Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Lit Review 2

Resistance to Technological Change in Academia Current Issues in Education [On-line], 11(6). Available: http://cie.ed.asu.edu/volume11/number6/

by Linda Moerschell, Walden University

Upon first finding this article I misread Academia for America, so the idea behind this title seemed a little unfathomable. So, needless to say, I had to read it. This article wasn't a quick, light read nor was it particularly engaging. I had to stop and start up again several times, then research many terms, concepts and theories. But, I didn't want to give up on it, I didn't want to admit to the fact that there was an educationally based article that was over my head.
This lengthy article has two parts to it. I'm going to focus on part one which dealt with the challenges of making Internet2 and all of its glory popular among teachers and administration at Northern New York University 2. (NNYU2 is a fictional school that was created to protect the integrity of the actual school that she researched.) Internet 2™ (I2) is a separate Internet system reserved for research and education applications. It is a member-driven cyber community that promotes partnership, opportunity, and exchange among many disciplines (Building Tomorrow’s Internet, 2007). 
Ms. Moerschell had student researchers study this topic. The attempt to roll out Internet2 started way back in 2003. This was going to be an investment, an $80,000 a year investment.
The resistance was broken down into four parts; limited awareness in educational technology, no motivation from seasoned teachers to change their ways, different types of people handle change differently and lastly (from what I was able to decipher) change is constant but it requires give and take from both sides.
Each of the four resistances that the researched college faced are the common hurdles that many schools would encounter. I find it so hard to believe that at a college, an institution of higher learning, a place that is to enlighten and expand minds would have resistance to technology.
I'd be curious to hear what my peers had to say about this article.

Final EDU533 Blog

How has your opinion changed (or why has it stayed the same) over the past 11 weeks regarding Technology Integration?


To be honest, I don't know if I had an opinion regarding Technology Integration prior to this class. The bare bones concept of using technology, in particular, the internet to enhance a students' learning sounds so civilized.  However, as I wrote about in my last blog for me the actual implementation was the challenge. But,I'm also running an after school program which is completely different than being in the classroom. 


I truly believe that if the teacher has the motivation, patience and knowledge then technology integration can be done. Motivation to constantly research child-friendly websites. Patience to be willing to work with students of all experiences and abilities. Also, the knowledge of what is happening in the ever changing world of technology. The idea of each child having a computer is wonderful, but then what? The fanciest airplanes will never see the sky without a skilled pilot. 


Technology has to be more than an advanced option to hand writing a report. More than social networking, more than a Google search and more than using ClipArt for a report cover. Technology has to become second nature, just another option in a student's arsenal of resources.