TchnMishra, P. & Koehler, M. J. (2009). Too cool for school? No way! Learning & Leading
With Technology, 36(7), 14-18. (See attached pdf)The reading for this week was very interesting in the way that it mentions the role of teachers and implementing technology into the classroom. Mishra and Koehler (2009) advocates what is known as the TPACK Framework. To find out more about this framework please read on......
What do we consider technology to be?
The authors mention that "technology is all the new stuff that appeared after we are born"(pg 15), the statement really made me think of what I consider is technology and to be honest I was surprised to realise this statement is somewhat true to me. The things I consider technology would be Nintendo 3DS, 3D TV, electronic whiteboards, heated toilet seats, Iphones and robots. But this reading has made me recognised that technology also includes cars, websites, and even pencils!
Although all of these are technology, they also require the training or qualified teacher to understand all the pros and cons before applying it into the classroom, which is where using the TPACK framework is a MUST!!!!
If educators are to repurpose tools and integrate them into their teaching, they require a specific kind of knowledge that we call technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK)", (pg 15).
The teacher and quality teaching.
As a training teacher, I am required to teach in light of pedagogical frameworks, an abundance array of contents to students. Doing so is not so simple, Professor Lee Shulman suggest an important factor that capsulizes the essence of the teaching profession, " teachers have specialized knowledge that sets them apart from other profession" (pg15). This special knowledge as Shulman puts it is called "pedagogical content knowledge". It's the knowledge that teachers acquire to produce quality teaching, where students are both intellectually challenged and enjoy learning all together.
↔
The topic of technology can be both feared by baby bloomer aged teachers or embraced by modern fresh out of a teaching degree teachers. But one thing is certain, technology is everywhere and thus teaching with it is almost too essential. Whether a tech nerd or a tech noob, all teachers shouldtake on board what is known as "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework" (TPACK) (pg16).
What is the TPACK framework
More generally the TPACK framework brings technology, pedagogy and content to make meaning learning. The teachers role most important is to dive deeply into creating and repurposing technology for educational use, manly because most of the technology out there was not made for classroom uses. Though in order for this to happen, the teacher must first understand and become 'experts' at that technology, as well as pedagogical issues and the content in which they teach.
To find out more about the TPACK framework, check out www.tpack.org
Until next time folks.
Credits to FlickrCC for the images.
