Teaching with Tech

Leveraging technology to empower learning offers many challenges and opportunities.

Challenge #1: One major challenge I have with technology is access within the school. I teach at a large high school. We have a small amount of technology available, and many teachers who want to use it. It can be very difficult to reserve technology, especially after the first couple weeks of the year. If you have a creative idea in April, there’s almost no way you will be able to get the iPads, laptops, or other tools you may need to implement it.
Opportunity: The challenge of limited technology resources has created a couple of unique opportunities. Because there are so many teachers vying for the same tech, I have been able to collaborate more with these colleagues and learn about the incredible ways they are using technology in their classes.

Challenge #2: Another challenge I have had when utilizing technology is convincing some members of my professional learning team the value of integrating it in our common projects and lessons. We do a lot of common planning, which is wonderful, but I have some colleagues on my team who are apprehensive about using technology. Many of them lack familiarity with the various tools, and some just have a general aversion to new ideas.
Opportunity: This challenge presents the unique opportunity for me to help my colleagues with their own professional development. I have led them in trainings and tried to make transitions toward using technology painless and fun. Some of them are beginning to see these tools as an integral part of a few lessons. Hopefully they will become an integral part of their teaching practice. (And then I’ll have to fight with them over who gets to reserve the tools!)