The details of my interviews reveal more than I've captured here, but this gives a good overview of what they revealed about technology in their schools and their learning.
The students I interviewed are all new middle schoolers in 6th grade.
Boy in Chatham Co Schools. mixed White-Latino
(born in Chatham Co)
Major interest: robotics, Science
Challenge: Writing, physical coordination, uses AlphaSmart, has note taker.
Boy in Stokes Co Schools. White
(born in Forsyth county)
Major interest: Music
Challenge: Composition, expressive language, organization
Female. Orange Co Schools. Latina
(born in Oaxaca)
Major interest: Family, friends, fiestas
Challenge: English, self-image, Mental health and well-being
Without a doubt the general definition of technology was related to computer and access.
The first boy, who has trouble writing, envisioned ways for technology to help him with the mechanics of writing. He says “When I get my own computer, I’m gonna learn how to build a robotic hand to write for me!” He also gets lots of pleasure out of using SIM software making robots to help with basic tasks, (like taking out the garbage!)
The second boy said technology is “the internet, a computer, wi-fi, cellphones, games and all those songs my dad downloaded, and talking to anyone from anywhere we want with our cellphone, (well almost, cause lots of times we’re out of range)”. He'd love a "music synthesizer and studio with wireless laptop to do everything everywhere"
The female student says it’s “technical stuff, computers, internet." She doesn't have access from home and doesn't currently use technology very much, except for her cell phone. She'd like to have a computer at home and be able to email her friends. A very interesting comment she made was that when her "sister was sick in California, the school gave her a cell phone to call in and talk to her class, and she could see them doing their experiment and hear her teacher".
This led me to purchasing a camera phone from Tracfone for her, and we have been using it to send pictures to her friends and family in Mexico, and more!
It was very strange for me to hear that these three students said that the most educational time they get on the computer is when they are with me at the library! Now, I have to believe they said this because they knew I was doing these interviews for a technology class! But, their discussions about technology in the 3 counties were quite similar....technology class was a special class, where they learned to make spreadsheets, listen to music and play games that had little to do with learning new skills. In regular classrooms, access to computers was pretty much limited to compositions using Word and some skill building "dumb" games. The boy in Chatham County schools mentioned using a science program to record experiments. The other 2 said they only had a few computers that were hardly used unless you had finished classwork.
I was truly skeptical at the lack of technology integration in core subjects.
I have been able to help one of the teachers use already published Webquests http://webquest.org/index.php so that students can continue their learning even if they've finished the in-class assignments!
The three explained that they thought technology was made to help learning for all people, but, it was not making school more interesting. The 2 boys both mentioned that they'd like to be able to research and get online at school without someone watching over them every minute. The other thing that the girl said that was interesting, was that, although she basically had little interest in technology, she would like it much more if teachers would help her make movies for her friends in Mexico to see!
So, I have been helping her with this...and yes, indeed, she is much more interested in technology now and so is her family! I've also successfully involved another student in making a photo essay on healthful living that provided excellent opportunities for authentic learning for both of us and the basis for meaningful communication on sensitive self-esteem and self-image student concerns. Using technology has indeed provided increased student interest in learning and self-expression and a marked increase in student and tutor satisfaction!
