What are the three most common barriers to integrating technology in the classroom?
According to an article called, “Overcoming Technology Barriers: How to Innovate without Extra Money or Support” by Suzie Boss on the Edutopia.org website, the three most common barriers are “too few computers, a lack of technical support, and inadequate professional development.” A lack of funding for technology in our public schools would explain why there are so few computers. The lack of technical support is also reflective on schools not having enough funding to be able to support teachers in using technology. The inadequate professional development is reflective of a society that needs to step into the twenty-first century so that we can give our students the exposure to twenty-first century skills that they will need to compete in a global economy. As citizens of this country we should demand more for our children because they are our future.
In addition to these three most common barriers, I feel it is important to mention some of the other difficulties that I feel are truly in need of being pointed out. One of the most obvious to me is that it is not a part of most educational cultures. For example, my son is in the seventh grade at a reputable school, and while he has had an occasional semester where they work in a computer lab, he does not know what a WebQuest is because he has never experienced one. Another barrier or difficulty in integrating technology in classrooms is teacher’s attitudes towards computers which can be directly related to inadequate professional development. This explains the lack of confidence some teachers have when it comes to implementing technology. Likewise, a lack of administrative support can be traced back to the same point of inadequate professional support. I think what we are lacking as a culture is an unclear vision as to how to begin truly integrating technology into all classrooms.
According to an article called, “Overcoming Technology Barriers: How to Innovate without Extra Money or Support” by Suzie Boss on the Edutopia.org website, the three most common barriers are “too few computers, a lack of technical support, and inadequate professional development.” A lack of funding for technology in our public schools would explain why there are so few computers. The lack of technical support is also reflective on schools not having enough funding to be able to support teachers in using technology. The inadequate professional development is reflective of a society that needs to step into the twenty-first century so that we can give our students the exposure to twenty-first century skills that they will need to compete in a global economy. As citizens of this country we should demand more for our children because they are our future.
In addition to these three most common barriers, I feel it is important to mention some of the other difficulties that I feel are truly in need of being pointed out. One of the most obvious to me is that it is not a part of most educational cultures. For example, my son is in the seventh grade at a reputable school, and while he has had an occasional semester where they work in a computer lab, he does not know what a WebQuest is because he has never experienced one. Another barrier or difficulty in integrating technology in classrooms is teacher’s attitudes towards computers which can be directly related to inadequate professional development. This explains the lack of confidence some teachers have when it comes to implementing technology. Likewise, a lack of administrative support can be traced back to the same point of inadequate professional support. I think what we are lacking as a culture is an unclear vision as to how to begin truly integrating technology into all classrooms.