Technology is a valuable tool that is undeniably impacting today’s learners, especially in the world of COVID-19. Even before the pandemic, the benefits of technology usage in the classroom were visible and notable. With the growing reliance on technology in almost every aspect of our lives, including our ability to teach, many educators’ eyes have been opened to the benefits of technology and just how transforming it can be in our classrooms. Let’s face it: without technology, our students would not be learning today. If you think about the environments our students are currently receiving instruction--some brick and mortar meaning they physically report to school each day, some participating in a hybrid style of learning meaning they participate in virtual learning as well as face-to-face and instruction, while others are fully remote and are solely taught in a virtual setting. Technology is a key instructional tool for each of these learning environments. So, why wouldn’t we fully embrace the role technology can play in enriching our students’ learning experiences and reaching them wherever they are (literally)?
With that being said, it's safe to say we can agree that handing students a device is NOT the sole answer for improving their education. I think we can also agree that implementing technology is no easy task. It takes a lot of learning-- first by the teacher then by the students, reflecting, critiquing, and troubleshooting. However, it can and should be done! But not without first teaching students HOW to appropriately and responsibly utilize these tools. Implementing technology is a step in improving their educational experiences, but certainly not the only way. Providing our students with opportunities to interact and collaborate with one another outside of a screen is equally important. Our students need to engage in activities that also promote hands on critical thinking skills and team-working skills that may or may not be attainable through the use of technology. There is always a time and a place for tech and it is our job as educators to find media balance and be cognizant of how and when we are using technology in our classrooms. It is also our jobs to ensure that our students are taught the digital citizenship skills necessary to become responsible and productive citizens in an ever-changing digital world.
In regards to the driving force behind the resistance or acceptance of technology, I personally believe that one may be hesitant or fearful of change and there’s no denying that implementing technology involves a great deal of risk-taking and making changes to what we have grown to know as our “way” of doing things. Let’s be honest; until you are forced to change (unless you have already made a voluntary commitment), it is easy to just do as you’ve always done because it works and why change something that isn’t broken?
The initial shut down forced teachers to make changes to how they taught beyond what they ever imagined possible. We were forced to learn about the tools that were available to us and find ways to reach our students beyond the 4 walls of the classroom and using one mode of instruction: technology. We were faced with an unknown situation and the only way through it was to open our minds to new learning opportunities and take risks alongside our colleagues. And for that reason, many teachers have found that through this challenging time, they have grown professionally and acquired tools and skills that they will continue to implement beyond the pandemic. In the article In 2021, Teachers Hold a Key to Transforming Conventional Instruction, Thomas Arnett shares, “79% of teachers indicated they had discovered new resources or practices during COVID-19 that they planned to continue using post-pandemic.” I personally know this statement to be true because I have learned so much over the past year that I plan to continue to implement into my instruction. Some of the resources I wish I had known about sooner. For this reason, I am a firm believer that although this year was extremely challenging for everyone, it also brought about great changes that have benefited me as the teacher, and more importantly, the way I have effectively reached my students. “The more teachers use online learning tools to cover basic content instruction, the more those technologies give teachers the capacity to dedicate their time and energy to a wider range of experiences—like individual tutoring, real-world projects, and out-of-school learning—resulting in a more engaging and student-centered experience.”
Without question, technology has truly made my job easier and continues to provide tools for valuable learning experiences for my students and for that alone, I choose to embrace technology. It is undeniably transforming the way we live and interact with the world beyond the classroom. As stated by a hybrid teacher in the article Technology Gives Educators Outside-the-Box Tools to Embrace the Present and Future of Hybrid Learning, “Technology doesn’t put me in a box...It enables me to think outside of it.” With this mindset, we can all embrace the power of technology both inside and outside of the classroom.
Lenovo. (2020, December 11). Technology Gives Educators Outside-the-Box Tools to Embrace the Present and Future of Hybrid Learning. CIO. Retrieved March 16, 2021, from https://www.cio.com/article/3601192/technology-gives-educators-outside-the-box-tools-to-embrace-the-present-and-future-of-hybrid-learni.html
Arnett, T. (2021, January 4). In 2021, Teachers Hold a Key to Transforming Conventional Instruction. Clayton Christensen Institute. Retrieved March 16, 2021, from https://www.christenseninstitute.org/blog/in-2021-teachers-hold-a-key-to-transforming-conventional-instruction/
Eveleigh, B. (2020, November 27). Embracing virtual and blended learning post COVID-19. Pamoja. Retrieved March 16, 2021, from https://pamojaeducation.com/blog/embracing-virtual-and-blended-learning-post-covid-19
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteIt is so true that without technology today the limitations of learning for our students would be astronomical! While I am sure there are still some schools that do not have the technology in place, and they made it through with building packets and having weekly pick-ups, there is a definite benefit to having the technology and being able to disseminate lessons, zooms, meets, etc. But as you mentioned, great responsibility comes with handing the students a device from teacher responsibilities, parent responsibilities, and student responsibilities. Digital citizenship for everyone! The “forced” change actually brought technology to the forefront, and as you have discovered with your own teaching opened new opportunities in how you teach your students.
“Technology doesn’t put me in a box...It enables me to think outside of it.”
If anything this pandemic has taught us in education is that teachers are truly out-of-the-box thinkers, they have expanded beyond classroom walls and continue to evolve along with their students.
Layla