As much as I praise technology as something that has advanced my teaching, there is a point where we as teachers take it too far.
I love listening to student gossip about teachers and then calling them on their unrealistic expectations.
“My teacher is so unfair.”
“They give too much work.”
“How can they take points off for late work? It’s BS.”
Sometimes the complaints are just a product of their youth and not understanding that fair doesn’t mean getting everything your way; however, sometimes their concerns are thought provoking and spot on.
“Mr. X isn’t the most helpful teacher.”
I probed this statement a little deeper because it wasn’t the run of the mill “X teacher is terrible” complaint. I was encouraged to ask further questions when students started walking by were able to name the same teacher just on the description of this teacher’s classroom methods.
“We watch videos of a person explaining the concept and then he gives us a worksheet.”
Now we have a real problem. “Aren’t we supposed to be using technology in the classroom” says every kneejerk, default anti-student opinion teacher ever. Yes, we are, but this is the darkside of technology. I’m on record as saying I don’t think technology can ever replace a teacher, in real life, in front of their students. This is an example. I’m not sure if the teacher won’t, or can’t, explain the concepts to the kids, but using a video and then refusing to answer questions on the worksheet isn’t just lazy, it’s mean. If you don’t know, watch and learn is a lesson that this teacher is applying to his students, but it should apply to himself.
Being a teacher means being a lifelong learner.
The bright side is that there are plenty of teachers willing and able to help students that are confused. It takes a village to education and it’s a good thing that there are plenty of villagers willing to help. That, after all, is the only reason I was able to pass high school math. Shout out to all the invested, helpful, math teachers out there.
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Using technology without purpose in Dallas Schools
Dallas ISD News and Politics Rundown - April Week 4
“My teacher is so unfair.”
“They give too much work.”
“How can they take points off for late work? It’s BS.”
Sometimes the complaints are just a product of their youth and not understanding that fair doesn’t mean getting everything your way; however, sometimes their concerns are thought provoking and spot on.
“Mr. X isn’t the most helpful teacher.”
I probed this statement a little deeper because it wasn’t the run of the mill “X teacher is terrible” complaint. I was encouraged to ask further questions when students started walking by were able to name the same teacher just on the description of this teacher’s classroom methods.
“We watch videos of a person explaining the concept and then he gives us a worksheet.”
Now we have a real problem. “Aren’t we supposed to be using technology in the classroom” says every kneejerk, default anti-student opinion teacher ever. Yes, we are, but this is the darkside of technology. I’m on record as saying I don’t think technology can ever replace a teacher, in real life, in front of their students. This is an example. I’m not sure if the teacher won’t, or can’t, explain the concepts to the kids, but using a video and then refusing to answer questions on the worksheet isn’t just lazy, it’s mean. If you don’t know, watch and learn is a lesson that this teacher is applying to his students, but it should apply to himself.
Being a teacher means being a lifelong learner.
The bright side is that there are plenty of teachers willing and able to help students that are confused. It takes a village to education and it’s a good thing that there are plenty of villagers willing to help. That, after all, is the only reason I was able to pass high school math. Shout out to all the invested, helpful, math teachers out there.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Articles:
Using technology without purpose in Dallas Schools
Dallas ISD News and Politics Rundown - April Week 4
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