Are we spoon-feeding our users too much?

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Are we demanding too little of our teachers?

I don't see that sort of thing here at the level you
describe, so I'm really just speculating about what
goes on in other, less successful districts, based on
hear-say.

It seems that we tolerate technical ineptitude in
teachers that would never be tolerated in the business
world. Out there in the real world, if someone
couldn't access something they need to properly do
their job -- it would be addressed. If the problem is
innate, they'd be let go. More likely, if the employee
has value to the company, they'll invest in training.
The employee will be expected to participate.

Of course, some companies undervalue their employees,
and don't train, and just let them go if they can't do
the job because of a lack of comfort with the tech.

IT helpdesks can't handle huge numbers of high-touch
users. It's bad economics.

My impression is that school districts under-value the
teachers -- and undervalue the job, so we don't get
bent out of shape if a teacher can't access the grade
report because they can't even use a web browser.

"School districts" here ultimately means "the voters"
and "the parents", BTW. This is a societal rant, not
an anti-administration rant!

This is NOT a matter of "older teachers". That's a
bunch of ageist hooey. My mother (now retired, age 75)
was an art teacher. She also served as a tech resource
for her (small) schools. She had no training at all,
but she could ask questions, investigate, figure
things out -- and share that knowledge.

If a teacher doesn't want to learn tech -- if a
teacher isn't DOWNRIGHT EAGER to learn tech that her
students are using and need to use in their world --
then I have grave, VERY grave reservations about that
teacher.

Even if it has no bearing on what that teacher
teaches! It's an attitude-toward-learning thing,
really. We want teachers that can teach kids the joy
of learning -- we want teachers who are PASSIONATE
about learning. A teacher who resists learning about
computers is not setting a good example, and it would
take a LOT of passion elsewhere to counterbalance
that.

I don't care so much about proficiency. Enough
proficiency to get the job done, and a positive
attitude toward learning more is all I ask.

Posted by: Bob.Kerns   Posted on: 01/06/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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