ICT is something I use every day and to be truthful on those days that my computer has been in for repairs I feel quite naked; however, in the classroom I have many concerns. I have been an instrumental music teacher and classroom teacher for almost three decades now, I know this immediately conjures up visions of an inflexible old man that struggles with ICT and in some ways that could be me. Nevertheless, I do deliver some of my curriculum with ICT and I find it fascinating how clever some programs are within the school environment. Unfortunately, the concerns I have are real-life circumstances that I see every day. Students sit up the back of the room watching whatever they desire while they are supposed to be working on classroom activities. You walk around the class and as quick as you can say Jack Robinson, they have exited what they are watching and appear as if they are doing their work, however slow it appears to have moved forward. Then there are the students that come from families that are not ICT savvy and just finding the power button is a challenge.
I favour collaborative environments in my music classroom and have many activities that my classes participate in to achieve learning outcomes and from what I have experienced students enjoy this way of learning. Standing at the front of the classroom directing traffic is not always conducive to a productive classroom so I try to mix this style with activities that allow students to experience their learning in authentic situations. I have set up extension activities for those students that are advancing through the curriculum with ease and these are set up using ICT. I wonder though, are these students easy to trust to do their work independently, on their devices, because they are displaying the commitment to complete their work in good time. I know I sound cynical, but the wool comes over one’s eyes quickly when dealing with teenagers.
Setting up my class this way also allows me to spend more time with those innocent students that just need more help and are advantaged by a little one on one attention. As happens throughout society it is always the few untrustworthy ones that make it difficult for those that are doing the right thing. I wonder if I am barking up the wrong tree and it is my cynical age that is preventing me from seeing the advantages of the use of ICT in the classroom. I hope this unit opens my eyes to this as I find great joy and learn many valuable things from using my computer, why shouldn't our learners!
David
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honest and informative post. Your position is certainly not uncommon, especially for those who have been around for some time. Like you, I spent 3 decades in arts classrooms. After experiencing the many powerful applications of technology in my own arts practice, I was hooked and became committed to bringing it to my classroom, and those of others, in the mid nineties. It became an integral part of my teaching and the students' learning, regardless of subject or ability. In fact, it was a game changer for many low ability or at risk students. I am happy to hear that you are open to using ICTs and hope that you can take more ideas from this unit.