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About this Daily Classroom Special
Technology
and the New Teacher is designed to introduce you to the topics,
successes, and pitfalls of technology in the classroom. It was written by
Buzz Eyler, a Teachers Network web mentor who has been leading in-service
training in technology use for the past 12 years.
(Note: This page was written in 1999. Some information may
be dated.)
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Students
The important thing to know about students and technology is that some of them may know more than you. Use them to teach you and use them to teach each other.
It is quite likely that many of your students have far better equipment at home and that some of your students have none. Some have parents who are heavy into technology and some who think computers are a passing fad. You will have to deal with all types.
Identify those students who have an aptitude for technology and assign them duties and responsibilities. Such things as keeping the machines cleaned, printer loaded with paper, training others and minor troubleshooting are things students can do that free you. Make these jobs be a big deal and let other students know who they should go to for help. Depending upon your grade level, some students also like to disrupt the way things work, sometimes because they are experimenting and sometimes due to malicious intent. Establish rules early and be consistent in applying them.
Find out whose parents can give you a hand with technology. Some may be able to get you materials at discounted prices, some teach a series of lessons on a topic requiring technology and some may want to help the students individually with technology. Use them. Finally, remember that students are in your room to learn and some of the jobs described above may lead to a better prepared student than finishing every problem on a math worksheet. |
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