Attending conferences, observing teachers, and hearing keynote speakers from all parts of the United States, I’ve come upon what most people in education already know. There are many ways to reach the same results. This is your art of teaching instead of science of teaching idea. As I watch and participate in the educational technology explosion, I find teachers don’t use a lot of technology or get caught up on the other side of just doing the latest and greatest. After doing some of my own reflecting and listening to Eric Scheniger discuss personalized learning, I wanted to voice my ideas on educational technology.
To start I want to look at my role in my schools. I feel I have a strange roll because some may see me as a boogie man type person here to make them jump through more hoops and force them to use the latest technology. Some a savior who is willing to help guide them through their technology binge, and others a total ghost who don’t want to talk to me or need to talk to me, their relationship with technology is just right and doesn’t need to change. As I’ve been consulting teachers with different teaching experience levels, subjects, and skills I’ve been thinking of a way to ease everyone into utilizing technology and their skill set to the fullest. I’ve always been an analogy guy and am always searching for good ones to explain US History, technology, sporting events etc. The one I’ve settled on is a shoe-based analogy. You must find the right shoe for your lifestyle. Right tech/tools for your classroom.
I don’t want to suggest the newest pair of Air Force Ones to the cross-country runner, the Sketcher Shape Ups to the twenty-something year old. I also don’t want to suggest creating a flipped classroom to the teacher who just uses technology for their gradebook and to communicate. Or introduce the basic ideas of an LMS to a teacher who is proficient in posting, communicating, and providing feedback through one already. It’s about finding the right shoe for the right job and that can vary from day to day, month to month, even class to class. I have all sorts of shoes for all sorts of occasions and teachers should have the same for tech tools and tools in general.
The real challenge for me here comes in two different forms. One is helping teachers decided which tools are best for which occasion. I’ll admit I have worn the wrong shoes to play basketball, to work, the beach you name it. And while these consequences may be readily apparent with blisters, embarrassing comments, or sheer discomfort it’s not always obvious when teaching. Kahoot is a great example of an engaging tool in education but if solely used for what one of my classmates referred to as “Jeopardy Knowledge” then are we really using the correct tool? Students are engaged, the teacher isn’t lecturing, there could even be some collaboration between students. On the surface the shoe fits but are we just really making memorization more fun? Is there a better shoe out there to serve our intended purpose?
My second challenge is realizing when it is time to replace your old shoes or even try a new brand. You have them, I have them, the pair of shoes you are unwilling to let go of. They are comfortable, look fine, and you have so many memories with them. Why take the time to shop for a new pair, spend money, and break them in all over again? And worst case, what if you don’t like the new pair? Same idea goes with tools and technology in the classroom. All teachers have their handful of go to items that are safe, comfortable, and they work. But how do you recognize when is it time to move away from these tools and try new ones?
Along this same idea is brand loyalty. I made a pact with myself at a young age I would never own a pair of Sketcher, a pact I have kept to this day. But now I fear I might be missing out sticking to my Nikes, Vans, and Adidas. The same is true with all these tools. I feel there is so much focus on Apple vs. Google vs. Microsoft and evaluating tools based their brand, not their use. I sit here as a Google Certified educator, writing in Microsoft Word, and working for at an Apple 1:1 elementary. Breaking away to try something new is a risk that needs to happen, not all the time but once a year, once a semester try something add it to the shoe rack and go back and try them again. If you hate it, try another tool. The best part is most of these tools don’t cost you $100 plus to try out and find you don’t like it, many are free, have a free version, or counterpart.
So, what’s the right shoe? That is something you’ll need to figure out for yourself, school, and students. Try out several some within your comfort zone and some outside. You’ll never know what might fit if you don’t try.
More Questions Than Answers 