A teacher on the Teacher Leaders Network or EdWeek suggested five essential steps for redefining instruction with technology:
1) Break down to rebuild-- Ah yes... the reality is that the students you teach today and the tools you have today (and the skills they need for tomorrow) are changing... if you try to "try something" in a small way to start, you are going to keep doing what you have always done and students will find you irrelevant. (I actually observed a principal in the fall of 2011 seriously suggest that teachers start "once a month using technology in their classes."-- Seriously we are well into the 21st century, if this is the best we can do then we are in trouble!)
2) Redefine with a goal in mind-- OK, so I get the idea and I understand the reasoning... but educators need to understand and adopt a more sophisticated view of teaching and learning. If we set a goal then we assume that a) the goal os one we should have, b) that we know how to achieve it, and c) we know how technology can help us achieve it.
3) Get more app for your money-- The tools used by professionals are the tools we should use in classrooms-- yup that ideas sure seems a good one.
4) Embrace failure-- Today's culture in schools does not embrace failure or even recognize that we might not know what the results of our actions will be, but the educator who helps kids become learners will, and will allow himself or herself to fail. Those educators who always put a "we are making progress" label on everything and cannot admit something may be a raw deal or failing has no place in the 21st century school.
5) Enjoy the results and reflect forwards-- One of the great joys of being an educators today is that you can continue to be a learner... indeed one must be a learner!
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