Why does technology use in the classroom not reflect the opportunities in a school?

Based on my observations at the private school for the gifted, and at my placement, it seems that two major reasons deter teachers from taking advantage of the multiple technology tools available in their schools- time constraints on squeezing in all the required content, and a lack of training and knowledge in technology use.

Particularly in the public schools, teachers feel pressured to cover more content than should be taught in a semester. Due to the added time needed for instruction, and an unfamiliarity with the academic enrichment possible from working with technology, teachers assume that it will take too much time away from the content. This could be addressed by demonstrating to teachers the numerous ways they could use technology to enhance their student’s comprehension of the content. For example, Kiosk powerpoints, clay animation, and webpage creations can provide an interactive and visual way to engage with the material. An online correspondence with a high school class from another state, country, or culture can contribute greatly in a Social Studies classroom. Smart boards could also be easily incorporated into a class, without greatly changing the teacher’s style.

School districts would be wise to invest the time and money to demonstrate how to effectively use technology in the classroom. Districts could easily incorporate the technology training with the content and topics of typical professional development/in-service workshops. However, based on my observations of the frustrations at my high school with the new online grading system, the tech instructor must have a solid familiarity with the program before instructing other teachers on how to to use it.