Teachers View of Computers as a Catalyst for Change in their Teaching Practice/Article Review

Teachers View of Computers as Catalysts for Change in their Teaching Practice/Article Review

In their 1999 article published in the “Journal of Research on Computing Education”. Dexter and Anderson tested a sample of forty-seven K-12 teachers to discover how much the computer played a part as a catalyst for change in their classrooms. The vast majority of teachers responded that the computer did play a part and was not the main reason cited for change in the classroom. “The computer facilitates, but does not drive change” (Teacher 31.1). Most teachers cited personal reflection as the main catalyst for change.
According to the article teachers used computers in the classroom for a variety of reasons. Teacher 16.1 uses the computer as a tool for himself because it is more effective and timely. Teacher 21.3 sees the computer simply as an add-on. One respondent used the computer very minimally as sees it as “overrated” (Teacher 35.5).
The study showed that teachers with formal training in computer technology are more likely to use computers as a catalyst for change in their classrooms. Teacher 23.3 learned to use the computer in college. In his science classes he uses the computer to keep an interactive log with his students.
Some respondents cited as a major catalyst for change specific schools whose overarching curriculum is project based. In one New York school, Teacher 33.3 uses computer graphing programs and spreadsheets in his math class regularly. In the same school Teacher 32.1 uses the computer to engage students in multimedia projects.
The Dexter and Anderson’s article concludes by making suggestions for teachers. Since most of the teachers did not see the computer as an automatic catalyst for change they concluded that a revision of the image of computers in education is necessary. They also stated that using the computer has to be a decision that teachers make themselves. Finally, Dexter and Anderson cited the need for more professional teacher development courses in computer technology.