technology. This is of course easier said than done. In a posting by Scott McLeod, he refutes comments from an article that look negatively on education and technology, and addresses why teachers are behind the eight-ball. The biggest hurdles I see from his comments are training and support, as well as the old-school mindset from the public. Even with these pitfalls, teachers need to rise up and make a difference.

In a posting on the iLearn Technology blog, the following quote discusses how technology SHOULD be used...

***The tools have to be used as essential tools, not supplementary.  Supplementing with technology doesn’t move the needle.  Essential means that technology is in hand 24/7 students have complete access to the tool.  Essential means that students are actively engaged in doing and creating.***


The comment about moving the needle fits in well with our theme of altering the route of technology in education. No one can be counted on to do this besides the classroom teacher. 


Teachers have a big responsibility to today's students. One might say that the future of our country is predicated on teachers and the ability to shake things up in regards to technology. Instead of taking the safe road around the mountain that includes updating notes by putting them on Powerpoint, climb up one side of the mountain and down the other by having students engaging in something different than note taking through technology. Let students be creative. 


In closing, support of these ideas in often difficult based on the standardized educational world we live in. All three blogs I mentioned are great examples of how to break down the technology wall to get to the other side. The blogs support teachers and give ideas on how to use technology to help improve the futures' of students. The blogs are not without criticism and harsh words about what has been done in the past. One cannot take offense to this, but see the challenge that lies ahead. Do not take the safe route. Take the alternate route to improving education.

Credit given to Team PLTW through flickr.com/creativecommons

Credit given to Team PLTW through flickr.com/creativecommons