W2018 GDPI-PME 801-001 Collaborative Inquiry

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A general question I have
Lisa Resmer Resmer posted Feb 17, 2018 6:16 PM Subscribed

Course and Personal 0 Hi folks, currently, the school I am in has several parents who believe that technology is making children lazy.
Introductions Module Others think that students using/relying on technology are cheating. From a spec ed point of view, I always tell
parents that technology is the tool to demonstrate learning, rather than it being the learning. This however, has
not convinced three parents, who are in their late twenties. They feel that using technology eliminates the
teaching of essential skills such as printing, face to face conversations with peers, and compromise. How would
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you approach a parent/student/co worker who has similar beliefs?
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Andrea Wright
Making Connections February 18 at 1:55 PM

Technologies 0 Hi Lisa,
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I am a little surprised to hear you are receiving this kind of push back from parents in that age group.
I wouldn't be as surprised if the parents were in their later 30s or 40s.
Module 3: Develop & 0
I think if I was in your position I would try and focus on the fact that technology is inevitably shaping
Share Artifacts every aspect of our lives and will continue to do so as their children grow. You are trying to prepare
them for the changing landscape of school and the workforce. If they want their children to succeed,
they will need to be technologically literate.
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Good luck!
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with Course Peers Andrea

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Module 5: Course 0
Closure Angela-Marie Usas
February 18 at 11:36 AM
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Hello Lisa:
Course Feedback
Although I am in administration, I would think that showing them and having them participate in a
mock learning experience might sway their beliefs.
Digital Portfolios 11
I have teenager who thinks that texting is the same as talking and that someone can actually be in a
relationship without ever having met and they call it dating. These examples may be interfering with
these parents ability to see technological tools as a benefit.
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However, if you have them participate in an on-line tool learning experience they may see the
benefits,

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Angela-Marie Usas
10 hours ago

Hi Lisa:

Exactly!

Cheers,

Angela

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Jennifer Stooke-Crosson
yesterday at 11:00 PM

Hi Lisa,

That is a tough one as many people have very definite opinions that might not be changed.
However, I think as educators our role is not to change minds but to illicit others (students, peers,
coworkers, parents of student, other professionals and the community) to engage in or model "active
learning"…when I did my Professional Development Program sixteen years ago that was the title of
our cohort or module. All of our professional development was done through inquiry based problem
solving…it has helped me immensely throughout my career in many ways. Differentiated instruction,
self-regulation, collaboration…have all become part of my everyday practises. When I am presented
with challenges I naturally gravitate towards reaching out to others to put our heads together….often
times I call upon the students themselves. But, when I was at the elementary level I also made a
point of engaging parents.

At the school I was at some of the parents were also resistant to technology-enhanced pedagogy
in classrooms. The teachers were fabulous and really put their heads together to see how they could
get parents on board. In the end the ended up having a number of technology fairs in which students
show cased many attributes that had never been highlighted until they engaged in problem solving
through technology. Some of the parents who were resistant were pleasantly surprised how
technology enhanced the children's capabilities and creativity that they had never seen before. I
wonder too, if parents are feeling that the basic three "R"'s aren't being met in schools if they would
be interested in a teacher/parent group that could meet say monthly to discuss ways the school and
home might problem solve to address these concerns. Sometimes people just need to feel that they
are heard…it's a real challenge to balance it all that's for sure!

However, on a day to day basis within our classrooms…maybe there are times during the day that
traditional writing or face to face interactions with peers could happen? I know when I was at
elementary there were plenty of "in days"…perhaps writing or fine motor type activity packages could
be available for inside days…alternatively there are many interesting educational fun games that
require all of the things they are asking…"dramatic" themed play is always fun too! We used
FreshGrade (a technology tool) to communicate all the things that are happening during the day that
parents would never be able to imagine…this also helped parents understand that more times than
not, and as you have said tools aren't being used to replace learning but to enhance it.

Cheers!

Jen

<<< Replied to post below >>>

Authored on: Feb 17, 2018 6:16 PM
Subject: A general question I have

Hi folks, currently, the school I am in has several parents who believe that technology is making
children lazy. Others think that students using/relying on technology are cheating. From a spec ed
point of view, I always tell parents that technology is the tool to demonstrate learning, rather than it
being the learning. This however, has not convinced three parents, who are in their late twenties.
They feel that using technology eliminates the teaching of essential skills such as printing, face to
face conversations with peers, and compromise. How would you approach a parent/student/co
worker who has similar beliefs?

Reply

Jennifer Stooke-Crosson
3 hours ago

Hi Lisa,
 After writing to you last night I got to thinking about the issue at hand some more….I have
experienced a lot of "push back" from parents due to the nature of my job as a learning support
teacher…there are many stages families go through before they come to terms that their child
experiences learning challenges and may need alternative ways to show their learning. So I am
always striving to collaborate with students, families, other teachers to find ways to help families
adjust. I was wondering if the parents that are experiencing a struggle with accepting technology as a
means to extend children's learning aren't intrenched with their thinking because perhaps they or
their children have experienced challenges with showing their learning. I often hear people say….if
only they learned how to write, or read better….and I think sometimes it is a reaction to frustration…
many people are from the school of thought that if teachers just practised a skill with students
enough the student would get it…and they might be right…or not..depending on the situation….but
the question is how long do we wait and hammer home traditional means of acquiring skills or
moving on to using tools that will show complex thinking instead of the seemingly formal structures? I
mean isn't there some responsibility on society and families that if handwriting is important to them
that they also offer ways for this to occur for their children? I often get….they need to learn their
times tables…not use calculators! So I respond with…if I can give a calculator to a student so they
can keep up with the larger problem solving skills that they would be gaining wouldn't that be more
beneficial to holding the student back and hammering home times tables and further exacerbating
the gap in their learning? A lot of the 3 R's are skills are extrinsically motivated…students will
eventually learn the times tables when lets say money becomes important to them. Again it's a
balance between the two forces. The world is constantly changing and evolving and I also wonder if
some people don't hold on to traditional schools of thought as a sense of security too….fear of the
unknown is challenging. I think educators also have to remember that they are the leaders of new
innovations…by the very nature of our jobs. We are inquirers of knowledge, and best practises. It's
our quest for this and to bring it to our youth that is exciting…and with all innovations there will be
push back. I think that we can get caught up in "being stuck" by systems or processes and this can
be very distressing. Sometimes as we have found through collaboration and inquiry that the process
is a long, arduous task. So, we have to look to focuses, perhaps move to other situations that offer
what we need in terms of our professional and philosophical growth and as said in Johnson's video it
might take years before you find the missing pieces needed in your inquiry.

I found an article that might be of interest as it speaks to the problem you are experiencing
regarding technology…might be helpful in your personal inquiry?

http://blog.screenbeam.com/2018/01/17/6-digital-transformation-trends-edu/

Cheers and best of luck!

Jen

<<< Replied to post below >>>

Authored on: Feb 24, 2018 2:51 PM
Subject: A general question I have

Thanks Jen, i love the idea of a technology fair. It would be hard to get my teachers to agree to it if it
took place after 3 however, if we integrated it with another event that brings parents out already, we
could have quick little demostrations!

You guys arae awesome!! I am working on a plan!!

Reply

Lisa Resmer Resmer

yesterday at 7:49 PM

Angela, that is a great idea!! Thank you. I can see several benefits that having them work through a
scenerio would bring

Reply

Lisa Resmer Resmer

yesterday at 7:51 PM

I know Andrea. I was surprised as well! And to be so adamant .

Reply

Lisa Resmer Resmer

3 hours ago
 Thanks Jen, i love the idea of a technology fair. It would be hard to get my teachers to agree to it if it
took place after 3 however, if we integrated it with another event that brings parents out already, we
could have quick little demostrations!

You guys arae awesome!! I am working on a plan!!

Reply

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