"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

Title: "It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Source: Graphics by Chrissy Henderson



I really enjoyed reading this post. It has by far been my favorite piece. I agree with so many factors that Mrs. Hines addressed. She stated that technology is an innovative tool for teaching and learning, yet it is not the first thing to initiate change in our classrooms. Students and teachers should recognize the need for change with technology, yet the mindset of students should also be there. She listed four key factors of technology with education.


The first factor was stating that we, as teachers, must also be learners. I agree that we should always invest in our profession. We are never "too old to learn" and should model that for our students. Education is so much different for today's students than when we were students and things are changing all the time. We should keep up with where they are so we can teach in a way that reaches them. Mrs. Hines stated that we should be up to date on current trends, research and tools. We should know our students that walk through our doors. I agree with her. We must do this now more than ever if we are to reach our students. We have to do this more than any other occupational job out there. We can no longer depend on manuals and workshops. With the economy the way it is today, a lot of educational money has been stopped for workshops. We must take on our own initiative and be self- motivated to pursue learning and implement it in our classrooms.


The second factor she gave was on learning and teaching. She stated that these two are not always the same thing. I loved how she related this to physics law. She stated that regardless of how much effort has been applied, no teaching has been done if the students do not learn the subject matter. Her third factor related to technology being useless without good teaching. I agree with her statement about money being wasted if technology goes to a teacher who is not willing to learn how to use it.


Her last factor spoke about being a 21st century teacher without technology. I enjoyed this piece a lot. She spoke on the issue of teachers teaching students to be creative and innovative so that they can face the future. She stated that teachers who teach critical thinking and problem solving are doing students a HUGE favor...more than those who are misusing technology. I agree with her statement on how teachers should teach communication and collaboration in the classrooms to equip students to apply their core skills to more areas in their lives.


In conclusion, I feel that we as teachers should embrace several things that Mrs. Hines had to offer as suggestions. Students are now listeners and watchers instead of readers and writers. We should embrace these teaching tools and add technology as enhancement. Teachers who take their "old-fashioned ways" of teaching and incorporate the technology with it have unlimited possibilities. We just cannot be afraid to learn. We can do wonders in our teaching and can take our students to a whole new level of learning. Technology should not be a substitute for our teaching, yet incorporated in the proper training of our children today. I highly recommend to all teachers out there to read Mrs. Hines post found at http://www.eduratireview.com/2009/04/its-not-about-technology.html.