Educational Technology Vision

Humans are, among other things, distinguished from other creatures living on this planet by the ability to design, create and modify tools. These tools are always built and used within a cultural and geographical context and have the potential to both improve and harm human and other life. It is the nature of humans not only to invent tools but also use them -- sometimes at our peril.

Educators have always used technology in instruction. The technology is sometimes the object of instruction (how does this work?), sometimes a tool to deliver instruction (video, text book), and sometimes a tool to assist students to explore their world (camera, pencil & paper, word processor, internet).

In the current surge of computer and information technology development, some believe that we must focus our curriculum on teaching students this technology. The words of John Ralston Saul offer a caution to such an about face in our curriculum goals:

"Concentration on technology will simply produce obsolete graduates. The problem is not to teach skills in a galloping technology, but to teach students to think and to give them the tools of thought so that they can react to the myriad changes, including technological, that will inevitably face them over the next decades." (The Unconscious Civilisation, 1995 Anansi Press pg. 66)

The Nova Scotia Public School Program states that public school education in Nova Scotia has two goals:

1.      "to help all students develop to their full potential cognitively, affectively, physically and socially”

2.      “ to help all students acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for them to continue as thinking, learning, physically active, valued members of society"

Students who graduate from high school with the ability to use their minds well will be in the best position to achieve these life long learning goals.

The tools used to reach these goals are changing more rapidly now than ever before and the skills needed to operate these new tools are dramatically different than many of those of a decade ago. In fact, for many students, the use of assistive technologies allows many students previously disenfranchised, the opportunity to participate more fully in our society.

When all is said and done, teaching is a human activity, which requires respect for the role of both teacher and learner. The challenge facing educators and society at large is to build a more humane society using our machines and imaginations, and not to use technology as a tool to further dehumanise and alienate us. A shovel can be used to plant a seed or to destroy a root.

The following pages, then, should be seen as helpful information for students, teachers and parents alike who wish to explore the tools provided in our schools.

Russell Deveau

Technology Integration Consultant

TCRSB

Contact me at rdeveau@tcrsb.ca

What can I do for you as a Technology Integration Consultant?

I have been in this role since February 2006. My role is to support the classroom teachers to better integrate technology in the classroom. There are plenty of ways you can implement technology in your curriculum that will make your work easier and will train the students to use technology to solve problems and develop their perception that there are alternatives to traditional teaching and learning methods. When our students graduate, they will be entering a world that depends on technology. If we don't prepare them for this challenge, they will be at a disadvantage compared to others who are getting this training.

 How can I help you?

     I am not an expert on all pieces of software out there which is the reason I like to work as a facilitator rather than a teacher. I want to be there to support you and make you feel more comfortable with the technology that is proposed in your curriculums. I feel we can learn together.

     I will go to your classroom and work with you and your students in the use of technology within your curriculum.

     I will offer PD sessions on any software you want to learn either one on one or in groups. If I am not familiar with your suggested software, I will find somebody who can better help you. 

     If you need help in searching for curriculum related sites, we can do that together or I can advice you of such sites once I am aware of what you are looking for.

     Examples of the type of support I have offered to teachers so far are:

     - Web Page design, where teachers get to use their own website to better serve their students and parents.

     - Using Inspiration to do brainstorming, to prepare outlines for courses, to prepare reports, etc.

     - Using Powerpoint to present projects, to prepare games that can be used in the classroom to better motivate the students.

     - Using WebQuest.

     - Using programs such as MS Word, Word Q , Co-Writer with students and teachers to prepare a year-end yearbook for a class on CD.

     - Using a scanner, digital camera, video camera.

     - Doing Video Editing.

     If you click on the Inspiration Icon  you be able to view sample projects that a teacher of Junior High Social Studies has prepared to better present her course material to her students. You need Inspiration to view these projects.

           Inspiration 1

Project 1    

Project 2    

Project 3          

     If you click on the Powerpoint Icon you will be able to view a game that a Junior High teacher prepared for her Family Studies class. You will need Powerpoint installed on your system to view this project.

     Another project which I am not permitted to link to is a year-end digital yearbook for a grade 6 class. This project shows pictures of students along with names therefore I cannot publish to this site but should you be interested in more information please contact me.

    Should you have any projects or links which you would like to share with colleagues, please e-mail them to me and I will post them up on this site. Indicate which level you have had success with them and let me know if you want your name3 mentioned. We can be a lot more effective if we choose to work as a team.

     Technology is an important part of education today and if we don't do everything we can for our students, we are not being fair to them. They need our support and encouragement to strive to be well prepared for the technological world that awaits them.