What [are] the most important skills for a new teacher [...] in terms of technology knowledge and abilities? - Not Elsewhere Classified

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What [are] the most important skills for a new teacher [...] in terms of technology knowledge and abilities?

photo credit: michale

Our school is hosting a few post-baccalaureate students enrolled in a local university's Teacher Education program, specifically, members of what is known as The Instructional Technology Leadership Academy. These nine students are being placed at schools in the area for advanced fieldwork focusing on the role of technology in effective teaching and learning. I've been asked (among other questions):

"What do you see as the most important skills for a new teacher coming into the field of education in terms of technology knowledge and abilities?"

I was raised to never give a binary answer to a non-binary question, but, honestly, the first thing that popped into my head was, simply:

Video.

People like Dean Shareski and Marco Torres come to mind as exemplars.

The next thoughts, also binary answers, were not directly related to technology:

Empathy. Inquisitiveness. Passion.

My interview would be ridicuously short (and better completed via email) if binary answers were all I could muster.

So, while I ponder my own answer this question, I'll ask here.

What do you see as the most important skills for a new teacher coming into the field of education in terms of technology knowledge and abilities?

Appreciate any thoughts you care to share.

The future of education is at stake, after all.

-kj-

Tags » edreform learning teacher education teaching
- 3 March 2011
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about 1 year ago Denise Milam responded:

Good question to ponder ... the art of management pops into mind. Often, my lofty ideas run smack into the reality of boxes and wires in unforeseen (often comical) ways.... plan b, c, d are essential to ensure the flow of learning doesn't stop because of a clogged sink. Thanks for asking Kevin.

about 1 year ago brophycat (Twitter) responded:

Kevin, as a district tech integrator, I have worked in K-8 classrooms with interns-some of the teachers use tech, some do not. I also teach a grad course in multimedia, and most of my students are educators. They all want to learn how to use video, but most are coming to me with very good teaching pedagogy as well. Most young adults know how to access social media tools- facebook, and youtube; I would start there. They should know how to SEARCH for information: lesson plans, video clips, royalty free media, help from their peers! They should know how to COMMUNICATE: with their peers, with their colleagues, with parents, families, etc either via a web page, blog or other digital format; and they should know how to CREATE: which may involve learning to use new technology such as video and audio recorders, a web camera, and editing software and resources.

about 1 year ago Mr. Jarrett responded:

@Denise, thanks ... "the art of management" ... love that. Great mental image, too, for "boxes and wires in unforeseen (often comical) ways." Another way to express that, a spin on: the Boy Scout Motto: Be [over] Prepared.
@Cathy, thanks ... [know how to] SEARCH | COMMUNICATE | CREATE. Not seeing much savvy though with regards to social media tools, particularly in terms of authoring skills. (I'm barely proficient myself.) So yes, that seems like a good place to start.

about 1 year ago Brian Wasson responded:

Being able to use technology to create, communicate, and collaborate .... and not just to look stuff up. This doesn't not limit them to specific tools and/or web site, but rather what those tools/sites can be used for in our current technology driven world.

about 1 year ago Mr. Jarrett responded:

@Brian, thanks. I've been amazed thus far at the dearth of new teachers / teacher candidates with these requisite skills ... and even worse ... the level of overall appreciation for the importance of edtech in the classroom. I am not sure if it's because "the techies" like us are by definition a smaller slice of the overall teacher pie, or the lack of persistent, relevant, quality PD ... there is so much talk about how crucial technology in in schools ... and yet ... where the rubber meets the road ... in many districts ... you just don't see it in lessons. What do you think? -kj-

about 1 year ago Esme responded:

Hey KJ.
I believe new teachers have a challenging responsibility. They need to believe in and be willing to stand up for adoption of new technologies in education - commensurate with the adoption of new technologies in every other sphere of their (our) lives. Communication technology demands that we rethink what it means to know, to think, to learn, to create, to construct knowledge and to play.
My two [insert your favorite game or world currency]
Esme Q

about 1 year ago Mr. Jarrett responded:

Thanks Esme...I like "rethink what it means to know, to think, to learn, to create, to construct knowledge and to play." We certainly have experienced that together in Second Life. Can you think of another example or two I can share with my pre-service teacher interviewers? -kj-

about 1 year ago Mr. Jarrett responded:

Something else that has been on my mind since posting this ... the answer depends on the school and classroom the new teacher lands in. The skill requirements needed to excel in this classroom:
Are most likely very different than those in this classroom:
What do you think?
-kj-
f

about 1 year ago Esme responded:

Hi. Thanks for asking. Yes learning/playing in virtual worlds is one example. Another: teachers no longer have to be the authority on everything, we have access to experts/thinkers on every topic, from all perspectives across the globe. With communication technology we can bring these knowers to our students and vice versa. Another: learners need to be able to synthesize and critique the many points of view on the web. There is no longer one right answer, only the meaning that the learner constructs. Another: Since we can no longer acquire and store (in long term memory) all of the information that we will need, learners must be able to locate just-in-time knowledge - which means that to know means to be part of a network of people and resources who know. We teach when we give tools, strategies and confidence to students to be able to find, make meaning of, create and contribute to the knowledge around us. To me that's what technology in education is about. - Esme Q
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Father, husband, Google Certified K-4 technology teacher leveraging social media in education. Blogger, workshop leader, lifelong learner, relentless optimist!

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