Comments on: “Why Johnny’s Professor Can’t Read”

By: Fred

Fred — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:30:25 +0000

Has anyone who commented here actually read the complete article and checked the bibliography or read any of the articles in the bibliography or is everyone just willing to jump on the technology-is-great bandwagon?

By: Terri

Terri — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:06:45 +0000

My own daughters are more tech savvy than their teachers and have stepped up to problem-solve and show their teachers (including the tech teacher) how to use software. Many years ago, we came to the conclusion that our children would not learn any tech skills at school. Accepting that allowed us to minimize the frustration described and embrace technology in our home.
(BTW- I am a university instructor who trains new teachers to use technologies in their classrooms so I fully understand what we are facing)

By: Steven Barber

Steven Barber — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:40:54 +0000

I’ve addressed this issue before (so forgive me) but as a twenty four year veteran English Teacher I’m appalled by the leaders in our schools refusing to face & address this pivotal issue! In fact here in Michigan we are de-emphasizing the use of everyday technology tools by trying to “block” everything! “Stone Age” planning that just may lead to that value of learning! When are public school administrators & politicians going to realize that kids (including my own) WILL use the technology in their everyday lives, but if WE don’t GUIDE them to use those tools APPROPRIATELY & PRODUCTIVELY than yes they probably will “waste” time on gossip in myspace versus more practical applications of tech skills so necessary to communicate effectively with other human beings across the globe! Instead our politicians & school leaders believe that shoving Algebra down to the third grade will make us more competitive as a nation- complete nonsense!
WE must WAKE UP the politicians & school leaders to understand that we can’t “block” the world out, and that a “digital age era” is well underway & we MUST prepare our kids for navigating the deep water! I’ve often told my predominantly college-bound juniors & seniors this by stating- “Information is not yet knowledge, & knowledge is not yet wisdom”- if our kids are not taught productive ways to engage in the use of technology for their required “Life-long” learning, they indeed may engage in more wasteful uses of technology in the wake of being more productive at large!

By: Learning Pulse | Xyleme Learning Blog

Learning Pulse | Xyleme Learning Blog — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:55:43 +0000

[...] Weblogg-ed: Digital illiteracy. [...]

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:14:52 +0000

I agree with both Steven and Michelle’s comments above:

Steven, although students may be familiar with the tech toys they use, there is still a lot they don’t know.

Michelle, you are right, unless educators understand the tools, they are not going to see their value. So this is where the need starts – until this happens, how are they going to pass them on? In most schools the curriculum is set using traditional methods/materials for teaching. It is only teachers who see value in shifting this teaching that make the effort to do so. Even then, it can be very frustrating as there are so many blockages in trying to do so.

By: Why Johnny’s Professor Can’t Read | Reflections on T-LITE

Why Johnny’s Professor Can’t Read | Reflections on T-LITE — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:41:34 +0000

[...] “Why Johnny’s Professor Can’t Read” [...]

By: michelle

michelle — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:57:52 +0000

My comment in return would be that your students probably came from districts like mine that don’t allow the use of Web 2.0 tools. Extreme web filtering –and policy makers who don’t understand the tools– leave these kids with no experience in an academic environment to understand responsible digital citizenry (for lack of a better term).

I just left a meeting where I listened to people argue about blocking or unblocking iTunes– because how could that possibly have any academic value?!? It was difficult to contain myself in that meeting.

I’m so frustrated — my own children understand blogs, wikis, what they should and shouldn’t do on MySpace and Facebook, etc. because their mother uses and understands those tools. They have had absolutely no instruction, direction, or guidance in their schools, because administrators see Web 2.0 tools as nuisance or social/personal/dating tools only. And that’s why many of our kids are going to be sorely lacking and light years behind many of their peers.

By: Steven D. Krause

Steven D. Krause — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:43:18 +0000

I have to say that every time I read/hear these claims about how much more students today know about various computer technologies, I always have to wonder who are these students? I’ve been teaching college students (first year through grad school) how to make web sites, blogs, wikis, and other things for a long time, and I am always amazed at how much this so-called “n generation” don’t know. Large percentages of my students have never looked at blogs, and almost all of my students know nothing of basic html and/or css. Many of them have difficulty doing anything beyond basic web browsing, word processing, and email. And for most of the students who are “in the know,” their knowledge is limited to a not very critical understanding of tools they use in their daily lives– chat, their cell phones, MySpace or Facebook, etc.

Now, maybe I have this kind of attitude because I do know a lot about these technologies, and maybe I’m facing these students because I have always taught at “opportunity granting” regional universities. But I have to say this idea that “kids today” know so much about web 2.0 technologies seems off to me.

By: Pamela Hood

Pamela Hood — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:04:45 +0000

Not to get overtly political, but I simply could not get John McCain’s technological illiteracy out of my mind. I think it does matter that our president be somewhat up to speed here. Of course, educators from K to grad ought to be more than proficient.

By: Lisa Burkhalter

Lisa Burkhalter — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:22 +0000

I completely agree that we have faulty that are not literate with today’s technologies and the role they can play in student learning. I can attest to the fact that the problem extends beyond the K-12 classroom. I am in the dissertation stage of a doctoral program in Instructional Technology and Distance Education. Unfortunately, this program while strong in theory has sorely lacked in application. Practically every assignment I have had to do has been a typed research paper or posting on a discussion board. While one course mentioned today’s technologies, none actually used them. Many assignments would have actually been more meaningful (while also providing exposure to web 2.0 technologies) if they could have been done in a blog, wiki, or other electronic media. This is a program preparing people to work as experts in the field! While I have worked in instructional technology for seven years and tried to keep up with how these technologies can be used in a K-12 setting, as many have already alluded to, they are not readily accepted or understood.

By: Will Richardson

Will Richardson — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:35:21 +0000

And that means what?

We really have to have that literacy conversation, Gary. ;0)

By: Gary Stager

Gary Stager — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 01:20:51 +0000

I fear that this article is as replete with BS as is “Why Johnny Can’t Read.”

By: Dennis Crowe

Dennis Crowe — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:32:32 +0000

And how are they going to be motivated to shift their paradigm? I work in a small, rural school in Wisconsin that in the past has been a leader in implementing computers to teachers and students, but now seems frozen. Those of us who are trying to get a handle on these new technologies and paradigm are very few. At a recent presentation by WR, he said he didn’t see how to make systemic change; change works on the individual level. I’m not far from retirement, but I see the relevance of public schools eroding and wonder how time foster systemic progress.

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:23:09 +0000

I agree with the comments made. I think one of the major problems is unless teachers are interested in the tools, they are going to be reluctant to apply them. For one thing, they need to be given the time to discover (or is this something they should be doing in their own time?) I read something recently saying that the best way teachers can improve their classes is by putting in extra time to make them more interesting, using different strategies etc. So time is the major factor. Some teachers will be doing this, but there are also some teachers and lecturers who use the same material year after year without changing anything. Just because there are computers in the school it doesn’t mean they are going to be fully utilised, unless teachers go through a complete paradigm shift in delivery.

By: Chandell Asuncion » Blog Archive » What are Trackbacks and Pingbacks?

Chandell Asuncion » Blog Archive » What are Trackbacks and Pingbacks? — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:00:56 +0000

[...] Video Tutorials for Learning Basic Web Design Skills“; written on Mashable.com, and “Why Johnny’s Professor Can’t Read“; by Will Richardson. Adding a visible link to the article creates a pingback. In additiona [...]