Cuban Epilogue

This week has been a blur, my mind is reeling with the upcoming projects that are due and I have found it hard to concentrate on this book with that looming over my head. Wait, I have to focus!

What is Cuban’s purpose in writing this book? Did he accomplish it?

Cuban views the classroom as a workplace. I do not believe many policy makers view it as such. Cuban also wanted to determine what technology teachers used and why they used it. Cuban does present research findings and experience as to what technology teachers used and why. The reasons behind the lack of use remained fairly consist over the years.

However, during the school week I spend as many waking hours in my classroom as I do my own home. I was informed that I was going to have to move my classroom the year before last. It was going to be my 8^th move in 7 years and I had just spent over $300 during the summer on paint and shelving for the room. It was perfect. My dream classroom and I was told I would have to move. I was so mad. Why? Because it just wasn’t a classroom. It was my classroom- my home away from home. I did move the school bought my paint and other supplies and with the help and encouragement of my friends I created another home and even like it a little better. My classroom just isn’t where I work; it is where I live too. I open it to my students and we build a relationship. I take responsibility for their learning. So I think this is part of the reason teachers are so reluctant to open their classrooms to technology.

Do you think technology is used more in elementary, secondary or post-secondary educational settings?

Cuban suggests that technology is used more in the elementary grades. I would agree to some extent that elementary grades are more exploratory and willing to allow technology into their classrooms. In my school, I believe the primary teachers use more software and video as sources than the intermediate or middle school teachers. However, I believe secondary schools are now embracing computers and software as a teaching medium for students to recovery credits and graduate on-schedule. This type of setting had allowed some students the opportunity to graduate that would have previously dropped out of school.

In addition, I believe that post-secondary schools have embraced distance learning through the use of technology. It has provided an opportunity to get an education that did not exist before or was out of reach for many people. There has been an increase in the number of classes offered on-line at all the local colleges and universities. I see on-line classes increasing and becoming more the norm in post-secondary education in the future. I also believe this will filter down into the high schools.