Those who can… Teach!

I read a quote the other day from a high school student in New Jersey, He said, “The day my cell phone knew the state capital of Connecticut, I quit trying to learn it.” Empowering is defined as a way to give power or authority to someone. So how is it that a cell phone, an inanimate object, is empowering this youth?

What he needs to say is “Because of my exposure to empowered teachers, I can think, using my critical thinking skills, and determine if the answer my cell phone gave me is the correct answer.”

I promise my blogs will always be about empowering teachers and giving them new insights and skills to add to what they already know and do well in their classrooms. I am my father’s daughter… I believe that education and commitment to others is what will change the world. I am tired of hearing about bad teachers and failing schools. It is time to recognize what teachers are capable of and are doing in the classroom. It is time to address the snarly comment… ” Those who do can do; and those who can’t, teach.”

Most teachers I know are dedicated to their profession. But they are tired of taking the rap for teachers who do not feel empowered themselves. I believe that empowering teachers to use technology will bring successful integration of technology to the classroom. The key is empowering them with professional development that is targeted and specific to their needs and not just a one size fits all. I am tired of hearing about teachers that do not use the technology in their classroom. Instead we need to ask ourselves as administrators, “What are we doing to empower teachers to use technology?” Placing the hardware and software into their classrooms without the proper training does not work. Teachers need to feel empowered to adopt and integrate technology into their lessons.

Schools, districts and educational, software companies have fallen into the habit of training teachers on the simple uses of technology. For example: inputting student names, i.d. numbers, attendance or grades. We teach teachers to use technology in a silo at the lowest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy, Remembering, Understanding and Applying instead of differentiating training to meet individual teachers’ technology needs. Yet, we turn around and expect them to teach students using technology at the Analyzing, Creating, and Evaluating levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

As a professional development trainer, I am committed to empowering teachers so they can integrate technology into lessons that engage and inspire students to learn and think critically. Technology is changing at such a fast pace that even tech gurus cannot keep up with it all. How do we expect teachers who spend hours in the classroom and after school just trying to keep their heads above all of the paperwork, trainings and administrative duties that take them away from what they do best? …

TEACH!

OK. I feel better. Thank you for letting me vent!

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