Barriers

Focus group discussion: What barriers or constraints are keeping this from Happening in Your school or in Your classroom? Time Training: tech staff or teachers to be successful "how to" Skepticism: fluff or better learning tool? Tradition: we've always done it Resistance/Fear: not knowing what doing Standardized tests/formulated state goals are out of date keep from progressing forward/freedom Age limits: young kids are limited Parents/Teacher/Admin who don't value approach Demands of curriculum to cover and get thru so much content (how to match all that up in the time we have?) 21st Century people say old ways are bad: plenty of room for 19th and 20th century skills: should be an interweaving of skills Finding the right tool for what you want to do Finding a balance: how much reading and writing to use as a tool, which is best in each class, for which purpose. Balance bW state, standards, web 2.0 tools and each project/activity Diversity of teacher backgrounds and skills; juggling different knowledge bases State testing: schools driven by ISAT scores, standards haven't changed but we're supposed to change the way we're teaching; scores dip--is that ok? This is great/wonderful/cool but work in a school where the scores are the biggest thing? Need to abandon/replace certain things to meet standards? Trying to use Web 2.0 to achieve these standards. Yes? Student engagement helps, teachers can want the STUFF: curriculum, units, papers, etc. sometimes Is there data that shows that schools that use Web 2.0 get better scores? Meet standards better? Investigative learning takes longer. State measures end content product: not learning process. How to teach the standards within an inquiry-based process? Teachers don't know how (including us!).
 * Group A**

Consistent access to hardware tools Walls Policy-making (ties to standardized testing) Professional Development (time to train teachers) Personal comfort level of individual person Consistency across teams, levels Curriculum and technology tools are mismatched (Spanish new computer programs don't match text) Walls (physical restraint) Time (40 minute periods!) Fear of unknown, failure Consistent group of students to teach (librarian) Time for planning, access to technology/supplies, for students to become familiar with tools, become proficient Some content areas are harder to incorporate these technologies Not having a laptop per student--scheduling, sharing laptop carts Reporting back to department team, straying from the pack Time for teachers to learn and collaborate with the tools Time from start to finish--but when you do it again, it'll be quicker.
 * Group B**

• The time element-when to have professional development, after school is not optimal, during school is problematic as well • Having an open mind to change is a great barrier • Teachers who have a lack of enthusiasm can stop momentum-attitudes, unwilling to drop traditional teaching practice • Bringing parents on board and creating awareness • Teacher autonomy can be a barrier to change, so no reason to look past own classroom • Fear causes districts to filter the internet and to impose control over the use of the tools • Finding an audience for kids to connect to and share with • Time is a huge constraint-it becomes one more thing to add and causes a need to redesign curriculum which is a huge time commitment • Finding time to learn how to use the tools and then practice them • The administration allow teachers time to become facile • Finding good examples; so much on the web it becomes overwhelming; how to find one or two exemplary examples • Lack of administrative support and leadership to help facilitate the shift from traditional to 21st century leaning practice • It is a leap of faith to attempt the change in pedagogy; this can be daunting.
 * Group C**