Methods and Instructional Technologies in Terms of Various Variables in
Life Study Lesson by Mustafa Bektas
This particular article was very interesting to read because it is definitely something myself and others can relate to and find interesting. This particular topic has been brought up many times in Elementary Schools before and is something that will continue to go on as long as we have new technologies developing.
The purpose of this study was to examine the preferred teaching methods of elementary school teachers during a life studies lesson. Teachers were asked what types of methods they preferred to use when it came to instructional technology methods. 176 elementary school teachers were surveyed in this particular study. Researchers used many variables to determine the preferred method by the elementary teachers when teaching the life study lesson. The questions include:
1. Are there instructional technologies in the classes/schools of elementary school teachers?
2. How often and which methods do elementary school teachers use in their life study lesson?
3. Which teaching methods and instructional technologies do elementary school teachers use in their
life study lesson?
4. Do the elementary school teachers’ gender affects instructional technology preferences in life study
lesson?
5. Do the seniority of elementary school teachers affect the instructional technology preferences in life
study lesson?
6. Do the classroom sizes of elementary school teachers affect the instructional technology preferences in the life study lesson?
After reading these questions I began to think about my previous experiences on my campus. The majority of teachers on my campus use various technologies to teach content. The biggest problems that we faced were with veteran teachers refusing to use the new technologies. There were many variables that affected this problem. Most of the teachers preferred teacher-centered methods that they were comfortable with. You could walk into their classroom and the promethean board would be off and they would be teaching from a book or using an overhead projector. There's nothing wrong with an overhead projector mind you. As long it's being used while your promethean is being serviced. :-) Other teachers felt uncomfortable taking professional development to learn how to use the new technologies.Therefore they tend to stick with what they know.
The findings in this study are similar to my previous experiences. When it comes to this particular life study lessons, it was found that the majority of the elementary school teachers preferred teacher-centered methods.They also felt as though they hadn't received enough professional development using technology. Instructional technologies were used but when it came to discussion,observation, drama, and problem-based learning, teachers preferred not to use the particular technologies.In my opinion, discussion would be a perfect time to include technology. You could use the promethean board to generate your discussion questions and have them up for students to read as well as writing on the board to respond.
Bektas,M. (2013). An Examination of the Elementary School Teachers' Preferred Teaching Methods and Instructional Technologies in Terms of Various Variables in Life Study Lesson. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 5(3), 551-561
Bektas,M. (2013). An Examination of the Elementary School Teachers' Preferred Teaching Methods and Instructional Technologies in Terms of Various Variables in Life Study Lesson. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 5(3), 551-561
I have encountered this in any educational setting (K-12 and adult). Many teachers will always return to what they are most familiar/comfortable with which is often teacher-centered. It's sad sometimes to realize that the time and motivation isn't present for some teachers to transition to newer technologies. I feel that administrators expectations and lack of providing training and mentoring on new technologies are partially to blame, but I also believe that the lack of motivation and desire to learn new technologies comes in to play on the teacher's part. You are correct that there are so many things that a promethean board could be used for to enhance student learning. This was an interesting article.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your article and findings. I agree that the veteran teachers are struggling with using the new technologies. They are scared of using them and are not getting the professional development that they need to feel successful with using them. It makes me sad to see Smartboards in classrooms not being used. I had one for 4 years and then moved to a room without one...I was lost! Seriously, it was like my arms had been chopped off and I didn't remember how to teach without it! If teachers would take the time to get comfortable with new technologies, they would see a whole new world!
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