NEW WORLD ORDER: A PERSPECTIVE OF TEACHERS IN TECHNOLOGICAL EPOCH.
The proliferation of technological advancement has given birth to the “New World Order”. This term depicts the evolution of globalization in terms of economy, politics, socialization, education, military and communication.
Education is one of the basic tenets of the “New World Order or Education World Order”. Today, one of the most challenging factors for teachers and schools around the world is technology. This dynamic nature of technology, in turn, affects the way teachers teach and learn as well as their responsibilities in schools. However, most Colleges of Education and other Education Certificate Awarding Institutions in Nigeria do not adequately prepare their graduates to teach with technology because they have not yet fully integrated the new technology into their programmes for preparing teachers. That is to say, most of our graduate teachers come out of these institutions with limited knowledge on the ways the new technology can be applied in their professional practices.
Most employers of these teachers do not play their role effectively in this present globalization. Teachers lack technological know-how due to lack of In-service training, workshop and provision of this technology. Most schools do not want to purchase these technologies i.e. internet facilities, e- learning facilities, and other computer facilities, because they are considered a luxury. That is to say that teacher can still teach without these aforementioned technologies, there is also a deficiency of an effective infusion of technology into school curriculum. Preparing teachers to use technology in their teaching is giving a little priority; schools do not feel that instructional technology training is an adequate or effective model for teachers. Little do they know that this has a tremendous adverse effect on the pupils and students.
It is worthy of note that children of exceptional skills and talent can only be produced in schools that flourish with technology. The society is complex with multiple problems and as such, the society also needs complex technology to solve the societal problems and this must by with making our teachers technologically enlightened.
The writer of this piece therefore is urging schools to borrow a leaf from Raberto Schools who has engaged about eighty percent of her staff in technological training. The school (Raberto School) has complied with the doctrine of “Education world order”. In an article culled from www.sgc.edu (web document), the following technologies have been suggested for schools to enhance quality teaching delivery;
· Internet connection
· Video projector interactive white board
· Tablet PCs
· Sound enhancement system
· Audio system for teachers (to save his or her voice)
· Interactive Response System
· Document cameras,
· Digital cameras
· Probes
· Printers
· Scanners
· Webcams etc.
In conclusion, it can be seen that teachers lack the training and use of technology in this globalization era despite established standards and benchmarks. There should be full integration of technology across the curriculum of schools. Schools should endevour to initiate restructuring of programme for teachers, develop a new vision and establish technological support structures within the institutions.
Abel Dare Lamidi
Information Officer/Librarian
