Cool Tools for Schools

This week we worked in groups to go over each of the different writing tools that are in the cooltoolsforschools website. I realized this was just a small portion of online tools that can help in every subject at school. My biggest question after class was, why don't teachers use these in their classrooms? I then quickly thought of reasons. Is there a lack of computers? Is there a lack of knowledge, where the teachers are unaware of the tools at their fingertips? Are these teachers not being trained, I mean aren't they required to have a specific number of PD days during the year.
To get a better understanding and possibly to answer my questions, I asked a friend of mine who is a teacher. She is a 5th year teacher and this year she is implementing/starting a integrated arts program in the elementary curriculum at a local school district. I asked her the following questions and I have recorded her responses. Even though this is a very small sample (1 person) I still felt I could get some insider information because she works with a lot of other teachers (and eats lunch in the teachers lounge).

*Do you use technology in your classroom, if so, how much? Yes, of course I do, I am a Mac person, there is so much you can do. I use an elmo and my laptop is hooked up to the projector. I always use online tools to try and get the creative juices flowing in the classroom.
*Do you see other teachers use computers in the class? Not really, hey I guess I am little younger and stay up to date on new stuff. I love technology but its tough because I always ask for new stuff for the classroom especially when starting up a program, but because of budgets I usually have to purchase the stuff on my own. I think a lot of teachers are kind of stagnant in their teaching. They think what worked 20 years ago still works, I don't follow that philosophy.
*Are you guys educated on the impacts of technology through PD's or any other workshops, etc?
Not really, everything that I do I pretty much find on my own except when you showed me that awesome site. (I showed her the cooltools website-haha) I wish we were changing the ways in the classroom, especially trying to implement changes and requiring teachers to use computers, email, the web and other things. The students are so far ahead of the teachers with technology.

I sort of thought I would get these types of answers. Some teachers don't want change, won't accept it and will keep going on their mundane routine. I think there should be a massive shift in these classrooms where the students aren't the only ones being graded, but also the teachers should be required to do more work (not just their normal lesson plans). They should be implementing technology in their classrooms and the administrators should hold them accountable for it. What teachers don't understand is that if they started implementing technology, their frustration and stress levels may actually go down (students are motivated to work w/ computers, they are self sufficient, and probably less discipline needed). Maybe that's the avenue you work towards when addressing the issue

We need reform?

We need reform? How about a bulldozer? I think that will do the trick.

After watching the video on the history of education and its roots I thought to myself-how true those words were that they said in that conference. I looked more into the messages the Toffler's were trying to spread by googling them and I found some great information.
Its amazing how things have evolved and most importantly the classroom. Well I take that back, everything has evolved except for the classroom. Look at cars, homes, phones, wireless technologies, military, and the capability to talk to every single person in the world. They have all been updated to fit the needs of the public. Its difficult to comprehend that the one thing every citizen is given, a free appropriate public education, can't change. Politicians are changed, laws are changed, and societies change, all to adapt to its environment. However, the issue of the classroom has been at the root of a national/global debate for a number of years and yes its been changed too, but has it really? Looking at Ira's blog, I noticed that many of the things he notices about the original (ancient) classroom still stand. The layout of the classroom, the placements of desks, same utensils, books, etc. but does this suit today's children? People and children have changed, they have accepted and embraced the new age of technology. These innovations have changed the way people interact, socialize, communicate and live.

With the children today being able to communicate with other children all over the world it seems odd that those politicians who talk reform don't notice that todays classrooms just dont meet the needs of the students. It sort of resembles a time machine, the children today are so advanced with technology that when they hit the classroom and are given a pencil and a piece of paper, they will soon be trying to figure out what it is they are holding in their hands and what time period they are in. I apologize if the post is all over the place but I am trying to explain my thoughts on how I think everything outside of the classroom has moved on but the school system is just in a back and forth battle that will solve nothing because they cant see the root of the problem- its always playing catch-up!