Reflection Week 4

Benefits and Drawbacks of teaching new technologies in the classroom

Our most recent class

Just reflecting on our most recent class, even though it is a technology-specific course there were still issues with using that technology. It is always tricky when it comes to tech because no matter how prepared the teacher is to teach that subject, there can be many different factors to which it will be successful. The biggest thing is that you must be flexible to change and adapt on the spot just in case something doesn’t go to plan. In our last class even though we were set up to use HP5 many of us couldn’t log onto the program which was a setback for many students. Luckily Rich was able to modify the lesson making learning still accessible for everyone involved.

Evaluating Risk vs. Reward

1.) Accessibility: You must make sure that this new technology is accessible to all of the learners in your class. You don’t want to create any inequities in the classroom.

2.) Trial Period: Before you even introduce that technology to the classroom you should conduct a trial period where you evaluate whether or not it will work for your classroom, and if the technology even works at all.

3.) Assess the Reliability: Research and assess the reliability of the technology. Read reviews, talk to colleagues who have used it, and consider its track record for stability and accessibility.

4.) Feedback and Adaption: Collect feedback from students and be prepared to adapt or even abandon the technology depending on the experiences that the students had with it.

What are some steps for success while using new technology in the classroom?

• Have some sort of backup plan just in case the technology fails.
• Make sure that both you and your students have proper training on the technology and that you are providing clear instructions and examples for them to follow.
• Understand that technology might be frustrating for some of your students and they might need extra support.
• Create proper communication between you and your students just in case they need to ask for guidance on a topic.
• Be flexible with the material you are teaching. Not everyone may understand right away and that is OK. You need to be ready to adapt your lesson to make sure you keep everyone’s learning on track.
• After the lesson is complete assess how impactful the technology was, and if it was the right method for the students in your class to learn. Not every technology you introduce will be successful or impactful for your learners and that is alright!