Ways to support teachers

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob Zenhausern on July 17, 2010 at 3:56pm

Rather than giving the teachers tools, give them project ideas. They they can pick the tools they want or you can suggest tools that are appropriate for the projects.

Permalink Reply by Syd on July 17, 2010 at 4:14pm

Hey Lori. It's easy for those of us who know the benefits of integrating tech in a way that amplifies learning to take for granted the fears we once faced ourselves when we first took little steps in that direction. I wish I could recall the article and who wrote it, but I just recently came across a blog written by a tech support teacher who wrote about fear being a major obstacle in supporting teachers.

There were two kinds of fears (1) fear of technology, and then (2) fear of loss of control once tech tools were integrated. Many teachers who crossed the first fear barrier ditched their efforts due to the second fear barrier unless there was continued support and low-risk experimentation. Most of the teachers who stuck with it, she noticed, used online PLN's like this one to access support if it wasn't available on-site.

My point is that even though you may be available to them as a resource, one of the first things that may be worth exploring is what's out here in the edu-sphere in terms of PLNs.

Walk them through creating a Ning account if they don't have one and then create a group here just for THEM, as a hub for branching out or experimenting with new tools in a no-risk environment. Make it fun- call it the "Tech Playground" or somethin'. ;o)

Permalink Reply by CWhitney on July 19, 2010 at 5:38pm

A big part of integrating is getting support from building administration along with working closely with teachers. I have found the support from my principal to be priceless. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Denise Stewart on July 25, 2010 at 1:35am

I am a classroom teacher and instructional coach. I will share one error I made early on when I first took the assignment. I thought everyone would want to hear from me and that technology was the way to reach them. Well, I very quickly learned that was not the best way to approach this new assignment. Instead, I started talking to them to assess what support they needed AND in what format. I still like technology, but some teachers do not (sad but true) so with that in mind, I have the hesitant ones take baby-steps while the more enthusiastic ones (X-box players and the like) take gigantic leaps. Be flexible, supportive, friendly, approachable, and non-judgmental:)

Denise

www.ellteacherpros.com

www.teachingsuccesseswithells.blogspot.com

Permalink Reply by William Laney on October 7, 2010 at 4:26pm

I'd like to add one more fear to Syd's list regarding classroom teachers and technology: fear that it will become a burden to plan the use of technology. The best way to combat that is to demonstrate how the technology can actually be a time-saver. I think most teachers understand that technology can make their plans sizzle and engage their students; however, there's a near-universal crunch for planning time at all grade levels, and teachers are worried that incorporating technology will take even more of that time away from them.

Show them how they'll save time in the long run (and, in many cases, even in the short term), and you'll win them over.

Permalink Reply by Joan Harper-Neely on October 11, 2010 at 7:20pm

Last year I held training during the teachers' planning time on Mondays. I had a topic prepared with hands-on practice. The handouts (cheat sheets) were emailed to them after the training. The focus was on the equipment in the building and online resources related to their upcoming units. Some Technology Integration teachers send out an electronic newsletter with links listed by subject. The teachers love when I come into their classrooms and model how to use specific equipment or programs with their students. I don't know where you are teaching, but the buzz words around here are data disaggregation and differentiation of instruction. I recently read about how technology helps with UDL (http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/learn.php).