The EdTech is coming, the EdTech is coming! Yes, it’s true; we are in the middle of a revolution of digital proportions. Thankfully, Eduporium is here to guide everyone through it, make tech recommendations and provide excellent products at academically discounted prices.
The Digital Revolution
Think about it. Today’s adults spend most of their working day using a computer to carry out a range of responsibilities from communication to projects and everything in between. They use Web-based programs, websites and office productivity software. Most of them probably learned the specific, tech-focused skills they needed to do their job once they had already accepted it. The trend going forward, however, appears to be that people will be expected to know how to do things like coding, editing video and so on in order to even be considered for employment. We live in a digital world now, people—all of us do.
For that very reason, kids who are currently enrolled in grades as low as middle school (and perhaps even a bit lower) need to have regular exposure to and teaching of digital tools. The goal is to make each of them digital citizens to both improve productivity now and prepare them for what will likely be required in the future. While the term “literacy” has conventionally referred to a student’s ability to read, the term “digital literacy” has now been brought to the forefront as educators are realizing the importance of acclimating their students to technology as much as possible. Though the result may be far from perfect, there are still certain things modern-day teachers need to do to ensure that students are as prepared as possible for our tech-driven economy.
One thing kids do these days is scour the Web for any number of posts that appeal to them. What teachers can do is teach them how to mindfully consume all that they’re looking at on the Internet. In the same way students break down themes, plots and perspective of a classic novel, they can do that in a modern manner with an online article. You can also incorporate making and tinkering into digital literacy by encouraging children to break down words. As students grow, so too will their digital skills—something that will serve them very well going forward. Finally, as the digital era continues to unfold, teachers should be able to share the lessons they have learned and other insights gained through experience. This can include detailed conversations surrounding which tech tools to use and even communicating digitally—all of which will help kids (and even teachers) become better digital citizens!
Tech Tips For Today’s Teachers
So, you’ve decided to give it a go and start using technology tools to help enhance your class? First, congratulations! Now, you may be wondering where exactly to go from there. Fortunately, we have some suggestions for how EdTech users (especially beginners) can make the transition as smooth and as fun as possible! Whether you’re new to teaching or have been at the front of the room for 30 years, it still may be intimidating to try something new, but here’s how you can make it better!
When planning an EdTech transition, always remember what lesson or concept you are trying to teach and plan your tech tools around being able to enhance that. It’s also important to take risks—try something you’re not too familiar with and challenge yourself and your students to come up with innovative and relevant ways to make it work effectively. Keep in mind, however, that just because it is new, it does not always mean it is the best. Do at least a little bit of research to make sure your new toys are legitimate education enhancers. Over time (or perhaps even right away) you may notice that students are proficient at using some technologies. This may be true, but that’s okay—don’t be afraid to let students teach you!
One thing to remember is that students tend to positively respond when you put a positive spin on learning and school in general. By giving them the ability to choose how they learn and showing them the fun benefits of EdTech, they tend to gravitate towards the new approach. Also, don’t be afraid to take advantage of fellow teachers or even older students who have widespread tech knowledge and use them to enhance lesson plans or bounce ideas off of. Even though their input might get you real excited, remember that it’s important to start small, especially if you don’t have a whole lot of technical knowledge. Trying to integrate too much EdTech all at once often leads to confusion and an overwhelming feeling. Finally, always remember to have a back-up plan in case any of your tech fails mid-use and always be consistent! That’s the best way to engage, keep the attention of students and help them succeed.
Avoiding EdTech Mishaps
Digital learning, however useful it can be, has its downsides as well if not approached properly. From frustrated teachers to malfunctioning technologies, there are a bunch of things that could go wrong if you’re not prepared. You may have heard this before, but it doesn’t hurt to reiterate that prior proper planning prevents poor performance. Just remember that whatever happens and however bleak it seems, the potential benefits of teaching and learning with EdTech are extremely high and may take time for you to fully realize. Here’s how to avoid bumps in the road.
You can avoid wasted class time and disgruntled students, parents and administrators by carefully planning everything out. Teachers should make sure that their technologies provide an all-encompassing learning package and cater to every child in the room. Compatibility is big and so too is access. If you’re able to institute a 1:1 classroom, that’s great. That would provide access for everyone. Another thing you may want to consider, however, to keep the learning going, is devising a policy that would allow for some students at a time or for every student to take their devices home one or two nights a week to engage in collaborative assignments or discussions. Just remember that no EdTech tool should take over. Preserving the student-teacher relationship is invaluable to making sure that the technology actually does enhance learning.
Once you become an EdTech pro and the presence of technology in class is common, remember also that you should remain mindful of student abilities. Some kids will possess great technical skills while others will show no interest in technology, so remember to instruct all students equally, even if it seems like they may not need it. Don’t forget about security and privacy, either. Though the school should have security measures in place for safe browsing, they are notorious for not being able to keep all the bad stuff out. The best (and really only) way to alleviate this is to monitor student activity as closely as possible without disrupting their learning. And, finally, take some time every now and then to assess the classroom. It is important to determine if specific tech tools are having their desired effect (increasing engagement, retention, collaboration, etc.) or if they are just taking up space. If it’s not advancing STEM education, it can be safely dropped from your classroom. Good luck!
Technology Is A Connector…Not An Isolator
Kids these days…they get a bad rap if ever they’re caught staring at their cellphone or sitting at the computer for more than 10 minutes. “They’re isolating themselves,” some people claim, as they scroll through one of their various newsfeeds, seeing everything, but absorbing next to nothing. Many parents fear that their children are much too dependent on technologies such as the iPhone. What they don’t realize, however, is that their belief that technology is isolating today’s youth is not entirely correct. In fact, it’s quite wrong.
Some people believe that smartphones are ruining our lives, eliminating fun and repressing social interactions. Technology, and in this case, smartphones, are not reasons we are anti-social. On the contrary, they are instruments for communication—just a different, more modernized and tweaked version of it. They provide their users with the ability to interact in ways that just a few years ago were not possible and are now able to be done so easily. Think about it. You can connect with people all around the world, find exactly what you need or learn an area that’s brand new. All with your thumb.
There’s nothing wrong with preferring to talk with a long-distance partner using a smartphone instead of with someone who does not interest you but happens to be next to you and technology has made this not only possible but a piece of cake—both socially and in the classroom. Today’s generation is very comfortable with using the Internet to communicate, so just because they’re good at it, why should they face criticism? It’s a bit ignorant that some of us immediately assume that the downward-looking teenager is scrolling through pointless pictures or posting provocative messages when there is a better than average chance they are not. Technology is a powerful tool—and, fortunately, most kids today realize that, treat it as such and use it (most of the time) for good.
Digital Is Not Always Innovative, But Usually…
It’s a pretty good place to start. Even seasoned teachers who have been employing the same teaching methods for years or even decades can find today’s digital-first approach to be rather daunting, but there’s no reason for fear. It will take time to become fluent in the digital language, but the more you pick up, the more in-depth classroom instruction becomes. Then, students will start engaging more and tech integration will soon feel as natural as the pen-and-paper lectures that have been taking place for years.
Digital tools have the potential to be a game changer in the classroom, but not everyone who has tried teaching with them has seen the same results. Experiences will differ based on factors such as the teacher’s tech-savviness, the students’ interest and even the classroom setup. Research has shown that teaching regularly with technology can improve test scores and overall retention, but teachers should be prepared for growing pains as well. One pretty safe bet is that new ways of learning should pique student’s interests right away. Kids, even as young as early elementary school, can relate to using technology regularly and generally respond positively to getting to play around with an iPad or laptop, but then realize learning with it is more fun and they become more engaged.
Throughout the school year and even before you get started with EdTech, it is important to acknowledge that your role is going to be changing, embrace that fact and get excited about it. As the teacher, you are still in control, but students are going to be capable of so much more from leading discussions to searching for videos and more. Technology will empower students to do more in learning than they have done before and it can empower teachers too by being that resource to provide deeper learning experiences much more efficiently. Just remember, no teacher is incapable of sparking change and starting an EdTech revolution in the school!
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