Comments for The Ed Tech Guy:Technology in Education http://edtechguy.wordpress.com Integrating Technology in Education Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:51:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Teacher Tools by podcasts http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/teacher-tools/#comment-31 podcasts Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:51:32 +0000 http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-31 I absolutely agree I absolutely agree

]]> Comment on Teacher of the year question-Technology Integration by Techyturner http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/teacher-of-the-year-question-technology-integration/#comment-21 Techyturner Fri, 02 May 2008 03:15:55 +0000 http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-21 Mr. Ford, you posed a great question. I agree with you about the fact complacency is a contributing factor. My take on it is different because I come from the elementary side and know that about 50% of our 14,000 students have access to a computer away from school. I have been a Technology and Curriculum Integration Specialist for two years and the biggest factor that prohibited technology from being integrated was the teachers. We offered many workshops, but the largest group ever had 13. Granted, the workshops were after school, on their own time and the participants received district and/or state credit. But in order to gain respect as a professional, you must, to a point, earn it. You mentioned that teachers, who are educating the future society, need to be up-to-date as possible on the current technology. This happens on on your own time! Like Greg205 said, teachers have too many items on their plate and do not see that 80% of their "work" can be eased with technology tools. I too have my MA in Educational Technology and with budget cuts, I am being returned to the classroom. Well, it's not the duties I igned up for, but I do know that I have a wealth of technology and curriculum integration strategies that I can share. The principal I will be working with is doing his best to keep his school in the forefront of technology. He is one of five principals that I know who has this commitment to students. To sum it up, the ideas you propose are great. They will take time, a change in beliefs, and a major overhaul of the educational system and the politics behind it. BUT, it can be done. We have to make our voices known and get involved in the process. Sorry for the long comment, but I had to grant your wish of feedback! Thanks for the opportunity. Keep up the good work. Mr. Ford, you posed a great question. I agree with you about the fact complacency is a contributing factor. My take on it is different because I come from the elementary side and know that about 50% of our 14,000 students have access to a computer away from school. I have been a Technology and Curriculum Integration Specialist for two years and the biggest factor that prohibited technology from being integrated was the teachers. We offered many workshops, but the largest group ever had 13. Granted, the workshops were after school, on their own time and the participants received district and/or state credit. But in order to gain respect as a professional, you must, to a point, earn it. You mentioned that teachers, who are educating the future society, need to be up-to-date as possible on the current technology. This happens on on your own time! Like Greg205 said, teachers have too many items on their plate and do not see that 80% of their “work” can be eased with technology tools.
I too have my MA in Educational Technology and with budget cuts, I am being returned to the classroom. Well, it’s not the duties I igned up for, but I do know that I have a wealth of technology and curriculum integration strategies that I can share. The principal I will be working with is doing his best to keep his school in the forefront of technology. He is one of five principals that I know who has this commitment to students.
To sum it up, the ideas you propose are great. They will take time, a change in beliefs, and a major overhaul of the educational system and the politics behind it. BUT, it can be done. We have to make our voices known and get involved in the process. Sorry for the long comment, but I had to grant your wish of feedback! Thanks for the opportunity. Keep up the good work.

]]> Comment on The World Is Changing Part 03- E-Learning and Web Accessibility: A Primer by Howard Buckalew http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/the-world-is-changing-part-03-e-learning-and-web-accessibility-a-primer/#comment-20 Howard Buckalew Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:11:47 +0000 http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/?p=39#comment-20 Mr. Ford, I just got my SPED certification last year. Part of my research, and reading was about how the internet is drastically changing (for the better) the way we look at, accommodate through inclusion, kids with special needs. As I write this, something else is being tried, or developed. So, needless to say, the internet, applied software, and computer apparatuses can only benefit all learners. The problem is as always is money. Maybe that problem could be addressed if the student just spends part of their time in a "mainstreamed classroom" and then go off to the IEP part of their educational day: Library, group study, individual study, technical/educational support, etc.) this would mean, that they got their material, and then go off to learn, however they may be. thanks, Howard Mr. Ford,

I just got my SPED certification last year. Part of my research, and reading was about how the internet is drastically changing (for the better) the way we look at, accommodate through inclusion, kids with special needs.

As I write this, something else is being tried, or developed. So, needless to say, the internet, applied software, and computer apparatuses can only benefit all learners. The problem is as always is money.

Maybe that problem could be addressed if the student just spends part of their time in a “mainstreamed classroom” and then go off to the IEP part of their educational day: Library, group study, individual study, technical/educational support, etc.) this would mean, that they got their material, and then go off to learn, however they may be.

thanks,

Howard

]]> Comment on The World Is Changing Part 03- E-Learning and Web Accessibility: A Primer by Marjolein Katsma http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/the-world-is-changing-part-03-e-learning-and-web-accessibility-a-primer/#comment-15 Marjolein Katsma Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:50:03 +0000 http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/?p=39#comment-15 You write: >> It has been my experience that most of the general discussion and exposure to web accessibility focus on individuals with visual impairments. This assumption was incorrect. Web Accessibility is for anyone who has a learning disability. While I fully agree with the first observation, the latter assumption is equally incorrect: Web Accessibility is for everyone who uses the web. (Two small examples: If I break my left wrist I do not suddenly have a learning disability - but I won't be able to use a mouse until it has healed. And if I use my phone to browse the web that doesn't constitute a learning disability either.) Accessibility is not about disabilities - it's about access! Other than that: nice overview. :) You write:
>> It has been my experience that most of the general discussion and exposure to web accessibility focus on individuals with visual impairments. This assumption was incorrect. Web Accessibility is for anyone who has a learning disability.

While I fully agree with the first observation, the latter assumption is equally incorrect: Web Accessibility is for everyone who uses the web.

(Two small examples: If I break my left wrist I do not suddenly have a learning disability – but I won’t be able to use a mouse until it has healed. And if I use my phone to browse the web that doesn’t constitute a learning disability either.)

Accessibility is not about disabilities – it’s about access!

Other than that: nice overview. :)

]]> Comment on Teacher of the year question-Technology Integration by greg205 http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/teacher-of-the-year-question-technology-integration/#comment-2 greg205 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:41:03 +0000 http://edtechguy.wordpress.com/?p=32#comment-2 Very interesting ideas. I'm a student in an educational technology class at a university and I came across your blog through a search for edtech blogs. Congratulations on your award! I think your ideas are good but it seems that, in large part, school districts are already very busy. How would an increased focus on technology work with so much time already being tied up? I'm also interested to hear ways in which budgets can be better used in terms of technology. Additionally, what are ways in which educators can streamline or expedite the process of increasing their knowledge of technology? Very interesting ideas.
I’m a student in an educational technology class at a university and I came across your blog through a search for edtech blogs. Congratulations on your award!

I think your ideas are good but it seems that, in large part, school districts are already very busy. How would an increased focus on technology work with so much time already being tied up? I’m also interested to hear ways in which budgets can be better used in terms of technology. Additionally, what are ways in which educators can streamline or expedite the process of increasing their knowledge of technology?

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