Educational Technology Claptrap

OK, here's some juicy news for all you teachers out there. You've been outsorced by the Internet. Didn't know that one huh?

According to "author and e-learning expert Dale Spender the teaching profession had been de-skilled by the introduction of digital technologies and students were often more knowledgeable in this area than their teachers."

OK, I can find some grain of truth in that, but the expert goes way too far in some of the conclusions he makes. Let's see some more:

"It's everyone's fear but, of course, reading and writing are being displaced, the page is being displaced by the screen," Dr Spender told The Sun-Herald before her speech.

"Kids today spend more time in front of the screen than they do with pages. But adults feel frightened of that because they know how to use the pages but they're not sure about the screens."

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Hey Dr. Spender, are they absorbing the information on the screen by osmosis? Do the electrons that comprise the letters on-screen magically enter their impressionable young minds? Or are they reading the text on-screen?

The good Doctor makes some vaild points, but the more outlandish statements, intended to draw attention to himself and his work no doubt, makes everything he says suspect. So along with good points about the need for teachers to let go of the stand and deliver model in favor of more hands-on technology-driven lessons we get this:

"Teachers need to give up being the font of all wisdom," she said. "Students are a major resource in the classroom and teachers should start to be more like their students - learning the skills by playing with computers, taking them home and doing the hands-on bit."

Hoo boy. Let's play with the computers today kids. No need for structure in the classroom. No need for lessons that are part of a well thought out structured curriculum with clear educational goals, lets just play!

It's this kind of thinking that makes decision makers suspect the value of technology in education. Dr. Spender, repeat after me: "Technology is a tool." It is not a magic bullet that will replace the teacher. A tool. T.O.O.L. Just like chalk, chalkboards, textbooks, overheard projectors, videos, and even desks. Tools. But no tool is worthwhile without a skilled craftsperson to wield it. And the craftperson in the classroom is the teacher.

You can read the full text of what Dr. Spender has to say at The Sydney Morning Herald.

The link came to me courtesy of the Educational Technology weblog.