I love this post. There are so many subparts to discuss. Wondering if you’d like to try the experiment of posting it (or another entry, such as “Old School New School) as a forum (not blog) on fireside. It would be a parallel experiment to having the post up here for comments. I’m interested in seeing what happens when some bloggers move into the forum arena; there’s an overlap in form that many people aren’t aware of–not you, you’re “way up there” in knowledge and experimental edge–

I want to jump off with the point that even given every possible access, even given a gold mine of tools and accessibility, teachers I know mostly don’t even take the time to TRY to learn. There’s a cut-off. “Oh, I’m not a computer person.”

And many of the ones who WILL take the time to try often think that there are some tools to learn and put in your pocket; you can have them (and be done) and show off to others something that looks really fancy (or not) yet not have any reflective two-way learning going on; it’s a static sort of thing. You talk a good deal about this– and have supported me when I say the things we need to know are process goals, not learning of specific tools.

I’d like to know what we can actually do to get teachers moving in the right direction with 21st century teaching. Unlike many, I refuse to give up on the “dinosaurs” who are brilliant teachers but remain isolated and unknowing about what they can to interact in a more dynamic way with a greater whole.

Education in the US is being driven by a political agenda that has – for about the last two decades – been dedicated to “getting control” of the process. The cynic in me says its purpose is to keep the populace dumb and compliant, but that attributes a greater skill and awareness than I believe our elected officials have demonstrated.

I believe that the political barriers prevent teachers from being trained. The political barriers restrict access to the content and technologies that could make a difference. The political barriers enforce a kind of short sighted, “bottom line” oriented thinking in educational leadership.

So, yea, it’s true, I believe that a lack of teacher knowledge is a factor. The reality is that so long as teachers have a “student mentality” — that’s the one that starts with “just tell me what I need to know. I don’t have time to think” — we’re not going to get anywhere. Any professional who waits for mana-from-management to enhance, improve, or otherwise expand their abilities will be sorely disappointed — teachers included. Right now, in this course, you’re learning how to learn with the technologies.

The question is, “Will you continue to learn when the course is over? Or will you go back to waiting for ineffectual, outdated, and limited training?”

I feel the biggest barrier in my community is a lack of teacher training in the area of technology. It seems that you agree with this also for the most part?