What our new teachers need to know

A pundit once commented that while a medical doctor from the 19th century would be lost in a modern hospital and a 19th century banker would not be able to function in a bank today, a 19th century teacher could just pick up the chalk and perform just fine in the 21st century classroom.

I'm here to tell you that just ain't so.

Here is the list of techie things Mankato's new teachers needs to master very, very quickly to be able to do their basic jobs:

• E-mail/Shared calendaring (Outlook/Entourage)
• District email lists are and how they may be used
• Resources and forms can only be found on our district website
• Attendance reporting software (Classxp), network passwords
• How to access online file storage and back up files
• Online research resources and library catalog (United Streaming, Net Trekker, Atomic Learning)
• Ethics and Acceptable Use Policy
• How to find a video and order a videotape/DVD (online)
• How to locate and interpret the results of our value-added tests (NWEA) and access information on their students in our datamining program (Sagebrush Viewpoint)
• How to complete online IEPs for Special Ed teachers
• How to use our reading software (Read Naturally and Accelerated Reader)
• How to use to the online gradebook (IntegradePro) and set it up for parent viewing (ParentConnect)
• For an increasing number of teachers, How to use to the IWB
  
• How to use to the create and maintain the required teacher webpage

All this before thinking about basic productivity tools like word processing or the use of any technology for instructional uses with kids. (So, technology has not revolutionized education to many folks disappointment. But it has changed it. Still automating rather than infomating, as Zuboff would describe.)

Up until now our department had a two hour block during the standard two day orientation to help bring new teachers up to speed on technology. It was almost enough time to distribute lots of handouts and tell them they need to learn this stuff fast. "Good luck and call somebody if you get stuck."

Next year for the first time we have budgeted dollars to pay our new hires and some instructors for a full day of new teacher "technology" orientation. It's not enough, of course, but it's better.

I think we should get a humanitarian award!

Photo above  from the Library of Congress American Memories collection. 

Comments

[Scott McLeod]

But, Doug, most of what you outline above is management stuff, not instructional stuff. Where are the significant changes to instructional practice due to technology? Isn't that what the quote refers to?

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Scott,

I could not find the originator or the quote. Possibly it means instructional, but I think this way works too.

Thanks,

Doug

[Kenn]

After watching movies showing school teachers in one room school rooms back in the 1800's, your observation really hits home. I am fortunate to work at a school that does not have to deal with a huge district (since we are a private school) and I have been able to institute many changes on my own. I look forward to other comments on this topic...

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Kenn,

I got to thinking that an 1880s teacher working in a one room school might handle differentiated instruction better than a teacher today!

Doug

[Gillian]

This made me think that the 1880s teacher couldn't function AT ALL in 2007.

Would they recognise the road system, signage, etc, never mind drive a car, or even ride a bicycle. They would have trouble even turning up on time!

Would they know that the universe has more than one galaxy?

Would they know that the British Empire no longer dominates the world?

How could they possibly prepare the kids for jobs in tourism, transport, IT, engineering, construction, or even teaching!

Would they understand the language spoken by inner-city kids?

How would they cope with integrated classrooms?

Light switches? When was electricity rolled out?

And in the classroom? They'd be swamped by the resources available now -- the number of books, choices, availability of a photocopier, every child can have a copy!

Take the class to the school library? Oh! The school has a LIBRARY?

We have to use our imagination to recreate the times in the 1880s. We take so much for granted and forget that bicycles and electricity were radical innovations that transformed lives.

In my first year of teaching, my principal told me that a good teacher could be effective with no resources -- sitting under a tree with a class of 30 kids. I didn't know WHAT was wrong with what he said, but I sure could tell that I wasn't going to get any support from him. I left teaching and found satisfying work in other fields.

So, I get a bit hot and bothered by the suggestion that teaching hasn't changed in the past 100 or so years.

Thanks Doug for sticking a stick in the spoke of THAT miserable idea.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Gillian,

Great list! I hope even those of us in education today are up to the challenges you mention!

Thanks for the post!

Doug