Tech, Tech & Tech.

We hear about it everywhere from staff rooms to social media about how teaching with tech is a 21st century expectation. Are teachers afraid to use technology?  Cynical about the uses of Tech? or is it they don’t know where to start?

Teachers not only want to use technology, but the majority want to find more useful ways to implement it in their classes. In fact 37 percent of surveyed teachers said they spend free time learning how to use technology in the classroom. However, if you are thinking of introducing tech in your class or your school is driving to enact it as a whole school, then you may need to take some time to reflect before jumping in head first.

Where to start?
Establish a good relationship with your students
Without this, no amount of tech will help you teach a subject or topic area on a deep level to students. This doesn’t mean having a unique high five for every student but you do need to know how they tick! 🙂

Know exactly your philosophy of education and approach to teaching & learning
Again, if you don’t have the correct mindset and skill set to support your teaching, then the tough days will most certainly make you crumble and you’ll slowly begin to resent your position, remember it’s important both you and the students enjoy. Tech won’t help if you don’t have a good grasp of pedagogy and practical vision.

Acquaint yourself with SAMR
Substitute Augment Modify & Redefine  Don’t know or think you can use this model? Well if you are using file storage or typing a lesson plan on Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you have already started with Substituting (e-files for hard copies)! 🙂

Take advantage of your school’s current local server drive or cloud based storage system
As mentioned above, most teachers use some form of tech to write lesson plans or save files using their school’s share drive. Take a mindful approach to filing your documents and knowing how to retrieve them and even use presentations, resources etc. If the option to collaborate live on a document is available then trial it with your partner teacher to see how it works.

Take your time
No matter what you do, take your time. If using your own initiative or your school’s then you need to make sure you have the basics down and not try to do everything at once. Now over to you.

Don’t know where to start or want to know more? Feel free to contact us at https://www.aspire2be.eu/. The majority of our staff are former teachers and administrative educators with over 50 years combined experience.

1 – http://qswownews.com/rethinking-pedagogy-for-a-digital-age-designing-for-21st-century-learning
2 – https://thejournal.com/articles/2017/10/26/most-teachers-say-classroom-tech-helps-students-but-teachers-need-more-training.aspx