How to Address the Technology Problem

According to "The Missing Link in Educational Technology: Trained Teachers," technology can promote effective instruction that is more student-centered, inter-disciplinary, more closely related to real-life events and processes, and adaptive to individual learning styles. With that being said, this will increase higher-order thinking skills and information-reasoning. This is why it is crucial for teachers to be trained on the most efficient ways to integrate technology within the classroom. Also according to this article teacher professional development should empower teachers to develop their knowledge and skills actively in a variety of ways both individual and collaborative, aim at higher order thinking skills, encourage teachers to be mentors for the learning process, develop teachers skills in teachers' learning how to learn, promote cooperative and collaborative learning, and be sensitive to the culture and diversity of teachers as learners using a multifaceted approach so as to respond to different learning styles and environments.
Another article that addresses the need to enhance teacher professional development with technology is "What Research Says: Training Teachers for Using Technology." It states that according to the U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, the lack of teacher training is one of the greatest roadblocks to integrating technology into a school's curriculum. The article then points out that training opportunities should be flexible such as on-site programming, opportunities to complete on their on schedule, and opportunities to participate in a combination of learning opportunities. Trainings should also link technology with educational opportunities. Training should significantly alter the thinking that technology is separate and teachers should understand that technology can support educational objectives rather then get in their way.




Brand, G. A. (1997, Winter). What Research Says: Training Teachers for Using Technology. Journal of Staff Development, 19(1).


Carlson, S. (2002, Fall). The Missing Link in Educational Technology: Trained Teachers. TechKnowLogia, 7-11.