Week 3 Discussion Questions and Answers

1. Why do you think the teachers did not see the relative advantage of this technology?

I believe that the teachers did not see the relative advantage of this technology for a couple of possible reasons. One of the possible reasons that teachers did not see the relative advantage of this technology was the way the technology was implemented for the teachers to use. I don't think the implementation of the technology was properly handled. The individuals who were in charge of actually implementing the technology for the teachers to use obviously could have done better job making sure that the technology was implemented in a manner in where the teachers could use the technology properly in a classroom setting. If only 25% of the teachers were using the internet with students and most of those uses were for "casual surfing," then I feel the implementation of the technology wasn't properly done from the beginning. The other reason could be maybe not enough time was allowed for the teachers to actually learn how to use the technology properly.

2. If you were made responsible for integrating this technology into instructional activities, how would you translate the superintendent's rationale into problems and solutions for which the relative advantage would be clear to teachers?

If I was responsible for integrating this technology into instructional activities, I would translate the superintendent's rationale into problems and solutions for which the relative advantage would be clear to teachers several ways. Obviously, the first main point I would address is making sure that the teachers had every possible way of getting any help or more guidance of using and implementing the technology effectively in their classroom. Whether that means having some sort of 24/7 hotline, more hands on workshops using the technology, instructional DVD's, etc will help the teachers better implement the technology in their classrooms. Having individuals readily available for troubleshooting or any other help teachers may have about the technology that they are using would result in more teachers figuring out or finding solutions to problems that they might have in implementing the technology effectively in a classroom environment.