- HOME
- Table of Contents
- Resume
- Philosophy Statement
- 1. History of Jewish/General Education
- 2. Assessment
- 3. Curriculum
- 4. Language Development/Hebrew
- 5. Personal Development of Teachers
- 6. Collaboration/Community
- 7. Technology
- 8. Learning and Cognition
- 9. Evidence-Based Practice
- 10. Child Development
- 11. Content Knowledge
- 12. Ethics and Values
- 13. Instructional Methods
- Inspiration/Chizuk
- Post-Observation Reflections
"One Man’s Opinion…"
From: S EISENSTAT [email protected]
Sunday, August 24, 2008 10:07 PM
Subject: Technology Integration
I've been working with classroom technology for almost 20 years after teaching Tanach in various day schools. Philosophical rationalizations for not incorporating technology have always seemed to me a great excuse for not using technology. Similar rationalizations were voiced with the advent of the ball point pen….
There should be no other criteria or goalthan to see technology used to improve student achievement. Computers, software, network access, etc., are tools to be used where needed and for specific purposes….The adoption of technological tools and resources for today’s student is not a choice. Digital literacy skills are in addition to, not a replacement for, other subjects and skills we teach….The appropriate use of software in the learning process would leverage any text-based skills….
We should not be afraid of integrating this technology into Jewish learning. We've had to adapt our learning to new technologies a number of times in our history. Moshe used stone-age technology to fashion the tablets. The mishkan is a product of its day's technological and engineering prowess. Different technologies were used in the creation of the Beit Hamikdash. Certainly, the advent of printing led to those who claimed that we would lose our ability to learn if we would rely on printed texts. We'd agree that they were wrong. Having skills to navigate digital resources and use digital tools…are as necessaryfor Jewish study as using apparati provided on the pages of the any Shas, Mikraot Gedolot, Rambam etc. has been to previous generations.
From: S EISENSTAT [email protected]
Sunday, August 24, 2008 10:07 PM
Subject: Technology Integration
I've been working with classroom technology for almost 20 years after teaching Tanach in various day schools. Philosophical rationalizations for not incorporating technology have always seemed to me a great excuse for not using technology. Similar rationalizations were voiced with the advent of the ball point pen….
There should be no other criteria or goalthan to see technology used to improve student achievement. Computers, software, network access, etc., are tools to be used where needed and for specific purposes….The adoption of technological tools and resources for today’s student is not a choice. Digital literacy skills are in addition to, not a replacement for, other subjects and skills we teach….The appropriate use of software in the learning process would leverage any text-based skills….
We should not be afraid of integrating this technology into Jewish learning. We've had to adapt our learning to new technologies a number of times in our history. Moshe used stone-age technology to fashion the tablets. The mishkan is a product of its day's technological and engineering prowess. Different technologies were used in the creation of the Beit Hamikdash. Certainly, the advent of printing led to those who claimed that we would lose our ability to learn if we would rely on printed texts. We'd agree that they were wrong. Having skills to navigate digital resources and use digital tools…are as necessaryfor Jewish study as using apparati provided on the pages of the any Shas, Mikraot Gedolot, Rambam etc. has been to previous generations.