I took a look at the calendar today and realized we only have 13 more instructional days left in this school year. Wow! It doesn't seem the year should be over this soon . . .
I came across some tips in a magazine a few months ago and want to share them with all of you this week. Even though the title of the article was "Seven Technology Tips for Younger Elementary", I believe these tips can be used for most of us, whether we teach elementary age students or not. Mary Beth Hertz notes in the article that "there is a sense of frustration or even fear in bringing technology into the classroom". Hertz adds, though, many of the emotions associated with technology are not truly fear or frustration with the technology itself, but instead having issues with how to train or prepare students to create multi-step and engaging projects. So here are seven tips Hertz gives to help ease the transition into utilizing technology in the classroom:
Tip 1 - Before introducing a new tool, play around with it enough to figure out where you think your students will struggle the most.
Tip 2 - Don't try to teach too much at one time.
Tip 3 - Let students who master the goals quickly help others.
Tip 4 - Use your students as a resource.
Tip 5 - Start small.
Tip 6 - Have a student who is a non-reader or who has a fear of writing due to their low reading level dictate what they want to type or write it on paper first.
Tip 7 - Assess student progress with technology tools.
Hertz says you need to be able to predict problems your students might have so playing with the technology first yourself and starting small with short steps is best before introducing anything to the students. Also, don't be afraid to let a student or students who know how the technology works to take the lead in the class. What about the use of technology tools to assess their progress? Start simple! Use a spreadsheet with student names down one column with skills across the top. Simply print and check off the skills as the student learns them. This doesn't take long to prepare and students can see you using a spreadsheet in the classroom for a practical purpose.
Hertz reminds us that anytime we bring new tools into the classroom, there will be a learning curve. Hertz says "Don't think that you will achieve rock star tech integrator status within your first year of making the plunge. Don't get discouraged if you feel like your projects aren't complex or deep enough. You'll get there." According to Hertz, the important part is that you take the first step towards integrating technology into your classroom, no matter the age or skill level of your students. I might add to that it really doesn't matter about your age or skill level either! Just be open to new things and willing to try!
I hope each of you will take these tips to heart and if you've not yet taken the plunge to bring technology into your classroom, I trust you will feel confident enough to try one new thing in the next 13 days! If I can help you in any way, please call or e-mail me.
