#20: What are the barriers of technology in education?
   As I researched this topic, I found a great article that discusses several relevant barriers to acquiring and integrating technology. The words written in red came from the article, however, the supplemental information is from me.

article link

1. Availability of and access to computers and the internet- This is a very, very common barrier that teachers get heartburn over. :) In  my classroom, I have two desktop computers we call "dinosaurs" because they seem ancient compared to the iPads, iPods, and even laptops we have in the school and in most classrooms. This is a very legitimate barrier, however, because if students do not have access to reliable, up to date computers, how are they expected to use technology? Furthermore, if we are supposed to be preparing them for the digital age of the future, I don't think part of this preparation includes making them wait 10 minutes to log on.

2. Lack of time- Another common complaint I hear frequently, and yes, teachers and administrators are equally pressed for time, however, technology skills and integration shouldn't be comprised due to lack of time. In fact, technology like our smart phones actually save us a tremendous amount of time. I think this "lack of time" is common among teachers when they are introduced to something that seems daunting to them, such as using a new software program, or integrating iPads into instruction. It could also be a legitimate complaint if this "lack of time" refers to the amount of time it takes to log on to a computer as I previously mentioned. Since teachers' time is precious, as is students', the professional development that is used to train the teachers on the technology that is intended to be implemented must be meaningful, relevant, and motivating.

3. IT Support- In order for technology to be implemented, teachers must feel that they have adequate help if something does not work correctly, which tends to happen as soon as first start the lesson.:) Institutional support, such as the school administration, and technical support need to have knowledge of the technology and/or software and have a list of people to contact in order to help teachers quickly.