The two biggest challenges with implementing technology in the classroom is availability of materials and time. Before I write these blog posts I make it a point not to read anyone else’s blog so I can give my one true feeling on the topic but I believe in this case you may not find many things that are so different.

The amount of technology that is available to teachers is limited. In many circumstances teachers must write grants to obtain the proper materials. This is the best way around that problem that I see. There is also the availability of technology for the students at home. As we know not everyone has internet access or even access to a computer in their home. This is a greater problem that teachers or the school systems have little control over. There are a few programs at Enloe that try to give students in need access to computers but it is still impossible to reach every kid.

The second problem, the time factor. Teachers will need the time to write the grant, to do the research on the best kind of technology for their needs, to learn how to use the new technology either through professional development or on their own, and then the time to write lessons that will allow the teachers to implement their new technology. Many times this takes a huge commitment from the teacher to use more of their personal time to get the job done. For a teacher like me who has no kids and a significant other that is also a teacher (she understands when I don’t get home until 6 or 7) it can be a bit easier, but there are plenty of teachers who have kids or great grand kids that don’t always have that “extra time.”

Referring back to a previous blog I think one of the things I expect from the Kenan Fellows experience are new resources that will give me extra time, or the resources to be able to write grants and implement new technologies in a variety of ways in my classroom. Add that to the list.