A while back I wrote a post about how I had volunteered to hold techie breakies at my school in order to attempt to pass on some of my new found knowledge and enthusiasm to my staff.
So far I have covered the following:
- Essential web 2.0 tools for the classroom, what every teacher should be using in his/her classroom.
- Twitter for teachers in twenty minutes
- Using xtranormal in the classroom – for this I linked to several examples from a variety of grades, plus I showed some that my class had made.
- Digital storytelling – linking through to a fabulous list created by 2sparkley at her blog Bits and Pieces Place.
- Why we must teach students critical thinking skills when searching the internet. The how and why of internet searches. Using what I learnt from Alan November at acec 2010 and the Zach story.
- The 15 minute rule. We can’t do it all so let’s do it smart. More essential web 2.0 tools you could be integrating into your program. Using this fabulous prezi created by Steve Dembo
So why am I telling you this? To blow my own trumpet? No, in fact I was all set to write another post today until I sat down to catch up on a little reading first and I read this by Edna at whatedsaid.
“Frankly I’m tired of tools. Exhausted from experimenting. Weary of web 2.0 options popping up on a daily basis… Well not entirely…”
and this
“Most of our teachers are willing to have a go, but not yet entirely comfortable with technology. They are still daunted by too many different tools, when and how to use them.”
I too am feeling overwhelmed by the tools available together with increasingly frustrated by the response from the staff at my sessions. Don’t get me wrong, they are well attended and everyone enjoys them. They eagerly take my handouts, they respond positively, they all make the right noises. That for many appears to be as far as it goes though. With a few exceptions, such as one who has explored prezi another who is using animoto. I really do not believe that I have made any difference to the majority of the teacher’s lessons or programs.
The thought that somehow I am going in the wrong direction was in my mind as I also read what Chris Betcher, had to say this morning.
“Ok, so having said all that, it drives me crazy when I see other teachers who simply don’t ‘get it’. I’ve experienced the frustration of working with supposedly-intelligent adults who appear to be unable to move beyond the ability to cut-and-paste.”
Chris expresses a frustration that appears to be a theme in amongst many teachers and ICT integrators.
So what should I do? Ranting and complaining may help me to feel better but it does not really help my fellow teachers and myself move forward as educators.
In this instance I have decided to step back from the tools, to continue to try and increase my knowledge of web 2.0 technologies and to continue aiming to integrate them into my teaching but to stop worrying about those that simply can’t, or just don’t get it.
Will I give up on my techie breakies? No way. I am though going to go back to basics, show them again the tools, I was assuming they already understood. In my rush to excite them with new ideas, I was forgetting that for some even just entering the world of the internet is new, scary and hard.
So next week and for the following few sessions, we will look at:
- What are blogs and why you should read them. Plus how to use an RSS feeder to organise them.
- Delicious and Diigo, what are they and how to use them. Using social bookmarking to organise your internet bookmarks.
- Podcasting, the why and how to podcast, adding sounds to create effects and how to save them for an authentic audience. Using what I learned from Adrian Bruce at ACEC2010.
After that? Well I intend to turn it back to them. Open the sessions to those like my wonderful co-teacher who is prepared to try new things. Maybe they hold the key to unlocking the minds of the less keen.
12 Comments
It’s a tough question Henrietta, and I wish I knew what the answer was. I do think that after having tried lots and lots of approaches to getting teachers excited about technology, there is really only one thing that I can say really works…
More on that in a soon-to-be-published blogpost… watch this space.
Wish I was at your school, We would have a blast. What a terrific concept a techie breakkie is. The only thing that I have found that works is to show some , not overload, and have your students do the talking about what they are accomplishing at assemblies etc. Then the other students see what is happening and ask their teachers.
Always leave the door open for 1 to 1 sessions, with you sitting next to them as they explore and create to offer inspiration and encouragement but not do. Alao remember that at some point you will have those students and then you will be able to show them the wonderful world that we live in technologically.
Hi Henrietta,
Congratulations on your initiative, your willingness to pay-it-forward and your encouragement to “have a go.” I’m one of those people who find technology quite daunting. I’m trying very hard to embrace new ideas, techniques and tools for many reasons. Its important that I am a good role model (or try to be anyway) for my staff and I can’t expect them to try new things if I don’t.
From my perspective, I would love to go to a session on the things you refer to as the basics, because for people like me, those things are not so basic!!
I do know, that modelling what you talk about and sharing what you do, are extremely powerful ways of engaging others. The amount of uptake varies but it does happen, and at some point perhaps, it might even become viral.
I love your enthusiasm and you are a great example of “Connect, Collaborate, Create.”
I agree with what you’re saying. I did a session on Twitter to the whole staff at the beginning of the year and, to my knowledge, nobody joined! However, since then I have done 2 sessions at our breakfast club on Web 2.0 tools and Adobe eportfolios and various staff have talked to me about what they’re doing. I guess it’s really a matter of desire – we can show people what’s out there and how to use it but it’s up to them to find the time and do it for themselves. Good on you for not giving up and getting (too) discouraged!
I hold a DER group after school and while I started with a small group it is growing through word of mouth.
Each session only covers a few things and they usually end up hands on with the staff having a go at the tool. If they use it in the session they are more likely to use it again. I also started with things they they can immediately find a use for – delicious for example, where they searched the site for links to a topic they are currently teaching.Prezi and Glogster also had immediate appeal for teachers. Next I plan to do BlogED with them as they have asked me about blogs and their use in the classroom.
Little chunks of information that are a step up from what they are doing now, I am finding, is working. Once they have that under their belt they will, hopefully, come searching for the next one.
New technology, new ideas, are challenging especially in a profession that is already so full of conflicting demands. Keep sharing and modelling, bit by bit, it will have a positive effect. It must have value as they keep coming back, so you having to be doing more right than you think!
I love web 2.0 tools and embrace them for the most part wholeheartedly. But there is one key difference between me and your staff – I am not teaching right now. I have the huge bonus of time. I know when I was totally time-crunched that anything new seemed like an imposition and might be the final straw that snapped my fragile control.
Seems to me your approach is an excellent one. They know who to come to when/if they want help. Sparkley’s idea of a little discreet subversion seems like a winner too!
Sometimes it just takes time. If you keep plugging away it will filter through. Later one of the teachers at your sessions will be stuck as to how they will teach a particular part of a unit and they will suddenly remember a tool you demonstrated. They will probably need to go back to you to learn all over again how to implement it but at least the seed is planted. Trying to get the message through to teachers about the value of technology in the classroom reminds me of this Bible passage:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” from Matthew 13
Cheers
Shani
Great reminder to take things slow. Even when teachers are excited about a new piece of technology, we have to give them time to familiarize themselves with it and use it a few times before they are ready to move onto the next thing.
I have found that when I am familiar with the curriculum (k-5) I can offer weekly suggestions and links that will blend seamlessly with what is being covered in the classroom. I send each teacher a weblist.me every week with relevant links and suggestions for use. It has been a big success.
Henrietta, it’s a common issue and I think I have begun to understand it. Remember Sylvia Martinez talked about it at ACEC too.. the fact that teachers will listen appreciatively in the PD session and get excited, then go away and do nothing in their own classroom. I think we have to accept that people have to go at their own pace. If someone tried to teach me to fix cars or play the piano by introducing me to something new and then moving on the next thing (which is the way we approached it in our techie sessions too) I would give up! I have started talking to and listening to the resisters and uncovering their fears. Will post about it too.
I’ve been reading the comments with great interest. As you know I taught technology skills to students and teachers for a long time before becoming lucky enough to join you in the classroom. So I’ve mulled over this issue for many years now and I think I’m getting to an answer that works for me. I don’t think it is lack of time or lack of skills or even fear that stops teachers from running with technology. I think it is an attitude of mind – I think it goes right to the heart of who we are. I think it all to do with people being excited about being a teacher and passionate about the profession they have chosen (and that has nothing at all to do with how old they are).
I honestly believe that to be an outstanding teacher in 2010 you have to embrace technology big time. There are no more excuses. We are selling our students really short if we don’t allow them freedom in the classroom to run with all sorts of opportunities because that is the world they live in and great teachers need to help them negotiate the maze of cyberspace and all its ups and downs and give them opportunities to learn and express themselves in these exciting new ways. The bottom line is if teachers aren’t willing to give it a go they are no longer doing a good enough job. Perhaps our motto should be ‘Give it a go, or just go.’
It’s a huge challenge and can be downright dispiriting. I’m doing much the same thing but have only a selected group of teachers who I hope can become game changers.The difference is I don’t often meet with them to show lots of tools but rather I set small challenges. I have set up our own Google site where all the info is stored and they are expected to go there and find it. They have all set up a Gmail account and I communicate with them this way. This allows me to offer extra advice and answer questions if asked and I send them links to some professional viewing (blogs,Youtube videos etc.,) They have created avatars and uploaded them to our site, have added tips to our wall in Wallwisher-about anything techie, IWB’s, links,etc., & have completed a survey I created about their tech access.Their classroom task was very simple-use images-just Google them, Use FlickrCC to enhance/explain better anything in their ESL classrooms.More kids now bring their show and tell pics on a USB drive for use on our Smartboards.I’ll be interested to hear any other feedback from them. I publicise online training and staff will do IWB training by VC over the next few weeks.I have accountability built in as the principal has made it part of their TARS review and we will meet in a couple of weeks and they will work on anything they’ve missed. I always invite the principal to any meetings and keep him updated by email.They already have the agenda so they should be prepared. We will all share something we’ve learned and nut out some ideas for a literacy project based on ‘The Gruffalo’ (all K-2 are attending the play in Term 3).I have surveyed and supplied them with some of their tech requests (headphones, microphones and mallets for littlies using the IWB’s). Next term I will buy a few iPod touches and we’ll play around with some apps and audio.I’m not expecting miracles any time soon but I’m in for the long haul.
Keep up with your great effort Louise, I think we have to think of it as chip, chip, chip away. Take little steps, make little changes and gradually we will make a difference. I have started a new blog about my Techie Brekkies in the hope of helping and inspiring others. You can find it on http://www.techiebrekkie.net/