Chapter 3 - The Evolution of Technology Rich Classrooms

Summary

In this chapter, the author describes the difficult challenges teachers faced when initially trying to incorporate technology into the classroom during the 1980's. The teachers were part of a study conducted by ACOT and the author details the five stages of implementing a new technology into the classroom, and how the teachers handled each stage. The five stages include entry, adoption, adaptation, appropriation and invention. The entry stage happens when technology is initially introduced and teachers struggle to set up and test the new equipment. During adoption, the teachers attempted to blend the technology into their older methods of instruction, which was not successful. Adaptation took place when the technology was used in more purposeful ways. During this phase, teachers found that student productivity increased and higher test scores were reported. Appropriation is the stage that is reached when teachers changed their personal beliefs about technology. The invention stage begins when when teachers find new ways to integrate technology.

Reaction

As an elementary school student in the mid to late 1980's I remember when our small, rural public school was allocated funds to build a computer lab. There were about ten computers in the lab and they were all Apple computers. We would venture to the lab once per week with our teacher and sit in groups of two or three at one computer. I remember typing my name into the computer and thinking it was fun. I did not learn much from this exercise though. I imagine that my teacher must have been nervous to have to suddenly create lesson plans to teach in this lab, when she herself probably did not own a computer. It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Teachers will always need to stay on top of technology in able to relate to their students and to fully take advantage of the efficiencies offered by technological innovations.