I've Got the Power! Well, Maybe...
The Case of a Job Well Done
Who Are You?
Middle School Classroom Teacher
The Scenario:
You believe that your district is "pretty average" in terms of the amount of technology available to teachers and students. You have at least one computer in each classroom and a small computer lab where an entire class can work on projects or on the integrated learning system (ILS) designed to improve reading skills. You and several other teachers in the school have taken an interest in using and integrating technology and to this end have done things such as subscribed to educational technology journals for ideas, gone to out-of-district technology conferences and workshops, and (most importantly) applied some of your ideas and learnings in your own classroom. You'd like to work with teachers in your team and in the school to get them to try some of the practices which you've found successful in your class, but your Principal and most of the school department heads show absolutely no interest in supporting further classroom integration of technology. They don't authorize more staff development, aren't eager to release teachers for workshops, and basically do nothing to show that technology integration is a priority. When you press them on this issue, the Principal tells you that he thinks that student use of the ILS is sufficient and that the school really cannot afford the time and money he feels that it will take to do more with technology. There are "other pressing issues" (which are never quite articulated...). He praises you for the job you are doing, but that's about it.
Your Challenge:
What can you do to generate more support for your ideas from your school's leadership? On the way to this solution, you'd be happy to generate more "grass roots" support amongst teachers. How can you accomplish these personal and professional goals? (Transferring to another school is out of the question)
Think About:
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Last updated, December 29, 1998