Steven+Weaver-week+6

You know these readings struck me as kind of a theme for this class and our era. Technology run classrooms are a threat to teachers but they are as well. I read the Posting of Blake-Palock and was scared as I pictured being a teacher without teaching face to face and getting to know my students because everything will be “on the go,” “digital, not paper back,” “virtual communication and no more parent teacher conferences,” “schools will become check in rather than the place where actual learning occurs.” I was somewhat refreshed to read the poem in Cuban’s Teachers and machines piece that stated that teachers will essentially be replaced by a button and students will learn by audio (radio), film, and television. If that was a fear back then and it hasn’t happened in the era of computers then I feel there is still hope. In Cuban’s small piece there was mention that technology that was implanted into schools was reportedly as productive at teaching as teachers were. The piece went on to report that teachers were apt to not use the technology later and schools, administrators, and teachers were criticized for being “stubborn and reluctant.” It did however mention later that teachers were never considered to consult about how to improve or what might be helpful in the classroom. Cuban’s blog went on to mention that all reforms to public education were indeed to attempt to drive faster and better education for students and less teaching for teachers (this did happen again without the aid or consulting of teachers…//seems to still be happening, in my opinion//). He also pointed out that the “outsiders” were the ones trying to change the schools. Aslan; "students became much more knowledgeable than their…teachers in this period," get into, //in my opinion//, a misconception and leads me into my agreement. Teachers CANNOT be replaced. Yes we can teach a lesson all online, all audio/video, personal experience…but what can’t be replace is the indescribable connections teachers make with their students, both good and bad. I personally have had teachers that make me strive to be the best I can and also say that the objectives are not important as long as this student realizes that someone, me, cares about them. I have had others that I make me strive to NEVER be like that individual so that student know that; I care, knowledge and what I am teaching has value to their future, and how to treat other individuals appropriately. I feel that Cuban echoes my arguments in his work. He mentions the value of teaching and how, though technology and outsiders have changed the school, teachers have stood the test of time. I, being a new teacher, welcome new technologies that will aide in my student’s education and hope to infuse many of the technologies I have been exposed to in this class. The lesson that our professor and the readings have shown me are that the technology is only as good as the relevance the teacher can make to the students real life, if it can aid the teacher in reaching more students, and if we can reach them better than other methods