Author: Jakiera Gosa
We’ve heard it before! That old quote by Heraclitus says, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Change is the most critical variable to embrace when planning to create and maintain a dynamic school. Dynamic, used as an adjective, is marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change (Merriam-Webster, 2020). A dynamic school embraces the reality and necessity of evolution as a means to foster student success. Embracing change and productive activity must be a part of a school’s culture; that ideology is necessary for every member of the school community to embrace. Often, teachers are proven to be the heartbeat of a school’s culture and make or break the conditions essential for a growth mindset. Among the many responsibilities laid at the feet of teachers is the willingness and desire to continue to improve and evolve one’s practice to fit the needs of the environment in which educators serve.
One significant component of dynamic schools is computer technology integration. Computer technology is an ever-evolving tool that has great promise for schools when used deliberately and effectively. Technology integration is widening the scope of what schools can do and how they can do it. Therefore, teachers have more power to reach students and parents both far and wide based on need and purpose. This article will focus on a few essential elements and best practices to aid teachers in successfully integrating technology.
The first element necessary for successful technology integration is a teacher’s willingness to try. Don’t be afraid! Everyone had started something before they became good at it- the same goes for technology integration. The benefits of learning best practices and trying them far outweigh the consequences of keeping a stagnant classroom. If you are educating students to learn, educators must also practice being life-long learning. Learn the tools that will help you become more confident in your practice and use of technology. Attend free online workshops and seminars. Create teacher circles, so you have a support team to discuss experiences. Request professional development at your school. Go on YouTube and research “How-To” videos and try them! You will be amazed at how much you will learn about technology integration if you decide that it is an essential skill to acquire and continue to build on.
Learn what technology resources your school/district already has. Many teachers spend an immense amount of time looking for technology resources for their classes. However, many schools/districts have already made relationships with and are paying a lot of money for researched-based technology platforms that assist teachers, students, and parents. It would be a disservice to you as an educator not to know what those resources are. For example, many teachers know that they have an online grading system that communicates grades in real-time. Did you know that some of those grading platforms can send emails, descriptive teacher feedback, video messages, certificates, reminders, and so much more? Did you know that some of those grading platforms will even allow you to schedule automated feedback and emails based on grading percentages, assignment completion, and many others? Teachers, this is how you get technology to work for you, your students, and the parents. Learning the capabilities of your existing platforms and making a plan to use them is how you work smarter and are more productive with your time.
Many educators find multiple technology platforms that each does one thing, or teachers only learn to use it for one purpose. While learning many tools can eventually become beneficial for a teacher looking to expand his or her capabilities in technology integration, it is recommended that educators with novice knowledge in technology integration get an in-depth understanding of the tools already available.
Too much is sometimes too much. Imagine a cluttered room. It is much available. Unfortunately, many will choose to avoid that room altogether because of the delivery and the lack of ease of access. This intimidation and reservation are what you do not want to happen with technology. We don’t want the students and parents to be so overwhelmed by all the tools available to them that they don’t use it because they don’t know how to use it. As a teacher, it is your job to show your students and parents how they will be successful with the technology you present in the classroom. At the beginning of your tech integration journey, choose one to three technology platforms that you want to introduce and master this year. Learn the ins and outs of those tools. The more confidence you have in those tools, the more you will use them. The more you use them, the more effective they will be in your practice.
While there is an exhaustive list of tools, resources, and best practices for computer technology integration, a list is never more potent than a plan. A plan is useless without the desire—a lack of knowledge limits willingness. So, in starting where we began. Let’s embrace the ageless truth; change is inevitable. There will not be a dynamic school without dynamic educators. We must all be ready to start this ever-evolving journey to increase our capacity to reach our school community in this dynamic world.
References
Merriam-Webster. (2020). Dynamic. Retrieved July 21, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamic