Technology – do I need a hammer or shovel?
Technology is a tool that should only be used if it improves the
education outcomes of the lesson, or adds a 21st Century Skill to the lesson.
It should be possible to regularly improve educational outcomes with technology.
It should also be possible to improve outcomes with some good thinking around
the pedagogy and no resources at all. Anyone who believes technology is needed
in every lesson is stuck in the early 2000's. Back we all thought new toys were
awesome!
Learning outcomes first and then a process to achieve those outcomes. More
and more teachers are starting to think like this now. Your process might
include technology, it hopefully will include some 21st Century Skills.
Find your house plans (curriculum), inspect the timber and nails (students),
now do you need a hammer or a shovel to build this thing (resources)?
We’ve seen that
shift in the last 3-4 years. 5+ years ago it was certainly 'awesome, let's use
this new gadget'. Now people seem to talk about why the technology is being
used before they talk about the gadgets. Professional Development days now are
often run completely without devices (except maybe tablets for note taking) and
they spend the day discussing the pedagogy around technology in education,
which is a really positive shift.
I love the fanciest
multi-touch 80” LCD and printing my own face in 3D as much as the next nerd.
Love your gear, play with your gear, learn its capabilities…then walk
away. Start with the learning outcomes
you want your students to achieve, then build your stepping stones to make sure
your students can get there.
