My issue related to technology was sparked by a survey question I received about two weeks ago: "Do you use your SmartBoard as an actual SmartBoard or do you use it as projector." My answer was simple: Of course, I use my SmartBoard as a SmartBoard and you are going to have to pry it out of my cold dead hands if you plan on taking it away from me. But this got me thinking. Now that we have all of this new technology, are we abandoning all of our old technology? Don't get me wrong. I love our new Google platform and I am trying to utilize it more each day, but I have a lot of time invested into my SmartBoard presentations/activities that I don't think are Google compatible.
An article in TeachThought called "5 Problems with Technology in the Classroom" referred to this new phenomena as "pace of change." What the author was really referring to in the article was how some school districts just cannot keep up with technology that is changing almost daily. My district doesn't seem to have that problem, but they are almost tackling it too well, to the point where I feel I can't catch my breath because the speed is hyper drive. Sometimes I feel as if I am being asked to abandon old technology just because there is a new flavor of the month. And I suppose that's not just true of a SmartBoard. There are loads of applications out there that are in one day and out the next. So here is my question for all of you. How do we keep up? How do we keep pace with the ever-changing face of technology without constantly feeling like we are reinventing the wheel? I don't mean this question to sound so rhetorical because I would love some feedback.
Aaaaaah Erika, I think about this often as well! I feel like every time I get the hang of a new platform/app/website, a newer and sometimes better one replaces it and I feel the pressure to switch over. On the other hand, I think we are lucky that so many developers are trying to create websites and apps that help teachers help their students learn.
ReplyDeleteI feel 100% certain that Google is here to stay, so I feel confident investing my time and energy into learning how to use the various components of the G Suite. When it comes to other apps/websites, I am always willing to try them once. If they are too hard to navigate, or if the students don't seem to enjoy it, I take it off of the roster. At this point, I mostly have my students using Google, Canvas, and about 4 other apps/websites on a regular basis so I don't have to keep switching platforms.
Erika, what a great post! I think there are a lot of teachers that feel this way and nobody knows the answer! Between my wife (5th grade teacher) and myself and the circle of teachers that we are friends with, we would all say that you have to commit to just a few pieces of technology and get very comfortable with them. I know it is easy to say but I do think Google is here to stay in our district. I can't say that about Canvas which is why I am so hesitant to invest a bunch of time into creating new content on that platform. I think the fun ways to take quizzes and those sort of apps will always be changing. I remember when the Smartboard craze started at our school and it was like Oprah walking around the building say "You get one! and You get one!"
ReplyDeleteAs far as the SmartBoards, I'm good without one. As teacher new to a grade level that never made SmartBoard lessons to begin with, I do not use the SmartBoard features or notebooks. But your question is more of how do we keep up, not when to use what. I feel like I need to get good at something and then add one or two things to my repertoire. But like Kyle said, if you pick one thing, like Canvas, what if it is gone in favor of the free Google tools and apps or the next thing. In my elementary career, I've always tried to focus on one content area at a time. Now I'm trying to focus on one technology area that I feel is a big bang for the buck. For me, I'm trying to keep up with hyperdocs because as I do that I get to know more about creation tools kids can use to demonstrate understanding and I get to see what is out there for instruction. It's like I picked the one thing that I think can help with instruction and student engagement. Also, it's something that is easily shared between teachers so there is an element of professional collaboration. Also, working with my team in creating things has lifted my level of knowledge of technology tools.
ReplyDeleteHi Erica,
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about the changing technologies that are out there. Once I am getting comfortable with one platform, the new wave of ideas wipe hours of invested work. However a positive way to see these changes is that the technologies are changing for the better and we are getting more interconnected by using collaborative tools to improve our instruction.