Paradigm Shift
Today, I was involved in a technology presentation at the district level cabinet meeting. After the presentation (my piece focusing on vision of learning and technology), the Superintendent divided the larger group of administrators up into four smaller groups. It was an interesting activity in which the cabinet was asked to develop two questions (one content and one process) to use in interviewing prospective teachers about using technology; and the other 2 groups were asked to develop two statements (again, content and process) that could be used on a teacher evaluation regarding technology.
Well, I was on the teacher evaluation group. And I was astounded by how they first began by using the names of technologies: “The teacher was proficient at using streaming video, the Internet, etc.” A certain administrator in my group was stuborn. The point that I kept hitting home was that you have to separate the two: teacher use of technology and student use of technology. My “comment” would have focused on something like this: “The teacher uses technology effectively in the design of a unit, whether teacher delivered or student centered.” It was unreal how this administrator was going on and on about this. My point: it is a tough paradigm shift for most people, teacher or administrator.
How do we successfully bring about this paradigm shift? It isn’t going to happen overnight, especially with people who have been thinking the same way about learning for 25-30 years. While I feel that this team of administrators genuinely cares about students and education, they find it difficult to see how things are changing and how technology will be a part of that change. I think we chip away at the beliefs little by little. We have to keep showing them the benefits of technology and a more student-centered, active learning environment. Change requires time - time to re-evaluate old beliefs. So instead of getting frustrated, patience is in order. Patience and persistence. Once the doubters see the benefits of doing business a new way, they will slowly adopt new beliefs about technology, learning and teaching.
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