If you know me or follow me on Twitter, you know I am a big advocate of increasing technology in schools. I have said numerous times that we not only need more technology in schools, but also we need more training for educators on how to effectively and appropriately integrate technology into the learning environment. Here is something you probably have not heard me say, technology is not the answer and technology will not solve all of our problems in education...
In my opinion, there are plenty of bright spots in education all across the globe. Is our education system completely broken and in need of replacement, some would say so, but I say no, at least not yet. I think we have a solid foundation in education, albeit with several false premises, but a solid foundation nevertheless.
Think of a house... the foundation is the first part of the construction, and then everything else is put up around the house thus being supported and held together by the foundation. A weak and damaged foundation will spell certain doom for any structure that relies upon a strong and supporting foundation. In education we have a cracked foundation. We have a few leaks in our foundation, and we are noticing that our foundation is getting close to no longer being able to fully support the weight of the house...
As I previously mentioned, I believe we have a solid foundation in education. Will our education house crumble and completely collapse, absolutely not. I do however think the cracks and leaks we have in our education foundation will continue to grow, and in no certain time this damage will be irreversible. We will no longer be able to repair the damages, and when you are taking about a foundation that can't be repaired, you are left with only one option... tear it down and start over.
Though technology is amazing and can do wonders in the classroom (when used properly), we must first tend to our cracking and leaking foundation if we really want to see the added benefits. Throw every piece of technology in the world into every classroom in the world and you will still have an unbalanced and in need of repair foundation. It would make no sense to make lots of repairs to a house that is being supported by a cracked and leaking foundation without making plans to address the damaged foundation itself. Unfortunately, in education I think we are focusing on the house more than the foundation...
I love technology and I love how it can be used, but let's focus more on the instructional side of things. Let's focus more on the teaching side of things. Let's focus more on the student side of things. If we continue to use our cracked and leaking foundation to support new initiatives and approaches, we are going to be sorely disappointed. Let's get back to the basics and strengthen our core before adding more weight on our already damaged foundation...
In my opinion, there are plenty of bright spots in education all across the globe. Is our education system completely broken and in need of replacement, some would say so, but I say no, at least not yet. I think we have a solid foundation in education, albeit with several false premises, but a solid foundation nevertheless.Think of a house... the foundation is the first part of the construction, and then everything else is put up around the house thus being supported and held together by the foundation. A weak and damaged foundation will spell certain doom for any structure that relies upon a strong and supporting foundation. In education we have a cracked foundation. We have a few leaks in our foundation, and we are noticing that our foundation is getting close to no longer being able to fully support the weight of the house...
As I previously mentioned, I believe we have a solid foundation in education. Will our education house crumble and completely collapse, absolutely not. I do however think the cracks and leaks we have in our education foundation will continue to grow, and in no certain time this damage will be irreversible. We will no longer be able to repair the damages, and when you are taking about a foundation that can't be repaired, you are left with only one option... tear it down and start over.
Though technology is amazing and can do wonders in the classroom (when used properly), we must first tend to our cracking and leaking foundation if we really want to see the added benefits. Throw every piece of technology in the world into every classroom in the world and you will still have an unbalanced and in need of repair foundation. It would make no sense to make lots of repairs to a house that is being supported by a cracked and leaking foundation without making plans to address the damaged foundation itself. Unfortunately, in education I think we are focusing on the house more than the foundation...I love technology and I love how it can be used, but let's focus more on the instructional side of things. Let's focus more on the teaching side of things. Let's focus more on the student side of things. If we continue to use our cracked and leaking foundation to support new initiatives and approaches, we are going to be sorely disappointed. Let's get back to the basics and strengthen our core before adding more weight on our already damaged foundation...