Who cares about technology? Article Review #1

My current district has seen a huge paradigm shift in educational technology the past 10 years. What was once not on the short list is now issue #1 with the central administration and student population. So, when asking the question of: Who cares about technology? The answer is EVERYONE!

While reading the article "Mandatory use of technology in teaching: Who cares and so what?" (2012) the authors tried to find a correlation between mandatory use of technology and higher student achievement. The authors (2012) looked at how they can get teachers excited about using technology and use it with fidelity in their classrooms. The results that came out of the study were very interesting! They found that teachers who were more competent in technology were less likely to use it with their students, and that making it mandatory just furthered bad or poorer attitudes all together. The most significant factor in making teachers excited about technology was having positive experiences with their students. Once a positive experience was achieved, over 70% of the teachers surveyed said they would attempt a technology lesson in the future.

I found this article timely and definitely could relate to my own personal experiences. I have found that the teachers who use a technology lesson successfully are far more likely to use technology in the future. One bad lesson could throw the whole thing off! It is so important to take setbacks with a grain of salt. We can prepare as much as we can, but the truth is that sometimes it is out of our control. I have tried teaching my staff to not only plan a tech lesson but to plan in the eventuality that the technology isn't going to work the way they want it to.

Continuing to have a positive attitude and willingness to try something new goes a long way in the technology world. Thanks for reading- I look forward to your comments below!

-Maggie

References:

Yeung, A. a., Taylor, P. G., Hui, C., Lam-Chiang, A. C., & Low, E. (2012). Mandatory use of technology in teaching: Who cares and so what?. British Journal Of Educational Technology, 43(6), 859-870. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01253.x