Comments on: Real teaching with technology by numbers http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Bain http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8163 Mark Bain Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:11:13 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8163 Not long enough to get it fixed, but long enough to find a replacement if there's one available, or, if not, to rethink that part of the lesson. Not long enough to get it fixed, but long enough to find a replacement if there’s one available, or, if not, to rethink that part of the lesson.

]]> By: Alex Case http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8153 Alex Case Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:27:45 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8153 Really? You go into your classroom and check if every computer, every board pen, every CD player and every OHP is working long enough before your class so that you can get it fixed if it isn't? For every class?? Or wouldn't taking in a couple of extra computers or board pens be professional enough? Really? You go into your classroom and check if every computer, every board pen, every CD player and every OHP is working long enough before your class so that you can get it fixed if it isn’t? For every class?? Or wouldn’t taking in a couple of extra computers or board pens be professional enough?

]]> By: Mark Bain http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8151 Mark Bain Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:18:57 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8151 I'm sure the computers, CD players, board markers, OHPs or whatever worked perfectly when they were brand spanking new. But things get old and stop working so well. So as professional teachers, we should make sure all the tools we are planning to use are in working order before we start the lesson. It's part of lesson planning, isn't it? I’m sure the computers, CD players, board markers, OHPs or whatever worked perfectly when they were brand spanking new. But things get old and stop working so well. So as professional teachers, we should make sure all the tools we are planning to use are in working order before we start the lesson. It’s part of lesson planning, isn’t it?

]]> By: Alex Case http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8128 Alex Case Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:44:16 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8128 Very witty Mark, but I can't really see what the point you are making is. That we can't expect our schools to provide anything that works?? Very witty Mark, but I can’t really see what the point you are making is. That we can’t expect our schools to provide anything that works??

]]> By: Darren Elliott http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8126 Darren Elliott Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:57:18 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8126 Zzzzziiiiing!! Exactly Mark, exactly! Zzzzziiiiing!!

Exactly Mark, exactly!

]]> By: Mark Bain http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8125 Mark Bain Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:18:11 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8125 Helen, how come you were doing a Certificate in Teaching with Technology without being given access to adequate technology? Or were you doing the assessed lesson in your own school? Helen, how come you were doing a Certificate in Teaching with Technology without being given access to adequate technology? Or were you doing the assessed lesson in your own school?

]]> By: Mark Bain http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8124 Mark Bain Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:15:40 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8124 “I went into class this morning with the naïvely optimistic expectation that the set of whiteboard markers I had brought in with me would actually work. They did not. By the numbers: 8 – number of markers I brought into class 3 – the number of markers which actually worked 2 – the number of markers which were green, and therefore all but invisible to the students 1 - the number of markers which were actually permanent markers... Consider yourselves warned” Naïve is naïve. “I went into class this morning with the naïvely optimistic expectation that the set of whiteboard markers I had brought in with me would actually work.

They did not.

By the numbers:

8 – number of markers I brought into class

3 – the number of markers which actually worked

2 – the number of markers which were green, and therefore all but invisible to the students

1 – the number of markers which were actually permanent markers…

Consider yourselves warned”

Naïve is naïve.

]]> By: Sandy http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8108 Sandy Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:21:29 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8108 Chalk-n-talk - you can't beat it! Chalk-n-talk – you can’t beat it!

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8103 Jennifer Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:38:16 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8103 Oh, I had one of those days today as well. We have new computers which are running Vista and the newest version of MS Office (which of course must have cost a fortune)....all the kids have XP and the older version of Office at home (because no one can afford to keep upgrading to the newest versions), which means they have to go through the rigamarole of Saving As the older version at school before sending work home to work on.....or else they spend all this time working on gorgeous presentations, only to have the school network eat them, never to be seen again. I finally convinced all my kids to install OpenOffice at home, and now I have to work on the admin of our school to forget MS Office and install OpenOffice on the school computers. on top of this, I'm a Mac person, and yet I have to troubleshoot the PCs...thankfully I can do it a little. Oh, I had one of those days today as well. We have new computers which are running Vista and the newest version of MS Office (which of course must have cost a fortune)….all the kids have XP and the older version of Office at home (because no one can afford to keep upgrading to the newest versions), which means they have to go through the rigamarole of Saving As the older version at school before sending work home to work on…..or else they spend all this time working on gorgeous presentations, only to have the school network eat them, never to be seen again. I finally convinced all my kids to install OpenOffice at home, and now I have to work on the admin of our school to forget MS Office and install OpenOffice on the school computers.

on top of this, I’m a Mac person, and yet I have to troubleshoot the PCs…thankfully I can do it a little.

]]> By: Gavin Dudeney http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8102 Gavin Dudeney Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:35:49 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8102 Sigh.... An all-too-familiar story with schools buying equipment and then failing to maintain it or hire a teacher who can look after things and ensure everything is running fine. I've come across it occasionally, but I've also come across decent schools where there is someone who checks all the equipment at the end of the day so that it will all be working again the following day. And of course, using Internet Explorer you're asking for it. I agree with Darren - get some decent computers, download Firefox and find yourself someone to lok after the equipment. You'd be surprised how easy it is to end up with working computers which can be used effectively. Gavin Sigh….

An all-too-familiar story with schools buying equipment and then failing to maintain it or hire a teacher who can look after things and ensure everything is running fine. I’ve come across it occasionally, but I’ve also come across decent schools where there is someone who checks all the equipment at the end of the day so that it will all be working again the following day.

And of course, using Internet Explorer you’re asking for it. I agree with Darren – get some decent computers, download Firefox and find yourself someone to lok after the equipment. You’d be surprised how easy it is to end up with working computers which can be used effectively.

Gavin

]]> By: Helen http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8100 Helen Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:13:22 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8100 Very similar to my recent experience for my Certificate in Teaching with Technology. Spent hours planning the final assessed project - about 20 backup plans if a part of the plan failed and on the day, as well as the hardware problems, the Internet connection was so slow and unreliable that all of my backup plans and more quick thinking on the spot somehow got me through the lesson. The good news is that the students still loved it and said they got a lot more out of the class than they would have without the technology(!) - I, on the hand, had never worked so hard in my life and was almost ready to throw the towel in at the end of the class. Technology is great when it works - but all too often it doesn´t. I believe technology is a necessary component of our teaching but for us to use it effectively we need reliable equipment and support - unfortunately it´s not always available. Very similar to my recent experience for my Certificate in Teaching with Technology. Spent hours planning the final assessed project – about 20 backup plans if a part of the plan failed and on the day, as well as the hardware problems, the Internet connection was so slow and unreliable that all of my backup plans and more quick thinking on the spot somehow got me through the lesson. The good news is that the students still loved it and said they got a lot more out of the class than they would have without the technology(!) – I, on the hand, had never worked so hard in my life and was almost ready to throw the towel in at the end of the class. Technology is great when it works – but all too often it doesn´t. I believe technology is a necessary component of our teaching but for us to use it effectively we need reliable equipment and support – unfortunately it´s not always available.

]]> By: Mark Jochim http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8097 Mark Jochim Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:27:02 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8097 Sounds like our school -- 1000 students, 80 teachers and now only a half-dozen computers that work (sometimes), only two of which we are allowed to use a USB thumb drive on (hard to edit/save our lesson plans, images for Phonics lessons, etc.). They removed Microsoft Office as they hadn't been using a legal copy of that since I started working here almost three years ago. Mired in a mess and then the Thai admin staff wonder why our weekly reports, assessments, etc. are late (oh, yes -- you can only print from the two machines which allow use of the USB ports)... Sounds like our school — 1000 students, 80 teachers and now only a half-dozen computers that work (sometimes), only two of which we are allowed to use a USB thumb drive on (hard to edit/save our lesson plans, images for Phonics lessons, etc.). They removed Microsoft Office as they hadn’t been using a legal copy of that since I started working here almost three years ago. Mired in a mess and then the Thai admin staff wonder why our weekly reports, assessments, etc. are late (oh, yes — you can only print from the two machines which allow use of the USB ports)…

]]> By: Darren Elliott http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8092 Darren Elliott Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:19:40 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8092 har har har oh dear...... har har har oh dear……

]]> By: Alex Case http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8090 Alex Case Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:53:44 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8090 How would raincoats help? How would raincoats help?

]]> By: Darren Elliott http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tefl/tech/real-teaching-with-technology-by-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-8089 Darren Elliott Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:54:27 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/?p=4310#comment-8089 Use macs? Use macs?

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