Are Teachers Trained Enough To Utilize Technology?

         I had many teachers in high school that had a Smart Board and did not touch it the whole year! They would just lecture or read out of a book and not try to engage students at all. Technology engages students and gets them more involved. Other teacher use technology, but only in menial ways. The problem is that teachers are not always trained to use all the technology that is offered. Most teachers know how to use computers, the internet, and the tools that come along with those. They may not, however, know many other technological devices they could use.  I recently read the article Tech Support PREPARING TEACHERS TO USE TECHNOLOGY and found that many teachers are truly afraid of not being able to keep up with technology in the classroom.  Why put in expensive Smart Boards if you are not going to show teachers how to utilize them? The article said teachers do not have time to teach themselves the program, but need help. “To learn how to incorporate technology into their classrooms, teachers are participating in online discussion groups, forums, e-mail lists, bulletin boards, message boards, and chat rooms. One of the first online communities for teachers is the 21st Century Teacher Network (www.21ct.org), an online network that enables teachers to exchange technology ideas with teachers around the world.” (http://www.principals.org/portals/0/content/48158.pdf). 
      Educators need the opportunity to learn what to do to make technology worthwhile in the classroom. The article says there are many technology workshops that schools should be sending teachers to. I think there should be seminars and opportunities for teachers to learn more about technology. This class is definitely helping me to learn more about technology in the classroom, but I believe there is always more to learn!