Thinking through the Technology Puzzle

It is indeed a puzzle as to why so much talk and so much money invested has not been able to positively effect a change in the pedagogy and the student learning in schools today.

The basic problem lies in considering the technology as an entity that is disparate from the instructional subjects at schools. It is used for technology substitution and reward/ punishment.

Instead, focus should shift to the real thing that technology is to be used to do things better, whether it is for teaching or for learning. Technology is to be used for
v Questioning
v Exploration
v Discovery
v Analysis
v Understanding
v Application and communication
But, this does not undermine the role of the teacher. Having learnt the necessary skills, she is central to effectively integrating the technology puzzle into the routine learning process.

The hesitation of the teachers to learn technology from their student is also puzzling as this role reversal only adds to the prestige of the teacher.

Another puzzling aspect is that while most teachers do use technology for personal use, few ever use it in the class room. The answer lies in the complacency in acquisition of skills, without integrating technology in mainstream education.

It also remains a puzzle as to why technology remains confined to the computer labs, training of the various software and relegated to fixed time table periods; when it has been shown that technology needs to be brought to the classrooms with easy access to the teacher and the students.

Once the pieces of these jigsaws fit together, there is no reason why technological revolution will not take place in the teaching – learning process and resultant student enhancement.