Introducing tech to the classroom is by no means a new concept. However, the implementation of that tech needs the support from teachers in the classroom for it to be successful.
In this article, we’ll focus on how to make new classroom tech successful by gaining support from teachers. We’ll touch on a few starting points for schools and publishers to consider before adding new tech to the classroom. Then, we’ll provide a few creative ways to get teachers more comfortable with this tech integration.
Let’s get started.
Empower Educators to Have a Voice
Despite the benefits tech can add to a classroom environment, many teachers are not necessarily on board. Often, there are two main reasons behind this.
Disconnect Between Procurement and Teachers
When institutions consider adding tech to classrooms, the ones making the deals are rarely, if ever, the educators responsible for the implementation. As such, the pain points that educators experience daily in the classroom are often overlooked.
Priority of IT Input Over Teachers
Those with purchasing power, such as school administrators, often seek guidance from IT for additional input and assistance. Unfortunately, this means teachers’ opinions are pushed to the side again. This can often result in a disconnect on how the tech should be implemented between IT and the teachers in the classroom. While the tech portion may be prioritized, the education aspect may suffer.
Teachers are Here to Stay
Another reason for skepticism from teachers is the idea that tech is going to replace the role of teacher in the classroom. It’s important to emphasize that teachers are here to stay. Show teachers how technology can be a helpful tool, rather than a replacement. If teachers effectively and efficiently use technology in the classroom, this can create more time and space for teachers to answer student questions, spend 1:1 time with students, and understand what teaching methods work best for each individual student.
Four Steps to Gain Teacher Support
It should be no surprise that teachers play a pivotal role in the success of tech integration in classrooms. With the increased accessibility of these features, it’s vital to gain teacher support along the way to ensure resources are not being underutilized and to make sure teachers are confident in how to utilize the tech.
Ultimately, it is in the best interest of the students to involve teachers in the decision-making processes of tech in classrooms. They know best and have first-hand experience with the needs of their students. Additionally, it becomes equally valuable to ensure that the educators are not only comfortable with the tech but also can become advocates for the benefits of tech in the classroom.
Create Engaging Learning Experiences for Teachers
Beyond creating engaging learning experiences for students, it’s equally as essential to develop these types of opportunities for educators to instruct students on the given materials.
For example, institutions can set up training courses in the form of individualized sessions or breakout sessions from larger staff meetings. Bring in trained professionals skilled in technology and the systems being introduced to present the information. Give teachers the opportunity to witness the tech in action to get their buy-in and see the benefits certain technology can have for their classrooms.
In order to keep the content engaging for teachers, allow them to choose from sessions with varying topics. Some ideas might include choice sessions such as:
Applying Tech in a Learning Environment
Advanced Google Classroom
How to Use a Flipgrid
Beginning Google Classroom
Teaching Collaboration in the Classroom
Make Sure Teachers Aren’t Comparing Themselves to Others
You should address varying levels of ease with using tech in classrooms regarding professional development sessions for teachers. Consider a classroom-like approach that allows teachers to grow at an individual level.
While integrating a classroom approach, encourage teachers to focus on their own growth, rather than comparing to the growth of others. Remind teachers that each of them has an individualized background with education, materials, tech, and the combination of these three factors. No two educators will come from the same background and, therefore, cannot be compared to one another.
Ultimately, the individual progress of educators is what matters most, not being held to an impossible standard, whether it be provided by institutions or created on their own.
Remind Teachers That Mistakes Are Okay
Educators must understand that it’s okay to make mistakes or fail as they move down the path of edtech. It’s important to remind them along the way that integrating technology into the 21st-century classroom isn’t a perfect science.
You can see how critical it becomes to allow room for mistakes to be made. Consider how some teachers might not have hands-on experience with the technology they are asked to implement in their classrooms. This means mistakes will happen on the way to a teacher feeling comfortable with using the tech. Tech in the classroom can be intimidating for some who are driven by the fear of failure or who think there is no room for messing up.
One of the best ways to remind teachers that mistakes are a part of the learning process is by using yourself as an example during staff meetings. Don’t be afraid to share stories about mistakes you’ve made, just as long as you reiterate the lesson to be learned from them. It helps for others to see that they are not alone and that mistakes are a part of being human, especially in the digital world.
Not only does learning from mistakes help teachers move forward through their path to edtech integration and sets a better tone for their classroom. In turn, teachers become more understanding and even welcome mistakes from students as they begin to understand it as a part of the learning process for students as well.
Provide Teachers With Tools
Lastly, different capacities should be fulfilled by both students and teachers in the technology you’re looking to add to your classroom. What this means is that the tech you find should benefit teachers and students alike.
For example, you can consider learning tools like VR or gamification in education. Not only do these eLearning concepts provide students with learning material that is more relatable and, therefore, more easily digestible, but it also comes with heaps of monitoring and tracking on the back end for educators. Teachers can more easily track student progress, see areas where they are struggling, and provide personalized learning plans for each student.
Wrap Up
Using tech in the classroom can come easily when you integrate these four simple steps. Whether you’re looking at the veteran educator who is using tech for the first time in the classroom or the young, tech-savvy novice teacher new to the game, you’ll be able to provide them with the resources they need to become advocates of edtech.
Here at ryco.io, we believe in building a culture where teachers and students can both become lifelong learners. We value the voices of teachers and stand with those who want to improve the classroom experience for their students. We take pride in our eLearning solutions that are built by those with previous teaching experience.