Karen Cator

As a younger teacher with a huge interest in the use of educational technology, Karen Cator’s message sits wells with me.  The direction that the National Education Technology Plan is working towards is one that falls in line with my views as a 21^st century educator, and my belief in what the students of today and tomorrow will need to be successful in life. 

            Although I am in support of educational technology, I do grow concerned with the future of our profession when I try to envision where this will take us.  Last year, my school district adopted an online course (APEX) in order to fulfill our required senior year math credit.  With this program, one teacher is able to manage a student load of nearly 130 students.  Meanwhile our other full time classroom teachers vary with student loads ranging from 40-70.  Although Cator claimed that educational technology would not replace teachers, this example seems to go against that claim.  I know it is only one example in one district, but my first question for Karen Cator stems from this example.

“With the growing popularity of online courses, and the growing efficacy of the self-paced online courses, how can we avoid the loss of teaching jobs?”

            Another issue that comes to mind when I think of educational technology and the push for universal accessibility in the classroom is teacher preparation.  It will be impossible to successfully implement classroom technology to the extent that Cator foresees without properly preparing the current and future teachers for that change in classroom dynamic. As an undergraduate, I do not recall the University of Delaware even offering a course based on educational technology, let alone a requirement for teacher candidates to take one.  Furthermore, currently at West Chester I am working towards the Educational Technology Certificate, but there is no requirement for Master’s Degree candidates to take an educational technology course.  If I did not have an interest in Ed Tech, I could be in my same position without having taken one single educational technology course along the way.  From this train of thought, I have my second question.

“Will there be revised requirements in order to include educational technology courses into the degree requirements for nationally accredited teacher preparation programs?”

            My last thought was about a fun question that I would love to ask her whether she could answer it or not.  Also, I would love to read how members of our EDT510 class would answer.

“Suppose this movement is successful and we see accessible, effective technology available for all students and properly implemented at all schools.  What do you envision when you think of the classroom of the future?”