Sunday, February 8, 2009

Response to: "Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?"

No not really, but I think you can go too far with this. The quote below attests to why I believe so.

"If a teacher today is not technologically literate - and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more - it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write."

Now that's a little over the top. Fisch does at least give you a warning, and admits himself that it is an extreme statement. Nonetheless, I have to disagree. This statement suggests that such a teacher, one who is "technologically illiterate", is not an effective teacher and can do nothing to better her students. Plenty of teachers are technologically challenged and impact the lives of their students every day, very effectively.

Yes, it is vital, especially in the 21st century, that teachers keep their students updated and knowledgable in current events and technologies as well as they know how. And they, as educators themselves, should be open and willing to learn. But it does not make them bad at their jobs if they are not quite up-to-date as they ought to be in dealing with technology. After all, it advances every day. They cannot be expected to keep up with everyone and everything.

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