Technology within the classroom is vital. There, I’ve said it. I think at this point we have all noticed that technology, whether it be laptops, projectors, tablets, etc. aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’re here to stay. So why is it then people are hesitant to change? Is it fear, is it stubbornness?
Let’s take a moment to and analyze fear. In this day and age technology is scary, it can be difficult to comprehend. Even more so, it can be hard to control it if you don’t have a good grip on it, especially in your classroom. We teach high schoolers here at Suffield Academy, some of these kids (like most kids at boarding schools for the first time) are experiencing freedom. They are discovering themselves. I think that it is easy to forget that we were once teenagers. We too were rebellious, we too were difficult in classrooms. And that was before technology’s integration. Our students have the world at their fingertips and it is up to us to teach them how to be ethical digital citizens.
So why not strike the fear of technology from classrooms? Why not embrace the technology, learn to use it every day for good?
I challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Encourage your students to use technology, something they are so familiar with, something that is second nature to them. You may be surprised as to what they come up with, you may be surprised with what they create.
I challenge you as teachers to embrace one new thing, one new piece of technology.
So, what about stubbornness? how does this factor into our conversation? Well, many of you were burned by allowing the use of technology in your classroom. I am sure you have lost count how many times you have caught your students shopping for new clothes, surfing Facebook, scrolling through Instagram while you are trying to teach. I am sure that this has infuriated you to the point where you no longer allow technology (other than your projector) to be used in your classroom. I implore you to not allow those past digressions to close your mind to technology. Let bygones be bygones and once again be adventurous. Allow curiosity to get the best of you, allow yourself to be excited about change, about technology.
I am here to help, I am your ally, I urge you to challenge yourselves and your students and use technology every day in some form. You never know you might just be surprised.
So what are you going to do? What technology will you take a chance on? Is there something you have been dying to try, or at the very least curious about? If so, let’s talk.