Dr. Marzano’s 2009 CUE Keynote, “What do we know about the effects of technology on student achievement”, spends a considerable amount of time breaking down the research on IWB and student achievement. While he is sure to point out that all research is equivocal especially in education where no one can account for all the factors impacting the classroom, IWB do enhance student achievement (Marzano).

However, these findings only remain when the The SWEET SPOT is reached with an experience teacher

1. who has two years experience with the tech
2. who spends 75% of class time using the tech
3. who has attended enough professional development (PD) to feel confident in using the tech (Marzano).

I would hypothesize this Sweet Spot is true for almost any technology and this raise some interesting questions

New Teachers and Technology

How much “new” technology should be introduced to new teachers? Now, I don’t want to read too much into Marzano’s thoughts but….  As Marzano states,  “tech can be a bit of a distraction when we forget about good instruction and the focus becomes the technology” and this is where we need to reflect on the amount of technology introduced to new teachers. By no means do I believe new teachers should not merge their growth in methodology with the use of technology, I simply am pondering how much is too much.

The teachers I’ve seen use technology the best have a great understanding of pedagogy both in theory and practice. It is the rare new teacher that enters with that background, so the question remains to what degree do we bring technology to our new teachers. Thus, I think we should ponder deeply Marzano’s following statement: “Weaker teachers require PD in effective teaching and proper use of technology” with proper use being on content not the bells and whistles.

Today We are Doing Technology

Are we working with teachers on the flash in the pan use of technology or changing/enhancing their instructional practices? In other words, if teachers need to spend 75% of class time immersed in the technology like IWB for it to make a difference, how are we working with teachers to sustain this beyond just a moment in time, the moment where we get to “do technology”. Yes, there is room for the projects and the “cool” uses of technology but I always try to remember the bigger picture, which is helping teachers to recognize how they can shift their practices.

Are we working with teachers over an extended period of time or just get you started professional development? As Marzano states, the more experience teachers have with the technology the better chance it has in increasing student achievement. If it takes two years with the technology to reach the sweet spot, professional development goes way beyond the introductory sessions dominating too much PD. It takes intensive, on-going learning and support.

Not only that, it takes ubiquitous access to technology if it is going to make a difference in student achievement. We must reach a point where we are putting technology into the hands of the teachers and students every day, all day. Learning shouldn’t be tethered to a certain spot in the building or a certain checkout schedule. Isn’t it time we start thinking about technology in the classroom NOT in labs or other designated “tech” spots in the building?

Ye Olde Professional Development

Marazano’s final point for the Sweet Spot is that the teacher has participated in enough professional development to feel comfortable with the technology. How are we designing our professional development programs to move teachers towards comfort levels? With new technologies and tools popping up daily, it is easy to get tied to breadth not depth but we can’t forget that “you can’t just give technology to teachers and expect it to automatically enhance student achievement” (Marzano). If the Sweet Spot is accurate and applies to many technologies, we are doing little for student achievement when we approach educational technology in this way.

The more I ponder technology in schools, the more I come back to leadership, powerful professional learning, culture of innovation, and access. It is time we as leaders model, empower, foster, and provide if we really believe in technology as education not technology in education.

[Tags] marzano, cue09, professionaldevelopment, newteachers, iwb [/Tags]

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