Some educators are fighting
to avoid using emerging educational technologies. There is certainly some anxiety about using
something that you are unfamiliar with and I looked at some of the basic
psychology beyond that in Part 1, as well as discussed
the most common excuses not to use technology.
Until we get beyond these misconceptions, it will remain a
fight to get everyone on the bus.
Misconception #1 - I Don't
Have Time for It
All educators feel the time crunch. It seems as if there is
more paperwork, more content, and more policy to administer every year. But
while it might take some time to learn, your investment will be rewarded – most
often with improved efficiency, repeatability, and student enthusiasm.
I Got the Power(Point)
Yes, creating PowerPoint presentations takes some initial
time investment. When teaching global history, all of my notes were on
PowerPoint. That first year was a serious, often nightly, time commitment to
create each presentation. However, I would either have to write the info on the
board, or type it into handouts/overheads, so what was the real difference?
The bonus was organization. One day I had the wrong notes
up, ready to present what I had already given this particular class (one of the
interesting parts of a teaching in a rotating block schedule). A student
pointed this out. With three clicks, I had the new notes ready to go. No
shuffling, no furious re-writing on the board needed.
Word Wide Web?
The same can be true of a website. They are as easy to
design as a Microsoft Word document, and use many of the same features. Once
posted, there is no need to constantly provide materials for absent students.
Forget your worksheet? Go to the
website. Out sick? Go to the website. In-school suspension? Go to the
website.
One teacher would laugh at me when she saw me working on my
website, and often mocked my efforts. Every hour she spent photocopying missed
work and running to the suspension room or guidance, she was spending time that
I didn't have to waste. And once a unit
packet and calendar is up, my work is essentially done. Often, districts offer
professional development (pro dev) hours to learn how to use technology. Some
districts even give pro dev hours for maintaining your website.
Slow Down, You Are
Moving Too Fast: An Alternative for Beginners
If that seems beyond your scope, there are easier
alternatives. You can design your own blog with a few easy clicks of the mouse.
There are several sites that offer this as a free service, such as Blogger,
21Classes, ePals, and EduBlogs. If you can post a comment on CR4, you can
create a blog for your classes, which is really just a pre-formatted website.
Adding hyperlinks and customizing the look is a snap, as many sites provide
templates. With some experience, you can create something like AP Nation (Rick Hengsterman) or U.H.S Mythology (Pete Mody), which are
linked below.
Parents also almost always love it, especially since most
public libraries offer free Internet access. If they have questions on the
weekends or late at night and want to make sure that their little Joey
Nohomeworkagain really
has nothing due, they can look for themselves.
I have resolved many potential conflicts in parent-teacher meetings as
parents realize that they can have access to materials that students often
leave at school or bury in a backpack so they can avoid doing it. Empower
parents to again be a driving force behind their child and accountability
becomes a shared responsibility by all parties.
Excuses for not having work done become thinner and fewer.
Really, how does anyone have time not to use it?
Next Blog:
Misconception #2 - I Can't (Don't Want to) Learn How to Do It.
Resources:
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Re: Overcoming Inertia: Inhibitions and Anxiety of Using Technology in the Classroom (Part 2)
