Week 2 Blog Chapter 1discussions

One issue shaping the role of technology in education was media and audiovisual communications which was a 1930's movement that higher education instructors proposed that slides and films were a more productive avenue for delivering information to students than lectures and books. This movement was concerned with the design of messages to use that control the learning process. This form of technology was in force until 1986 and computers were considered another form of thi medium.
Another issue shaping the role of technology in education was technology as vocational training or technology education. This perspective began in the 1980's with vocational educators and industry trainers. These groups felt it was important to prepare students for the working world through schools learning curriculum and they also believed teaching all content areas like math , science , and language through vocational training could be accomplished practically. These views shifted k-12 vocational training from industrial arts curricula centered in wood and metal working and graphic printing to technology education teaching in labs dealing with hightechnology stations that taught desk-top publishin , computer-assisted design (CAD) and robitics systems.
Another issue was technology as computer systems also known as educational computing and instructional computing. This perspective started in the 1950's when computers were introduced and continued growing in popularity as computers were used for instructionin the 1960's. As computers transformed industry and businesses , computer trainers and teachers began to see that computers could potentially aid in instruction. From the 1960's to the 1990's this perspective was known as educational computing dealing with instructional and administrative support applications. During the 1970's the audio visual media and instructional system educators also researched and developed computer applications whic by the 1990's saw educators combining technology resources in media , and instructional systems with computer based systems. This changed educational computing to what we now know as educational technology.
Things we've learned from the history of educational technology that can help us shape today's uses are (1) technology is not a panacea for for education; meaning that past products and even current technology resources are no quick , easy or universial solution. These innovations are part of a larger system and must integrated with other resources and teachers activities. One writer suggest in his research that technology was oversold when it was originally introduced and this is one reason its not having system-changing resilts that were expected. Another writer suggest that we need to curtail the overuse of distance learning to increase our success and its impact on teaching and learning.Knowing and asking ourselves what are the specific needs of our students and what resources can help meet these needs.(2) Developing technology materials and curriculum's is mostly in the hands of publisher's , school and district developers , or project personnel that are in funded projests.This type of assistance with technology does not seem to be changing any time soon or in the near future. Teachers because of their time consuming jobs cannot find the time to create software they need to integrate into their curriculums. Lastly teachers will always be more important than technology. Whenever new technology came on the horizon , as one writer stated , will it replace teachers in the classroom? This was a main focus when computer systems became instructional in the 1960's and even today with distance laerning methods the same question arises again. The answer now is the same as the answer years ago: Good teachers are more essential now than ever.Naisblitts (1984 )Mega Trends: stated that" whenever new technology is introduced into society , there must be a counterbalancing human response....the more high tech (it is) , the more high touch (is needed)" (p.35). Teachers who understand technology's role in our educational curriculums are the very ones that are ready to take advantage of its power are also the ones who understand its limitations. Because of  the nature of technology's integration in our schools , the teachers who are tech savvy and child-centered are pretty much irreplacable.

Personal Profile

I am currently employed with the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education , working at Brookwood High School. My duties are teaching Physical Education , and I also coach J. V. basketball , Archery , and track and field. I have been employed with the school system for over 20 years and look forward to retiring in five years. I am getting my Master's degree in Physical Education to learn more so that I can be a more effective teacher and coach , and to complete my professional development plan.
My favorite technology is the lap top computer and internet access that allows for quick access to information which is important in today's society.
I have been married for the past thirty years to the lovely Mary Nickerson and we have four children , one daughter and three sons from which we have seven grandchildren. I enjoy going to church , fishing , and carving walking canes in my spare-time.

                                                                        Rodderick Nickerson