Tech Tip Tuesday: Ed Tech Tips For Every Teacher

Whether you are a new teacher in the classroom or a veteran teacher with a lot of knowledge and experience, everyone has their own level of expertise when it comes to using educational technology in the classroom.  There is a misconception that newer teachers must have better understanding of technology because they have used it most of their lives.  They are often referred to as "digital natives."  That perception is not always accurate.  In fact, my experience working with teachers shows that while new teachers may have used technology most of their lives, they do not necessarily know how to leverage that tech use in the classroom.  Using educational technology is a whole different practice when it comes to the classroom and working with students.  Here are a few tips for all teachers when using educational technology:

1. Always have a Plan B (or C, or D...) - As we all know, technology does not always work as planned.  When technology fails us, it can be incredibly frustrating especially when you are standing in front of a room full of students.  Be sure to have a back-up plan that considers both digital and non-digital technologies to support your lesson plan.
2. Don't pick a tool and force it to work in a lesson - Educational technology is wonderful when it supports a lesson in meaningful ways and benefits student learning.  However, using technology just for the sake of using technology never works well.  Technology should never be a fancy add-on to a lesson; it should be a part of learning that provides students with meaningful, authentic, and engaging learning experiences.  If educational technology can help you accomplish something great with your students, then go for it!  If you can engage your students better with non-digital technology, that is fine as well.  It all comes down to your objectives.  Using technology without a specific purpose can lead to lower engagement and lackluster learning.  So always consider your content, pedagogy, and technology together (TPACK!!).
3. Check yourself - Always make sure your technology works before trying to use it in the classroom.  Check your links and videos to be sure your school does not block the sites you want to use.  Each school district and institution has its own policy and filtering system in place.  It is good practice to make sure everything works so your students can access the learning materials.  Additionally, you should check your hyperlinks within your course before the start of each week since we all know sometimes things on the Internet don't always stay available.
4. Beg, borrow, and steal...don't reinvent the wheel - Before you spend hours and hours designing your lessons, see what is already available out there from other teachers.  Most teachers post their lessons online for others to view and even use under certain Creative Commons sharing licenses.  You should also check with others in your building to see if you can share materials or design something together.
5. Create a personal learning network (PLN) with social media - Social media is a great resource to reach out to other educators in order to share resources, tips, and tools.  Twitter is a great place to start.  You can search hashtags such as #educator or #teacher, and be sure to check out the #edtechchat that happens every week!
6. Give students options - Students should have a say in their learning, and educators can give it to them.  Use educational technology to give your students a voice.  For instance, instead of requiring a paper, give them an option to create a multimedia product presenting their learning.  Students will love the opportunity to choose how they present their learning rather than simply being told what to do.