Educators afraid of tech?
Joseph DuLaney
Helping companies build successful sales teams. | Part-time curator of thoughts. | Ed-Tech | Curriculum | Truffle Dog- Finder and Builder of Connections
First.
1) Not every educator is afraid of technology.
2) I am biased because I have spent most of my career in technology and love it. I embrace that demon.
The trend I see however is that school systems, school offices, and educators generally make excuses for how they use technology. Even worse, are the self imposed barriers educators place on themselves for reaching out of their comfort zone to try new technology, often covered in a veil of concern that doesn't have the students best interest in heart.
Now let's be honest. The genie is out of the bottle with technology. It has been for a few years now. This can no longer be about dipping your toes in the water and "thinking" about what you may or may not want to try with your students. It has to be about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and trying new things.
So the question becomes, how do educators at all levels become "uncomfortable" with technology they do not understand so they can apply it in their daily roles?
A couple thoughts.
1) Technology is a process. Not an answer. Educators by nature grade success based on a correct answer, when the process of getting to the answer is what truly should be the measure of success. Expect failure and use it as a badge of honor. Look at options. Try them. If you fail, fine. Move on and try again.
2) Involve students in the process. We all remember as kids helping our parents and grandparents set the clock on the VCR right? Why are educators afraid to have kids "set the clock" with their technology? One of the best questions an educator can ask a student is "What do you think?" (hint: great way to open up student dialog and get them invested in their own education)
3) Move away from always thinking it has to be "free". There are big reasons why a lot of technology is free and it is never pointing back to quality. Free truly is never free. In education, you need the best solution for the students in mind. Not the cheapest option.
4) Invest in your own growth. In all walks of life, those that are most successful invest in their professional growth. I would argue that learning about technology, failing at it, and trying it, may be one of the best investments one could make in being an educator. Plus you just may realize it is a ton of fun!