Interactivity #5

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The teacher with whom I conducted my interview works as an art teacher in the Manasquan Public School Districts. This teacher instructs a total of three different art classes, each with their own, specific focus. These classes are open to students in grades 9 through 12.

Overall it is evident that this teacher did not know much about the National Educational Technology Standards, neither for students nor teachers. When I first brought up the NETS-S and NETS-T the teacher did not say much. She commented that she had heard of them both however was not very familiar with the specific standards addressed in these two sets of standards.

As the interview continued I learned from the teacher that while the Manasquan Public School District had in fact begun to implement the NETS-S and NETS-T, the process was in its early stages. The implementation of these is not yet a top priority of the district and is not closely monitored by the administration, although teachers are being encouraged to utilize it. Upon my request, the teacher then elaborated on the inclusion of technology in the art classroom specifically. Students are encouraged and sometimes, depending on the assignment, required to use the in-class computer stations to find and print reference sources. The use of computers and printers in a classroom by no means totally satisfies the need for technological inclusion in a classroom, and I was pretty surprised to find that this teacher thought the opposite. Later, the teacher stated that there was definitely a need for professional development and training for seasoned teachers in regards to how to incorporate technology into the classroom. From a 3rd party perspective, it seemed as though this teacher was aware of the absence of in-depth use of technology in the classroom but had little knowledge of how to go about include it.

Overall I was very surprised by this teacher’s lack of knowledge in regards to technology use in the classroom and the standards which this use follows. This teacher’s lack of initiative to include technology in the classroom was the most shocking. I think the generational gap between this teacher and myself as a future teacher who is educated on how to incorporate technology in the classroom was extremely evident.

As a future educator I think it’s very important to be ready to incorporate the NETS-S and NETS-T standards in my teaching. Technology is undeniably a huge part of today’s school-aged generation, much unlike the generation of many of the older individuals who are teachers. That being said, as a teacher I would introduce slowly the idea of these standards to my fellow teachers. I would make sure to emphasize the fact that technology is an important part of today’s generation of kids, and that, without bringing such a culturally and generationally important aspect into education, we as teachers would be providing our students with an education that is not aligned with the society in which we currently live.