Future Classrooms

Toni asked a question during our presentation of the article New literacies: a primer for reading teachers about the impact new technology will have on our schools and society. The author states “technology standards will shift the instructional practices within schools ‘from teacher-to student-centered instruction; from isolated to collaborative work; from passive, fact-based to active inquiry learning” (2008). Is this a positive shift? How do teachers adjust to their new roles of administering new literacies and still manage to cover more traditional literacies? With the number of computers connected to the Internet in classrooms growing, I am sure many of you have already experienced this first hand in the classroom. I believe that by providing students with the Internet and offering ample opportunities to work collaboratively is very helpful for students to prepare for the real world and future jobs. However, the idea of a productive classroom of students learning to read efficiently by working alone on a laptop with headphones is hard to fathom for those trained in with a teacher-centric mindset.

In the article entitled Teacher-centered vs. student-centered classrooms, the author states that in a student-centered classroom there is “ a new role for the teacher, a complete shift away from the ‘sage on the stage’ role to one that features a ‘guide on the side’ mentality…the teacher is a coach and mentor, a support person who troubleshoots and problem solves when students need such help” (2010). The teacher is a “floater” in an individualized classroom and observes students and is available to teach new technology and to help when students are struggling. The issue with incorporating technology in the classroom today is: “Schools have done what virtually every organization does when implementing an innovation. An organization’s natural instinct is to cram the innovation into its existing operating model to sustain what it already does”(2010). The author states that in order to successfully integrate technology in the classroom, it must not compete with existing paradigms and must be used to help those that are not being served i.e. the students that are struggling. Technology can be used as an alternative form of instruction for those students that do not seem to benefit from traditional instruction.

In my future classroom, I plan to incorporate new technologies in order to prepare my students for reality. However, I am a firm believer in finding a balance between teaching new and traditional literacies. If children are not accurately instructed how to read, they will not be able to keep up with advances in technology and will be left behind. I feel it is important as educators to keep an open mind when it comes to learning, incorporating, and exploring new technology. We must keep current and introduce new technologies and literacies when necessary.

Resources:

Doyle, C. (2008). New literacies: A primer for reading teachers. Illinois Reading Council Journal, 36(4), 13-19.

Thomas. (2010). Teacher-centered vs. student-centered classrooms. http://www.openeducation.net/2008/09/28/teacher-centered-vs-student-centered-classrooms/