As a prelude (or really in depth analysis) to this summary, Dr. Monson recommended to me a fabulously descriptive book by Larry Cuban, Teachers & Machines: The Classroom Use of Technology Since 1920. I also recommend this book, & if anyone would like, they are certainly welcome to my copy - already annotated for quick scan.
I read a brilliant quote recently by Clay Shirky, a brilliant observer of technology integration, in Cathy Davidson's insightful book, Now You See It: How Technology and Brain Science Will Transform Schools and Business for the 21st Century.
"Institutions will try to preserve the problem for which they are the solution."
Clay Shirky
WOW! The meaning of that quote on me within the context of earning my ID stripes may not be readily available. So, I'll just let it sit there with you & marinate while I stew over Dr. Reiser's revelation.
What's really adorable about Reiser's survey of EdTech implementation is the warning he advocates in the first of his "Summary of Key Principles." When looking back over the acceptance & implementation of the progressive flow of media inventions Reiser observes:
Clearly, Reiser, among many others who are absolutely nothing like me, is adopting a conservative stance. Iornically, as society moves up the asymptotic vertical of the exponential technology curve he's looking backward & learning the lesson of not being so starry-eyed optimistic. It is our proximity to the bend in the technology curve that should be giving folks the the reasons to be more & more optimistic. A historian's view of history is necessarily linear. I do not expect people who study the past to understand the future & the holographic - not linear - nature of coming progress.
And notice that the consistent & concomitant reason for slow acceptance of a media or innovation is resistance by teachers. One wonders that if there'd never been any resistance in the first place if Edison would have actually been right. SO: teachers! Stop resisting! Leave those kids alone!
Also, if promoters had been less optimistic & more balanced in their view, would the adoption have been even less substantial?
Should they, like the critics, just have plopped down on the sidelines said, "Nope, this is gonna be just like every technology before it. You watch. It's not gonna have the wide acceptance that those googly-eyed, naive optimists think it will have."
Woah! That was a rant! Not really my style, but it was fun. Trying on my biting critic voice.
With all that said, I'm definitely gaining an understanding of the wall I'm facing & the precendented bullets with which administrators & resistant teachers will sharp-shoot me. Fair enough.
It's a good thing I'm such a charming & exuberant, and to mention tenacious, salesman!
Good, good stuff! Thank you Dr. Reiser & Larry Cuban!
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