As a faculty member, you know that instructional technology is constantly evolving and challenging your teaching practices. How do you cope with the rapid changes and uncertainties in this field? In this article, we will share some strategies and tips to help you adapt and thrive in the digital era.
Before you adopt any new tool or technique, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how it aligns with your course objectives, pedagogy, and student outcomes. Ask yourself: What problem are you trying to solve? What are the benefits and drawbacks of the available options? How will you measure the impact and effectiveness of your choices? By conducting a needs and goals analysis, you can make informed and intentional decisions that suit your context and purpose.
Educators journey through their careers as hunter-gatherers in the technology eduspace. We accumulate tools, many of which we will never use. It is important to remember that just because you have a tool doesn't mean it is the right one for the job. By evaluating every lesson or activity to understand the exact role technology needs to play in the desired outcomes, you will become adept at using the right resources for the right activities. I have so many tools that I mastered and never used - and that is okay, because I always use the right one for the task at hand.
You don't have to reinvent the wheel or figure out everything on your own. There are many resources and opportunities to learn from other faculty members, experts, and peers who have experience and insights on instructional technology. You can join online communities, webinars, workshops, or courses that offer practical guidance, best practices, and examples of successful implementation. You can also seek feedback, advice, or collaboration from your colleagues, mentors, or instructional designers who can support your professional development and innovation.
I've always said the single most impactful decision I ever made as an educator was to join a nationwide community of like-minded educators during my first year teaching. My eyes were opened to so many new possibilities that others had already tried and could share with me. I also quickly learned that although I was the only educator in my room, I wasn't alone in the experiences I was having. By collaborating with wonderful educators from across the globe, I sped through my development as a teacher in a much more effective manner, and with a sense of calm that there would always be an answer if I reached out to the community.
One of the best ways to cope with change and uncertainty is to embrace a mindset of experimentation and reflection. Instead of being afraid of failure or perfectionism, you can view each new technology as an opportunity to try something different, learn from your mistakes, and improve your practice. You can also collect and analyze data from your students, such as surveys, quizzes, or analytics, to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of your technology choices. By reflecting on your experience and results, you can identify what works, what doesn't, and what you can do better next time.
One of the first lessons that stuck with me when I was training to be a teacher was that we had to think on our feet and reflect at the end of each day. I never taught the same lesson the next year, and I always adapted even within a class period if it became obvious my plans were not going to work. It isn't a failure, it is a valuable practice of trying something, evaluating the outcomes, revising, trying, evaluating, etc. The work is never finished, and that is what makes the job of an educator so dynamic and fresh.
While it is important to keep up with the latest trends and research in instructional technology, you also need to balance and prioritize your time, energy, and resources. You don't have to adopt every new tool or technique that comes your way, nor do you have to abandon what already works for you and your students. You can be selective and strategic about what you integrate into your teaching, and how you align it with your goals, pedagogy, and student needs. You can also set realistic and manageable expectations for yourself and your students, and avoid overloading or overwhelming them with too much or too complex technology.
Institutions of learning have a responsibility to provide professional development and technology resources to its educators. It is not the responsibility of each educator to use every strategy they are taught, or to use every technology resource they have available. Choose one new practice and one new tool to master and understand when to use it. After you feel comfortable with that practice and that tool, choose one more. Also, don't be afraid to include your students as partners in evaluating technology resources. My students often found details that I would never have thought of!
Finally, you need to be flexible and resilient in the face of change and uncertainty. You need to accept that technology is not perfect, and that there will be glitches, errors, or disruptions that may affect your teaching and learning. You need to be prepared to troubleshoot, adjust, or improvise when things don't go as planned, and to communicate clearly and calmly with your students and stakeholders. You also need to be open to feedback, criticism, or suggestions that may help you improve your practice and overcome challenges.
Life has always been a surprise, but in recent years, we have experienced more curve balls and complete pivots than ever before in education. Choosing to be flexible in times of uncertainty will keep you balanced and thriving. These circumstances are often outside of our control. We have to focus on what we can control and have an attitude of starting from where we are, rather than trying to get back to where we were.
One thing I have always said to my teachers is that our ownership of our own classroom, whether it is online or in person, is balanced on our understanding of local, state, and federal regulations. As long as what you have chosen to do in your classroom doesn't go against something that is required of you, you are in charge of what happens inside of those walls. If you are prepared to justify your choice with clear evidence and reasoning, then run with it.