Are teaching staff scared or confident in their use of IT in the Classroom?

[oddgical]

I am doing some research for a possible Masters Course and would like to know if School Tech staff believe that the teaching staff feel confident in their use of IT or are scared of IT in case it all goes wrong. Let me know your thoughts please.

[elsiegee40]

There is a huge variation and this makes it quite hard to answer your question.

 

Some staff are afraid of the technology and that it will go wrong... they need a lot of hand-holding, but are usually grateful for it.

 

Some swear it never works and was always better at their last school. They are not afraid of the technology; they simply don't know how to work it and can't or won't accept help or tuition in how to get the best from it.

 

Some are confident, probably more than we realise, as they cope with the changes and rarely trouble us.

 

Some are super confident and want to do more than the network is capable of, or more than security permissions allow... they are noisy and can cause as many headaches as the can't and won't set.

 

Even in my small school, I have all those types and I wouldn't like to generalise.

 

Ten years ago, the terrified were in the majority, but that has definitely changed and there are fewer now.

[timbo343]

Some dont like change too, people get set in their own ways and sometimes cant see how it will benefit thrm later on.

 

I guess some staff dont like to use tech just in-case they break it. I guess it can be a confidence thing.

 

Others may argue that the tech limits them to what they want to do. We have been asked to take interactive boards out of most classrooms barring maths as our lot prefer a big whiteboard to annontate a projected image rather than write within an image.

[witch]

Some are confident and don't bother us - not just the youngsters, either

Some like tech but don't trust it - they will use it happily but would never rely on it or use it when they need to be sure - eg an inspection

Some don't believe it ever works properly

Some think they know more than I do

Some are so terrified they can barely check their emails

and the ones I dislike the most are the ones who glory in their ignorance, sitting in it as though it were the most comfortable chair in the world, and being smug about never bothering to learn

[X-13]

Some think they know more than I do

 

^ These are the ones that annoy me the most.

 

Many a time I've had a quick 5 minute fix turned into something that takes hours to fix [or needs a complete reimage] because they started messing around with things they don't understand.

 

 

Not having confidence and being scared can be fixed with support and training.

[TechMonkey]

I would also say there are those that just don't care. They may well actually be in some of the other groups but they just don't care enough to find out. I have one member of staff here who isn't on the ancient spectrum openly tell me he just uses youTube and doesn't see the point in using anything else in their lessons. This is someone fairly high up in school as well.

 

Like Witch I detest the glorious, smug ignorant. I have previously taken a teacher task when they happily stated they don't do IT and don't see the point. I asked them their response if a student said that to them about their subject and they look perplexed as if the situations were no where near being equivalent.

 

I now have a poster in my office (I think I got it off a thread on here) that says "Technology is so ingrained in our lives that saying I don't do computers is akin to saying I can't read". I tend to point at it when someone says anything along those lines.

[X-13]

Support I do everyday

Training? Nope. Never been asked to do any

 

I do a bit of informal training as/when people have specific problems.

 

Basically, I get THEM to do it while I'm there directing them. Instead of doing it for them, like they sometimes seem to expect.

 

 

I now have a poster in my office (I think I got it off a thread on here) that says "Technology is so ingrained in our lives that saying I don't do computers is akin to saying I can't read". I tend to point at it when someone says anything along those lines.

 

Ayyyy!

 

I said that! ^__^

[Crumpet]

^ These are the ones that annoy me the most.

 

Many a time I've had a quick 5 minute fix turned into something that takes hours to fix [or needs a complete reimage] because they started messing around with things they don't understand.

 

These types usually think they should have Admin rights to the network too.

[X-13]

These types usually think they should have Admin rights to the network too.

 

Send 'em this.

 

Principle of least privilege - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Side note: I always say "doctrine" instead of "principle"... I dunno why.

[Grey-gear]

What I have seen over the time I have worked in schools, when I started using IT was getting to be the norm in lessons. All the rooms had a computer and a projector and some even had IWB, but even having this there were still a few hold outs that if possible would rather not use IT as for them it was easier to just write on the white board and teacher in what at the time may have been doing for most of their carrier. As those staff retired or moved and more younger teachers were hired there were less people not willing to use the IT provide and more asking for IT items and software, now I in a school which was rebuilt as part of BSF and the teachers use IT on a daily basses.

 

I know what I have just said is just an eco of what others have said so sorry if is nothing new.

[Sagima]

We have four types of teacher here:

The tech confident who is equally able to teach even if there is a computer problem - lessons are planned with computer/gadget/interactive device use in mind but if something doesn't work they either know enough to fix it or just adjust. 50% of our teachers fall into this bracket (probably 70% if the prep/primary school is excluded).

The tech reliant whose lessons fall apart if there's a blip - they usually lack the confidence to try and fix their problems which may be as little as the volume being turned down or the battery in the projector remote not working. 90% of the prep/primary teachers fall into this category - very few of the senior school teachers do.

The pessimists who plan their lessons with the assumption they'll be teaching in a corridor without even access to a flip chart and are pleasantly surprised when they can enhance their lessons with things like a whiteboard or a projector (maybe 20% of the senior school)

The rufusers - they are still begrudging not having a blackboard and chalk. Their concession to the 21st century is that they may turn on their projector to show a picture.(basically 2 departments/10 people)

 

We offer in classroom assistance with prior notice but only the top people ever take us up on it and even then it is rare. The rest prefer to complain rather than work with us. Most things work most of the time - when they don't it is usually something small but we've had people complain to the head that x y or z hasn't worked for months when it's just not plugged in but noone has thought to mention it to us.

The top two lots of people are always excited about getting new things in their classrooms.

[LincolnE]

It's a tricky one here. As has been said, most people fall into a one of the 4 main groups.

 

Can't do it, won't do it, does it and knows it.

 

Can't do it are the people who just need a bit of prodding and support but will generally get on.

Won't do it are the bunch that just aren't inclined. The old saying of you can lead a horse to water but you can't get it to drink.

Does it are the silent majority who just gets on with the lessons. Annoying, I've found these to be the group that is less likely to report faults, they'll just crack on without whatever it was that is broken.

Knows it are the people that are technology driven. Regardless of whether or not they kick up a fuss or ask too much, these are the group I tend to pay the most attention to. They are the ones that will drive up IT in education and are the ones that are likely to help out supporting IT in general. (We've found that having IT literate teaching staff leading CPD sessions is better, because they are the ones that actually know how it can be focused on education and can give good practices. I can stand at the front and show them the cool stuff, but it's little use if they can't then apply it to lessons).

[mikeprice]

I am working in a primary school and many of the teachers are basically scared of doing anything different to what they are used to on a computer

 

that is why the Head has employed me - as an ex teacher and experienced technician I get a better reaction from teh teachers that some pure technicians would. This has been shown up especially recently as we are about to have a new immersive room installed - the teacher can be split into 3 sections over this

a) very excited - can't wait to get in there and create something and then use it with the kids (probably only the Deputy head in this group)

b) Excited but will need their hand holding and lots of help for months probably - but that is what I am here for and they trust me to help them

c) aaaarrrrggggghhhhh - its scary - most of the teachers are in this group

 

The head and I have agreed a plan where she insists on seeing the teachers plans to use the new room and use the investment properly - and I go round be friendly and helpful and, if necessary, doing all the work for them to start with. If we don't do that then the room will probebaly not be used to its potential!

 

Mike

[mikkydoos]

I am working in a primary school and many of the teachers are basically scared of doing anything different to what they are used to on a computer

 

that is why the Head has employed me - as an ex teacher and experienced technician I get a better reaction from teh teachers that some pure technicians would. This has been shown up especially recently as we are about to have a new immersive room installed - the teacher can be split into 3 sections over this

a) very excited - can't wait to get in there and create something and then use it with the kids (probably only the Deputy head in this group)

b) Excited but will need their hand holding and lots of help for months probably - but that is what I am here for and they trust me to help them

c) aaaarrrrggggghhhhh - its scary - most of the teachers are in this group

 

The head and I have agreed a plan where she insists on seeing the teachers plans to use the new room and use the investment properly - and I go round be friendly and helpful and, if necessary, doing all the work for them to start with. If we don't do that then the room will probebaly not be used to its potential!

 

Mike

 

In my experience, primary staff have lesser IT abilities that their counterparts. Very 'will you do it for me'. Also age is a factor. Our young'uns fly with it and are very creative especially with online/cloud stuff.

[X-13]

In my experience, primary staff have lesser IT abilities that their counterparts. Very 'will you do it for me'. Also age is a factor. Our young'uns fly with it and are very creative especially with online/cloud stuff.

 

Yeah, I've noticed that here.

 

It's fun to wind up the art teacher by saying she should use the graphics tablets in class.

[mikkydoos]

We have four types of teacher here:

The tech confident who is equally able to teach even if there is a computer problem - lessons are planned with computer/gadget/interactive device use in mind but if something doesn't work they either know enough to fix it or just adjust. 50% of our teachers fall into this bracket (probably 70% if the prep/primary school is excluded).

The tech reliant whose lessons fall apart if there's a blip - they usually lack the confidence to try and fix their problems which may be as little as the volume being turned down or the battery in the projector remote not working. 90% of the prep/primary teachers fall into this category - very few of the senior school teachers do.

The pessimists who plan their lessons with the assumption they'll be teaching in a corridor without even access to a flip chart and are pleasantly surprised when they can enhance their lessons with things like a whiteboard or a projector (maybe 20% of the senior school)

The rufusers - they are still begrudging not having a blackboard and chalk. Their concession to the 21st century is that they may turn on their projector to show a picture.(basically 2 departments/10 people)

 

 

Sigh. How true.

[Sagima]

In my experience, primary staff have lesser IT abilities that their counterparts. Very 'will you do it for me'. Also age is a factor. Our young'uns fly with it and are very creative especially with online/cloud stuff.

 

Mostly it's the 35-40 and 55+ that we have to work harder with - the other ages are much more enthusaistic

[NB9457]

Just reminds me of an IT Teacher where I used to work. Kicked up a fuss about the change from XP to 7 and after explaining how it's compulsory, it just didn't sink in.

 

She also frequently mad calls for sound not working (she'd unplugged it), PCs not working (sometimes they weren't switched on), smartboard not working (unplugged by her for her pen drive), printers not working (sending it to the default fax printer). For an IT teacher, she didn't know much about the basics of IT...

[rom1984]

I've gone from secondary school to primary recently and the big thing I noticed is that the staff at the primary schools are confident BUT they can't understand why there computer/laptop can't be the same at home. By that I mean they can't understand why they need to log in when at home it automatically comes on and "that is much easier for me". They can't understand why they need to save on the network and not the local device, they can't understand why staff need to have internet filtering etc.

[elsiegee40]

I've gone from secondary school to primary recently and the big thing I noticed is that the staff at the primary schools are confident BUT they can't understand why there computer/laptop can't be the same at home. By that I mean they can't understand why they need to log in when at home it automatically comes on and "that is much easier for me". They can't understand why they need to save on the network and not the local device, they can't understand why staff need to have internet filtering etc.

 

That's just training. My (primary) school was like that back in 2006, but then we had only just got a network with internet connectivity. The filtering one is very worrying because that suggests that Safeguarding and eSafety training is lax too.

[rom1984]

Very True elsiegee40. The whole culture of the school when it comes to IT is very lax. They had an IT tech who did it as a bit of a hobby, employed him once a week. As IT grew year on year they increased his time but it got to much for him and hence they employed me. A big part of my job so far has been changing the culture towards IT as they've never known it any different. For example they had servers with AD installed but the tech just then set up the desktops to log in locally with a local "staff" account. When you switch from that to a more robust secure network it has some repercussions especially among staff who aren't IT literate.

[elsiegee40]

Very True elsiegee40. The whole culture of the school when it comes to IT is very lax. They had an IT tech who did it as a bit of a hobby, employed him once a week. As IT grew year on year they increased his time but it got to much for him and hence they employed me. A big part of my job so far has been changing the culture towards IT as they've never known it any different. For example they had servers with AD installed but the tech just then set up the desktops to log in locally with a local "staff" account. When you switch from that to a more robust secure network it has some repercussions especially among staff who aren't IT literate.

 

In the unlikely event that this school is Good or Outstanding, it won't be for much longer unless they get up to speed on Safeguarding.

[witch]

In the unlikely event that this school is Good or Outstanding, it won't be for much longer unless they get up to speed on Safeguarding.

 

Absolutely. We got identity badges just before Ofsted, and did the safeguarding, and were told that we would have not been able to get "good" without these things

[rom1984]

In the unlikely event that this school is Good or Outstanding, it won't be for much longer unless they get up to speed on Safeguarding.

 

The last Ofsted result was Outstanding. I'd be very surprised if they didn't retain that on the next inspection.

[elsiegee40]

The last Ofsted result was Outstanding. I'd be very surprised if they didn't retain that on the next inspection.

 

Lax Safeguarding does not equal Outstanding. There have been several examples of shock demotions from Outstanding to RI recently. The goalposts have moved... I hope things are brought up to the correct levels quickly.