Teachers Attitudes Toward Technology

From wikitechbook--the student-developed, technology textbook

The future is about attitude. The time is now to harness new technology in education.  This page serves as a tool to help teachers shape their attitudes about ever changing technology and its use with classes.  Included in this page are resources for this topic such as a videos, a blog site, and an articles outlining the advantages and the successful use of online curriculum based learning.

"Old" and "New" Technology

According to the Education Policy Blog, technologies are listed into two categories: Technologies that are "old" and technologies that are "new". Old technologies are ones that are taken for granted when looking at items that are essential for learning, while the new technologies are ones that are still being tested to evaluate their impact in schools. Attitude is what determines if a technology is "old" or "new". For example, an elderly person might view a technology as new while a younger teenager sees a technology as old. Since our world is constantly changing, younger generations are used to technology and usually embrace the technological world to which older generations are just now being introduced.

Technology Transforming Education

Here is a video demostrating how technology might change in education.

Socioeconomic Based Attitudes on Technology

Attitudes toward advancing technology are different in suburban and urban or rural schools. Suburban schools usually have the funding for more advanced technology, but since urban or rural schools don't have the funding they often consider equipment like an interactive whiteboard to be exotic. Urban and rural schools view advanced technology as a luxury instead of a necessary tool for learning. In contrast, suburban schools view advanced technology as integral to the learning task for students of the digital generation.

The Future of Technology in Education 

Dr. Patrick Dixon, Futurist conference keynote speaker for NAIS lends his insight.

References

 Blog-Education Policy Blog

 YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omvH3w6M5cg&feature=related

 YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbQ0sDFaPYQ

Related Resources

Informative Article-Final Report: Interactive Technology Literacy Curriculum Online (ITLC Online)

Informative Article-http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/114114828/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Informative Article-http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4960322/Attitude-toward-instructional-technology-following.html

Impact of Technology on Education- Educational Technology Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors: An Exploratory Study

Quiz-Yourself Questions

1. Technology will have an ending point. (a) True (b) False
2. Funding for technology in education affects its widespread use. (a) True (b) False
3. Attitude is what determines if a technology is "old" or "new". (a) True (b) False
4. Attitudes toward advancing technology are the same in suburban and urban schools. (a) True (b) False
5. Since our world is constantly changing, younger generations are used to technology. (a) True (b) False

Quiz Answers

1. (b) False
2. (a) True
3. (a) True
4. (b) False
5. (a) True

Developers of this page

Contributors from SBU (first names only): Brian, Ashton, Alex (Fall '08); Nathaniel (Jan '09)

All Editors and Writers (first names only):