The Internet in the classroom

Friend or Foe?



Introduction
The Internet is a huge resource which is made more overwhelming by its disorganised state, however, it offers so many significant learning opportunities which are delivered in a sensory way that is appealing and exciting to most students. Due to these factors, it has become impossible to dismiss or ignore as a potential teaching tool.

Teachers who have delayed their training in this medium are now finding that their students have overtaken them in expertise and attitude toward the Internet from a very early age, and the teachers are finding it difficult to fit their own training and learning into an already busy time frame. How can we help these teachers to see the benefits of Internet use in their classroom and how can we help them to make time to develop their skills so they can competently integrate Internet activities into the curriculum?

  Current Situation

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The Internet in the classroom

Friend or Foe?



How the reluctant Teacher can be motivated
to use the Internet in the Classroom


The teacher librarian in the role as a facilitator of resource development and retrieval of information, also has a role in helping reluctant teachers to learn about the Internet's possibilities and in doing so, helping them to see the potential use in their own classroom.
Methods of doing this include:
  • Including websites in hotlists or pathfinders for the topics they will covering in class. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Set up a school gateway which allows for easy access to researched and already selected sites. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Do research into the topic and go through online activities which have been developed for their topic, and introduce them slowly.
  • Conduct inservice based on one aspect of online activities, then follow it up with suggestions on how it can be utilized in their classroom, offering time for reflection with the following questions -
    What does it all mean to me? How might I do this with my class? What might it take? What obstacles will I have to overcome? What are the benefits? (McKenzie 1995)
  • Have the administration support the inservice projects by offering release time for teachers to be taught about the Internet and other computer technology, so it does not impose on their own time. (Davies 1997)
  • Set up small groups for peer coaching and informal sharing of ideas. (Williams 1993)
  • Make the library computers available for class time or staff development.
  • Offer ideas and suggestion on how they can integrate activities from the Internet into an computer-less classroom.
  • Let the staff know about listservs available which will help them learn more about online education.
  • Piggy back with other inservice courses - offering an online benefit to what they are doing. (McKenzie 1993 )
  • Show them the possibilities of activities with a collection of what is possible such as outlined in Appendix A


    In offering these solutions the Teacher Librarian also needs to take into account the following aspects of reaching the reluctant teachers:


  • Speak ordinary talk - don't get caught up in the computer lingo as it will lose the reluctant. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Offer continual support and be reliable in this support. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Find out what turns them on - what are their interests and help them to see how online can fulfil this need and this will spark an interest.(McKenzie 1999)
  • Provide rewards and incentives for teachers who are trying hard. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Teach with brevity and clarity. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Eliminate surprises in the teaching phase - make it appear easy to do, keeping in mind the aim of teaching the reluctants is to improve their confidence in their own ability to integrate these skills into the classroom. They need to be able to understand and apply what they have been shown. (McKenzie 1999)
  • The reluctant teacher must come to terms with being a learner again, and in some instances work alongside students to learn new skills. For some people this requires a shift in thinking. The Teacher Librarian needs to be aware of this shift. (US Congress)
  • It has been found that teachers tend to use technology when they can see how it will help them become more productive or do their jobs more professionally. The Teacher Librarian needs to be able to show how the Internet is used in their lessons - be an example. (US Congress)
  • The TL needs to be on the technology committee in the school to ensure the reluctant teachers are not bypassed when decisions are made, and to ensure that both the technical and software expertise is supported from the administration.
  • They should lobby for computers to be in every classroom with Internet access so that this technology is accessible and not a trial to use. Anything too difficult or arduous to negotiate for use will negate any inservice or potential interest the reluctant teacher may have.

    The aim of the teacher development is for each teacher you help to have the confidence illustrated in the following image:-

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The Internet in the classroom

Friend or Foe?



Current Situation
A large percentage of teachers remain reluctant and sceptical about the Internet, with Becker in 2000 stating that up to 70% of American teachers fall into the reluctant or late adopter categories when it comes to new technologies. Less than 25% of all teachers have integrated technology based tools into regular classroom programs. (Becker 2000) The same study by Becker showed that only 20% of teachers are at an advanced skill level to integrate technology use into the classroom.

These figures reflect that not all teachers have embraced the new teaching tools as was expected by the hierarchy and school administrators, and yet the supply of computers, software and Internet access into the classroom continues to flow at an increasing rate. This high expenditure for such an under-utilised resource seems a little unbalanced, illustrating that something seems to have been overlooked.

Possible reasons for this giant chasm in technology skills amongst teachers:-

  • Teachers have skills with people. In many cases computers do not interest people persons as the interaction is predominantly one-sided.
  • Teachers need to know that the time they spend on learning a new skill will result in better student performance. They need to see value for time invested. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Most teachers are not pioneers in the computer field. They want products that are finished and have been tested, refined and perfected so they can see the finished product and then make a decision as to how it can be implemented into their program. Teachers are busy people, they do not have time to mess around. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Teachers do not like surprises or disappointments in the classroom - when they have planned for something, it needs to be there. Technology is still an unstable commodity. (McKenzie 1999)
  • The language of technology can be overwhelming and confusing to a non user.(McKenzie 1999)
  • Lack of support within the school system prevents people from asking questions and moving forward beyond the survival or mastery stages. (McKenzie 1999)
  • Some Teachers are uncomfortable with the changing role of facilitating learning rather than directing or being in control. (McKenzie 1995)
  • Not knowing where to begin (Williams 1993)
  • Suspicion of technology or change. (Williams 1993)
  • Not knowing how to fix small glitches when they occur, hence do not like the possibility of this happening in the classroom and not knowing how to fix the problem. (Tipton et al 1998)
  • Reluctanceto take the time to introduce an Internet based activity when there are so many other methods of instruction which are initially more efficient. (Tipton et al 1998)
  • The risk that students may wander into inappropriate sites, and create a problem for the teacher.(Tipton et al1998)
  • Instructional goals, teacher experience, subject matter or curriculum area, available resources and support, and student needs are all factors that affect teacher's technology use. If they are in the mind set of incorporating technology when they plan a unit, it will not happen. (U.S. Congress 1995)

Williams (1993) places teachers into three categories with regards to technology use.

Pioneers:These are the teachers who have embraced technology and are usually given positions of influence over purchasing decisions in the school environment. They incorporate technology into their classroom with ease and enthusiasm and enjoy the risk associated with doing so.

Moderates:- This group gradually incorporates technology into the classroom but ensures there is stability and performance indicators first. They don't like a lot of risk.

Sages or reluctants:- This group are generally suspicious of technology and new fads and perceive technology as a threat to the order of their teaching and classroom . They are reluctant to learn new skills and will not do so unless they perceive there is something worthwhile in it for them.

It is the moderates and reluctants for which this paper is directed.

  Why should teachers be encouraged to use the Internet in their classrooms?

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The Internet in the classroom

Friend or Foe?



Conclusion
The teacher librarian has an important role to play in the school not only in helping with curriculum development, resource acquisition and teaching information skills, but also in helping staff to overcome their fears and concerns about integrating the Internet into their classroom, to enhance their teaching and make their classroom a modern place to learn.

It is a long process which needs to be approached slowly, but deliberately with small steps taken at every level to ensure the reluctant teachers become enthused and interested in the potential the Internet has to offer them. They need to see benefits personally and professionally as to how they can use it in their classroom alongside the more traditional tools. Only then will successful integration of the Internet be a common occurance.

  Bibliography

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The Internet in the classroom

Friend or Foe?



Bibliography
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Integrate the Internet into the classroom (online).
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The Internet in education. (online)
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Department of Mathematics, Purdue University. 1999,
Integrating technology into the classroom. (online)
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The pros and cons of implementing the Internet in the classroom - making sense of the hype. (online)
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McKenzie, J. 1999, Reaching the reluctant teacher.
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Tipton, P.E., Bennett, C.K., and Bennett, J.A.. 1998,
Using Teachnology in the classroom to maximise the advantages of diversity. (online)
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When is it appropriate to use the Internet? (online)
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U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment. 1995
Teachers and Technology: Making the Connection, OTA-EHR-616 Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, April 1995. Available for PDF download from
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Williams, B. 1993, Barriers to New Technologies, Part One: Staff Balkanization.
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Sources of Graphics for this site:

Buttons from Andy's free Buttons
http://www.angelfire.com/ut/Thunderhead/

Teacher and student at computer graphic from
www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/internet/ 04/19/china.net.cafes.idg/ (permission pending)

Confident teacher graphic from
http://www.ddonline.tomsnyder.com/teachers/instruct.htm (permission pending)

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