Using technology as a teaching tool

What do teachers and students generally think about using technology in the classroom? It seems they often have vastly different views.

Training with the use of technology can be hugely empowering for the student, as well as the teacher. But certainly not all teachers are keen to use technology, as I have experienced in the past. Once I was involved in teacher professional development training for a simple application, and almost half the teachers were glazing over, even offering openly negative comments like 'this is a complete waste of time' or 'how am I going to remember all this?'

It's funny how closed-minded teachers can be. Maybe it's due to the fact that they don't have the time or energy to deal with something new when there are so many demands on their time. When it comes to the learner's, however, it's appears to be a totally different story. From my experience they love it when you try something new with technology in the classroom, as it breaks up the monotony of standard lessons that drag on and on. Actually, it seems their desire to try something new is so strong, they will give the teacher the benefit of the doubt even when things go completely wrong with technology. It's as if they appreciate the effort that the teacher is trying to advance their knowledge in a fresh new way.

In conclusion, teachers should try to take risks with new technologies for learning, in any case it may help them re-consider the staid old lessons they've been hammering out over the years.