I have been teaching at Morrill Middle School for the last five years, and my use of technology in the classroom has decreased each year. It's not that I mind using tech tools, though I am not a big fan of computers, it's just that with the lack of training, availability and support, I've all but given up.
Believe it or not, at one time I was enthusiastic about the possibilities that using a computer would have for my students. While teaching at Castillero Middle School in Almaden Valley, I was completing my courses to obtain a clear credential. Some of the classes I was required to take were in technology. I would bring my newly created excitement with tech tools back to my school, and with the support of my mentor and peers, I had my seventh grade special education classes creating Power Point presentations and visiting virtual museums. It was intoxicating watching these students succeed, With support and access to enough computers, it was almost easy for me.
The next year I came to Morrill, where things appeared promising. Though there was no lab, there was a tech class with a wonderful teacher. Each class was equipped with three SunRay computers, and my class was wired-the morning announcements were a mixture of Power Point presentations and edited videos of school events created by the students. The principal even had a laptop computer with a LCD projector in his room for teachers to use. I was impressed!
Then reality started sinking in. Though we had a tech class, a full third of my students never had it and never would at this school. Choir and music students were in choir or music-all three trimesters and all three years. These students did not have the opportunity to take the tech class, or any other elective for that matter.
The wonderful SunRay computers are a joke. The students need a card with a chip for access. Initially, each student's ID card contained the chip, but they would lose of forget their IDs and not be able to use the computers. Then the teachers were given the cards with the chips, so now many of the students forget their passwords. To reset a password, the teacher needs to interrupt the lesson and go on the computer, or send the students to the office to be reset. I cannot tell you how much of a deterrent this has become.
The morning announcements ceased to be transmitted after the first year. I'm not sure why, but I have reason to believe it was due to a falling out between the principal (who now personally writes and oversees the announcements) and the tech teacher. What about the laptop and LCD projector in the principal's office? Except for occasional appearance at staff meetings, there it stays. I don't even dare ask for it, for if anything were to happen to it, we have been warned- I would be "responsible". I'm not sure what that means, but I don't want it enough to find out.
Even the tech tools I do use come at a price. I use the overhead projector daily- I put answers on the screen, lessons, students presentations, etc.; however, the bulbs are kept elsewhere, and when my bulb burns out, I must send a student to retrieve a new one (no spares in the room - hoarding is not allowed), and I am chastised if I go over my limit. (I am such a baaaad teacher.) The school provides me with a television and a computer, but I purchased my own DVD/VHS player to use with the television and my own CD/radio/cassette player to play music, books on tape, or poetry. I may show my students store bought videos (provided they have been approved by the principal) and videos of school poetry slams and student presentations. The computer I have in my class is slow, I use it to read email, take roll, and, on occasion, write lesson plans or handouts for students. That is all.
Our school subscribes to "Schoolloop", but other than the one day I was able to access it and put on the reoccurring homework (Reading Logs, letter of the week), I don't use it. Oh, I would like to, I've heard wonderful stories about teachers communicating with parents, entering homework, and parents being able to keep track of their student's progress, but without training, I'm lost. Apparently we can spend $5 per student, that's nearly a cost of $5,000 a year for the program, but we have no money to train teachers to use it. I know, I've requested training for the last two years and the response is always the same--There is no budget for it, I must do it on my own. So, despite the standard for teachers to "demonstrate continued growth in technology knowledge and skills to stay abreast of current and emerging technologies" (ETC pp 320), the administration refuses to develop an inservice to help accomplish these goals.
Do I seem cynical? Well, I am. Once upon a time, I worked with colleagues who supported each other. Staff meetings were not always amiable, but there were always professional and respectful. Now, staff meetings are one man shows put on by the principal, where none dare dissent, lest they be belittled before all. Department meetings are uncomfortable and strained, with a department head who is a Charlie McCarthy to the principal's Edgar Bergan. Fortunately, they rarely last longer than ten minutes. However, that gives no time for collaboration or support, things I would need to be able to utilize the few tech tools at my disposal.
In conclusion, I would love to use technology. I would love to teach my students how to create an effective Power Point presentation, go on Webquests, create web sites, write blogs, and even more importantly, I would love to learn how to do so many more things from them. You see, I don't really hate computers, in fact, when I "created the perfect classroom" every students had a laptop-it was totally teched out, and when we had the last budget windfall, I tried to get everyone to vote for laptops for every teacher-without success. In the article 'High-tech Schools, Low-tech learning", I noticed it was the principals who brought the staff together and promoted the use of technology. I envy those schools. Ultimately what I realize is, although there are many teachers who can sit in front of the computer for hours and explore, I am not of that ilk. I am the type that can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if given the proper support. I can not model what I do not know. So, without tech support, my classroom technology use, and unfortunately that of my students, will continue to decrease.
