Try Something New!

Living in the Digital Era, we see many uses of technology in the classroom. For many students, technology is used during every class period. Whether this be writing on a Smart Board or looking something up on their phone. Educators cannot shy away from the fact that technology is becoming a big part of the classroom and it is benefiting our students as well. 

Some teachers are reluctant to use technology because they are afraid that they will not be able to use it or that something will go wrong with the technology during their lesson plan. There is some very useful technology that is easy to use but that can also greatly impact our students. If you feel uncomfortable using technology talk to your school’s digital coordinator. They can show you in a matter of minutes how to run certain technology. You will also find that your students often know more about technology then you might. Ask the students if they know a simple solution to the problem. My sixth grade teacher designated someone to be tech helper for the semester.

Some teachers also believe the old saying that, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” These teachers are unaware of the advantages technology can have on their students. It is not only enjoyable for their students but is also a different way to expose students to the content. I encourage these teachers to communicate with other educators in their field to find an easy way to incorporate technology into their classrooms. After you find a few programs that work for you, be proactive in learning about them. Find different ways to incorporate them into your lesson plans. This is also beneficial because your students are already familiar with them.

My goal for the readers today is to try a new technology in your classroom. This might be one of the first pieces of technology you have used this year or might just be something different for your students. Either way you are guaranteed to learn from the experience and share that experience with other educators. Don’t be afraid to try something new!