10 Things You Might Ask Before Using Tech

Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers, some of which may be just what you are looking for!

1. Why would I want to use technology in the classroom?

Answer: There are many great reasons to use technology in your classroom, all of which can be a benefit to you as a teacher and to your students. For starters, many of our students today are familiar with devices such as iPads and computers, and will come in with some background knowledge already. They will also need to become more familiar with these devices in the future as almost every job has started to incorporate them into their every-day business. Examples can obviously be found in the sciences and engineering world, but have you noticed that even the kiosk at your local mall uses an iPad or tablet to conduct credit card transactions and log inventory? Our students' futures will be rooted in technology, so learning it early on can give them a distinct advantage as they grow older. Tech is changing the way we do everything, and it is only a matter of time before the same can be said with education. Some other benefits are more immediate for the students in our classroom. Technology can show students the actual places they are studying, and can even take them there with panorama photo apps and virtual reality capable devices such as iPod touches. Tech can allow students with disabilities better access to the content by changing its shape, size and color, or allow them to present their understanding of the content in multiple ways such as voice recording, videos, and standard text/typing.

2. What is the difference between using technology to replace versus augment?

Answer: This is often the battle that is fought in the classroom. Many a teacher has wondered while looking at an assignment where a student typed a sentence and drew a picture why they should use an iPad when their students can do essentially the same thing on paper and pencil. The real answer is of course more complicated than this. In the aforementioned instance, the teacher would be absolutely correct in thinking that the tech was unnecessary. It was simply a replacement, an example of a student doing the exact same thing as before, just with a different, and incredibly more expensive, tool. So the real question when teaching with tech is how do I augment, not replace.      

     Augmentation is where you build on something, adding more components to it to make it better overall. Tech, when used correctly, can really do this for students in the classroom. For instance, it can give students quick access to realia and allow them better see and experience what they are learning about. It can also allow them to easily use the environment around them to learn, tapping into their strong imaginations by having them use features such as the camera to create visual representations of the concepts at hand.

3. Is it worth it to use technology just to replace something I already do with other things such as paper?

Answer: The real answer to this is yes and no. Fine motor skills and writing are still incredibly important skills for students to learn, and they will need time to practice those skills in their own right. With that in mind, it is important to have a balance in your classroom just like with anything else. However, there are times when technology can add a benefit that pencil and paper just doesn't have. Let's take maps for example. Students could read Me on the Map in class and then make their own version using paper and pencil. However, this could take painstakingly long as the draw different pictures expanding out to the entire country. It can also be hard for them to connect to a map of the United States when their drawing looks nothing like it. Mixing in tech though could help with both of these issues. Keeping in mind the balance, students could draw a map of the classroom or their house and put the picture into an app. Then they could place pins on google maps ranging from their street to their city to their state and then to the country. This would take far less time and show them accurately where they are in relation to various maps of different sizes. This is just one example, but it shows some of the many benefits of technology while allowing students to still practice their basic pencil and paper skills.

4. How much time will I need to invest to learn and use technology in the classroom?

Answer: As with any skill, it depends on how proficient you need to be. At a very basic level of maybe using three to four all purpose apps in your classroom, and learning to navigate troubles with your classroom devices, probably around 5-10 hours for the whole year. We recommend incorporating three to four new apps or programs each year as you master the ones from the year before. Then, within three to four years you will have 12-15 apps and programs at your disposal that you can use to augment lessons and teach students with. After that, your time commitments should be minimal and only needed if you get new devices.

5. Am I only buying the App to use it once a year?

Answer: This depends on the type of App. Some Apps have a one time price, so if you purchase it the first time you download it then you likely will have no other fees. For instance, Manipulative is $19.99 when you download it, and then you do not have to pay ever again to use it. However, if it says free with in-App purchases, then you can download it but will need to either pay a one-time fee through the App to access more features, or pay a monthly/yearly subscription to do so. Some examples of this type of App are Cloud-based such as Microsoft Office 365 or Explain Everything Whiteboard.

6. How can I teach the technology skills and the lesson at the same time?

Answer: While seemingly daunting at first glance, the answer to this question is related to how a kindergarten or first grade teacher might approach a lesson. For example, in kindergarten you might want to teach students about sequencing by reading a story and then giving them pictures to put in order to match the story sequence. This might seem simple on the surface, but many of those students have yet to learn how to cut with scissors or glue on paper without making a mess. To solve this problem, many kindergarten teachers split the lesson into parts. First they read the story to the class. Next, they pass out the paper of pictures and explain how to hold the scissors, and demonstrate how to cut properly. Then, the students do so while the teacher monitors them. Once many students are finished, the teacher pauses everyone again to talk about sequencing and the students then line up their images in the order they think matches the story. After that, the teacher explains how to use glue, for instance by making an X on the back of what you are gluing and then sticking it down where you want to place it. Students would then follow that example to finish the project, perhaps adding color at the end. Teaching a new tech lesson can follow the same pattern. If they are using Book Creator, for example, start by showing them how to type on the front cover. Next, show them how to add pictures in the first chapter. Finally, show them how to add labels or change page backgrounds as a bonus. Just remember, no matter hold we are, we always do better when information is chunked into smaller bits!

7. What if problems occur and I don't know how to fix them?

Answer: First of all, this happens to everyone, even tech savvy teachers, so don’t feel bad and try not to panic! The first step you should always try is to reset things. Either quit the program and reopen it turn the device you are using off and then back on. If all else fails, remember what we as teachers are always preaching to our students; Don’t be afraid to ask for help :). A fellow teacher, the principal, your site-based technology coordinator, or your district level technology coordinator will always be willing to help you solve the problem.

8. Are some programs better to start with than others?

Answer: Again, this is more of a yes and no answer. Some programs are likely more universal across grade levels, as they use concepts that can be incorporated with the curriculum whether you are in kindergarten or grade 10. Apps such as Book Creator or iMovie can be used for projects ranging from documenting how trees change through the seasons to how inflation works. These are useful Apps to start with because they can be used with multiple concepts in many subject areas, and once you have taught your students how to use them they will be able to be more independent with your later projects. Other Apps are more grade level specific. For example, the App Manipulatives is a great resource for hands-on mathematical tools, but is really only needed in your primary years before math becomes more algebraic. On the other end, Apps like Green Screen are great for older students to use when making newscasts or videos in areas too far to visit, but students in lower grades would struggle with setting up green screens and working on overlaying their footage with other images. Overall, we recommend starting with a few simple, universal apps and then moving from there once you feel comfortable. However, if there is a grade level specific app that seems perfect, don’t be afraid to start with that first!

9. What if I start using the technology but it becomes obsolete after only a year, like with my phone?

Answer: This may happen, but is fairly unlikely. In fact, a creative teacher could still come up with ways to utilize “obsolete” programs, apps, and devices. For example, there is an old program from 1990’s called Simple Text that uses text to speech. While the typing program has far fewer features than Microsoft Word or Google Docs, this feature alone makes it useful when working with students who have Dysgraphia. They can type their writing and then have the program read it back to them, allowing them to find their mistakes and fix them. The programs you start using in your classroom will likely be updated for at least several years, but even in the event that the company stops you can still use them in your classroom with the original devices that ran them. And you never know, there is a chance that someone will eventually improve on that program or App and at that point you will be ready to transition to something new!

10. Should I be using technology in the classroom everyday?

Answer: The simple answer: probably not. Not because it is so bad for kids, but more because there are a lot of things we can do with our usual materials (books, paper, pencils, etc.) just fine. Remember, technology should not be a tool we use just because it looks flashy and can replace our original tool. Technology should be used to augment our lessons, give our students more access to resources, assist them in their areas of need, and challenge them in fun and engaging ways.