There has been many misconceptions on how and if technology should be used in the classroom. In reading Oppenheimer, NETS-S and Tech Tonic, it is very clear to me that these particular issues can be reconciled and they definitely should.
I believe that the reason critics bash technology in the classroom is because it was never properly implemented. In Oppenheimer's chapter one, he explains how the use of computers can sometimes hinder the academic growth of students. I find this extremely true when educators are not versed in how to implement the use of computers into the curriculum. Some believe that if you have many computers in the classroom then the children are able to be computer literate. The problem is that when school have computers that do not work properly, that really defeats the purpose of what computers are supposed to do for advancing education. I believe that before the push for computers in every classroom, there should have been a curriculum already in place. It seems as if Oppenheimer is saying that there has been so much time wasted, and computer are more of a hinderance than help. For these particluar concepts to be reconciled, technology must be reasonably placed into the curriculum. I believe that technology should assist in concepts and content and not just for assessing the internet. I also believe for the ideas to be welcomed, educators must be trained efficiently. Tech tonic and NETS-S gives excellent instruction of how technology filled curriculum can assist in academic success.
I cannot agree with you more regarding the lack of teacher training and familiarity with technology and its proper implementation in the classroom. Not only that computers are sometimes not used to their full capacity (they exist in a school just so that the student can do a research on the internet or something along those lines), but teachers sometimes know less than the students regarding technology. I believe that many schools fail to properly introduce the implementation of technology and fail to provide necessary training for teachers and staff.
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