I interviewed a colleague of mine that works in our ELA department and I just want to share a few of the answers she gave me as well as a few other observations I made. The person I interviewed is the same approximate age as I am (46). She teaches ELA and I teach Languages Other than English ( formerly known as Foreign Language. ) We both are very competent at what we do. That's where the similarities end.
My colleague entered the profession right out of college with her MA in Education. She was permanently certified and will admit that other than her role as a teacher she has not stepped foot in a classroom since then. Let's say 23 years more or less. I on the other hand came into teaching as a second career. I was hired without being certified (private school) and have spent the last 10 years working on certification and a MA. My colleague is never required to take another class in anything and she will continue to teach. I on the other hand will have to finish my MA and continue to accrue continuing education credits or hours for the rest of my career. I believe the numbers are 175 credits/hours every five years. Hours that have to be documented with the state no less.
Since I have been in the classroom as a student recently I have learned the value of technology in education and strive to incorporate it into my curriculum. My colleague on the other hand does not. Not because she is a bad person, but because her learning experiences are not as current as mine. When I asked her what her biggest obstacle to using technology in the classroom was she said lack of training or inadequate training. When I asked her if she ever saw herself going back to school to get the training or learn how to incorporate technology she truthfully told me probably not.
I then asked her if the training was provided to her within the scope of the work day if she would be interested in training and she said probably. Her hesitation, I sensed, was due more to a feeling of inadequacy then a lack of motivation. As I read on one other blog this problem does exist in other schools. The solution to the problem - the educators need to be educated in not a simple one - and not likely one to be solved in the immediate future. Unfortunately, our students are the ones who once again suffer when reality collides with life.
Yes. Unfortunately this certainly isn't a new problem or challenge we are facing. Teacher training comes in two different dimension (simply put): mandatory and voluntary. Teachers struggle with how to keep themselves current with new pedagogues and technologies. "How they are being supported and motivated" is an area we need to address to "make things happen." :-)
ReplyDelete