As educators we all know that change in the Education system is coming. Right now a lot of issues is being discussed and planned, aiming for a better education for all. But when it comes to discuss the introduction of e-learning in our schools, I ask “Are we prepared for this?”
Adapting e-learning in our education system by means of technology (and not just having access to the Web 2.0 tools like many say) require loads of preparation by the education stakeholders, mainly by teachers and Head of schools. Indeed, careful training and support must take place, both pedagogically and technically.
The installation of interactive whiteboards did not change anything in certain schools since the potential benefit of interactivity is not taken by just projecting slides using this technology. It’s true that teachers need to invest more time to prepare a one-hour lesson, but it has several advantages. Preparation for a lesson is only a one-time occurrence since repetition of the same lesson should require no extra preparation if planned carefully beforehand. Another requisite is that e-learning asks for sharing resources among us teachers, but unfortunately there are people who still are afraid of sharing their work on-line or giving it to their colleagues. Technophobic teachers may feel that this e-learning phenomenon may ruin their pedagogy they are used to, because indeed they do not understand that new pedagogies need to be introduced for teaching 21st century learners. Students live in a digitized world, they are equipped with technology everywhere they go…is everyone realizing this before we just introduce e-learning? I believe that teachers need more to be acquainted to the teaching experience by this method.
In conclusion for today’s note, I feel that for achieving pedagogical advantages with e-learning such as active learning and immediate feedback, teachers must do advance preparation. With fairly some disadvantages, technology allows the use of multimedia (sound, simulation, video and animated text) for creative teaching, further motivation, effective feedback and enhanced learning. Thus, we must be creative in our teaching as Sir Ken Robinson states that “My contention is that creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.”
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ReplyDeleteI agree perfectly with what you wrote. I think that as you said training is important in order for teachers to see the whole picture. But also the teachers’ attitudes are more important because if they feel that training is just a waste of time, then the aim of the training to promote this new resource will have a different impact on them. They will end up in promoting with other teachers only the disadvantages.
ReplyDeleteAlso it is true that teachers need to invest more time but I think that when you accept and see its full potential then you would not see it as a waste of time. You mentioned another important point about the sharing of resources because of abuses that might happen where not all teachers prepare resources but with some management I think that this problem could be solved.
Personally I agree with both of you. During my teaching practice I was impressed by some of the teachers. All teachers could use the monitor in the classrooms, however there were still some teachers who did not make any use of them. this is just a small example. they do not accept the fact that we are moving into a whole new digital world.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, training is important and offered by the school. short and small courses can be given. on the other hand I admired those teachers (especially old elder ones) who tried and made their very best to use todays technology.