I just finished reading “Oversold and Underused” by Larry Cuban. Although I understand the point Cuban is making, I did not see solutions to the problem. Yes, schools are purchasing more and more computer equipment with only periodic training (and one shot at that) for teachers. I agree that teachers are relying on incorporating current technology into their teaching paradigm without full integration and because of the lack of training, typically are not successful.

I think Cuban misses the opportunity to bring out the important aspects of utilizing technology in the classroom. My professor stated in class that teachers are at the heart of teaching and rightly so. Technology is not here to replace the role of the teacher nor can it. Cuban rightly states that some are waiting for the tipping point of computers in the classroom which means when a certain number of computers are introduced into the classroom, then teachers will integrate technology (read embrace) in the their teaching. This will not happen.

The extent technology will be accepted in the classroom is the extent schools go to in educating the faculty in how technology can be used to enhance the teacher’s philosophy. There is no one way to integrate but many. It also is not a matter of either/or thinking. Computers are the latest technology to be introduced but not the first. Blackboards, overheads, video, etc. were all new technologies at some point.

No matter what technology is chosen, it must relate to the content being taught. You cannot nor should separate technology from content or philosophy. Koehler and Mishra at Michigan State University are doing some great work in this area but that is a matter for a future post. It is enough to say that schools cannot divorce one segment (technology, philosophy or content) in professional development.

To the point, Cuban stated the truth, we have been inudated with computers for years and there is little evidence the technology is enhancing education. Cuban did not finish the argument, however, because the reason this is true goes back to professional development not including all the necessary components. Up to this point, professional development has focused on the technology (training about a software or hardware) not how to integrate it into the teaching. To be fair, not all trainers have done this but most are guilty. Simply having the technology is not enough. We must help our teachers integrate the technology in a meaningful way that enhances the content using the teacher’s philosophy. It can be done and must be done if we are to see a return on our investment.

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