Altered geometry: a new angle on teacher technophobia

Lloyd, Margaret and Albion, Peter (2009) Altered geometry: a new angle on teacher technophobia. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 17 (1). pp. 65-84. ISSN 1059-7069

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Abstract

Teacher technophobia is analyzed using an activity systems framework and we contend that technophobic teachers make the mistake of confusing and collapsing the tool into the object thereby figuratively altering the geometry of the classic activity system triangle. Three case studies of technophobic teachers are reviewed and compared with observations of a teacher described as exemplary but whose practice exhibited technophobic characteristics. The teachers in this paper shared four mental models, that is, (a) teacher as expert, (b) student as inexpert, (c) ICT as being restricted to productivity applications, and (d) schooling as the achievement of purposeful outcomes. We conclude that teachers with technophobic characteristics act logically in terms of their worldview but that this leaves them with either no or limited processes to enact change and no clear view as to where they are heading.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Depositing User:	Assoc Prof Peter Albion
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Education
Date Deposited:	24 Apr 2009 01:55
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 23:15
Uncontrolled Keywords:	technophobia; activity theory
Fields of Research :	08 Information and Computing Sciences > 0806 Information Systems > 080602 Computer-Human Interaction 13 Education > 1303 Specialist Studies in Education > 130313 Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators 13 Education > 1303 Specialist Studies in Education > 130306 Educational Technology and Computing
Socio-Economic Objective:	C Society > 93 Education and Training > 9302 Teaching and Instruction > 930202 Teacher and Instructor Development C Society > 93 Education and Training > 9302 Teaching and Instruction > 930203 Teaching and Instruction Technologies
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/4992

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