Too bad, so sad, no techie for you.

My school is limited in the available technology hardware we have available, though not from lack of wanting. Our two computer labs are booked for the entire year on the first day of school; teachers race to be the first one to block off their dates on the calendar, knocking down anyone or anything that gets in their way, like the running of the bulls. To combat this problem most teachers have given up on having students use computers individually; they kindly let the runners pass them by, then turn and leave.

I am a runner.

However, as this is my first year teaching in this building I did not catch on to the game until the calendar was already full. That did not deter me though; I simply decided I would have to find other ways of using what little technology my students and I can access.

The truth of the matter, is that kids these days need to know about technology, whether it is all around them or whether it hidden by a brick wall; they need to know various applications if they are going to succeed in this world. I believe that as an educator I have the responsibility to help them with this goal.

As a New Year resolution, I decided I would do more with technology in my classroom by not being afraid to have students do their technology work in the evenings on their home computer. Eighty percent of my students have a computer with internet access available in the evening. But, what about those that do not? This is a problem that prevents many teachers from assigning technology projects. They fear they will come across as un-empathetic to students who are not as advantaged, and who do not have computers at home.

I look at it this way (prepare for harshness!): Deal with it. You may not have a computer at home, but you need to figure out how to access one sometime during the week. I am sorry your family is not wealthy, neither was mine, but you can sit back and let the truck of technology run you down, or you can run after it and catch the bumper. The world is not going to wait for students to get their own computer; the world is not that patient. When my washing machine breaks (and I am expecting it to any day now!) and I cannot afford a new one, I do not wear dirty clothes, I go to a laundry mat.

Armed with this new philosophy I did however decide to do something to make accessing computers easier for these students. With the support of our school librarian I blocked off one of the computer labs every Tuesday for an hour after school; reserved for my 8th grade team only (I stay to supervise). In the three weeks since open lab started, I am amazed and pleased at how many students take advantage of it! They are free to do anything on the computer in that hour that is for a school subject and is within the appropriate policies. In addition to this, our students do have the option of going to the media center to use a computer during their free period. These strategies combined, I feel assured that I can defend myself if someone approaches me about students who do not have their own technology (no one has yet.)

There is nothing more satisfying (and rare) than an untenured teacher feeling confident in breaking the mold of educational norms. Leave it to my students to put a kink in the plan.

I received an email just yesterday that two of my more iniquitous students had breeched library code-of-conduct and decided to locate gang signs, inappropriate song lyrics, and YouTube videos while in the library during free period. Their user accounts are henceforth terminated for the remainder of the school year. In simple terms, this means they cannot use a computer in our building for the rest of their junior high career. Hmm...so much for getting them to post their poetry assignment to our Moodle site....

To my knowledge, both of these students fall into that group of tweens who do not have computers at home. My theory? Too bad, so sad, guess you will have to figure out a way to go to the public library or else get an F. Yes, I know I may sound insensitive, but I also believe that these students should not have the privilege of having an alternative assignment because they made bad choices. If they were sophomoric and made the bad decision to misuse the school computers, then I truly believe they should have to face the consequences.

In writing this- heart and logic stand behind my convictions, though whether or not administration or parents will agree with me is yet to be seen. I hope to remain strong, knowing truly that it is far better for students to be held responsible for their actions, then to be flittered along into adulthood, unprepared for the world of technology and the world of consequences.