Module 5: New Technologies

Briefly describe a situation in which you have encouraged people to use a new technology and have been met with resistance or disappointing results. What attitudes did these people exhibit? What behaviors did they demonstrate? Using Keller’s ARCS model, describe how you could change the motivation of these people, or learners, to encourage success.

While teaching high school science, our teachers received a new technology in the form of electronic voters.  I had worked in a previous school system that had this technology and had found I had really enjoyed using them.  I attempted to teach several other teachers how to use them but was often met with a lot of resistance.  These teachers felt like there was enough on their plates already and they just didn't have time to make use of this new technology.  I found it quite frustrating because I had found it was a great method for reviewing and could often save time when used.  I had also volunteered to help get them set up and to demonstrate their use.  It was somewhat disheartening to note how much some of them seemed to reel at the idea.

I believe a workshop with more time to adapt these new technologies may have helped more teachers to adopt it.  A few examples with fun activities might help to pique their interests.  The technology could then be used to help show teachers how it would relate to concepts they were teaching.  Confidence could be addressed on more of a personal basis by working one on one to help them see its different uses.  By seeing it in use they may get a sense of satisfaction as to how it could benefit them (Driscoll, 2005).

Jason

Reference:

Driscoll, M. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (3^rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Education

Inc.