Technology is a gloriously confusing, sometimes magical, awe-inspiring, frustrating yet necessary roller-coaster ride that is a big part of most of our lives. Depending on your profession, it is your life. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by technology and wish for simpler times. Many times we love the efficiency and convenience it provides. As educators, it is part of the metaphorical fiber of our classrooms, even when we don't realize it. We can fight that, or we can realize there are bigger monsters to slay.
Chances are, if you are an educator, you are somewhat overwhelmed by technology in some regard. There is just so much out there and so little time to learn how to do it all. We are always asked to do more with technology, and this consequently makes us feel overwhelmed because of the importance we place on those other little things we call instruction and students. So let's streamline our thoughts in regards to our instruction and all of this technology. Let's focus on the students and focus on instruction. Let technology take the back seat where it should have always been to begin with.
The more I work with teachers, instruction and technology the more I see technology for what it is and should always be, and that is a tool. I don't know that I would have articulated that just a few years ago. I've always loved using technology to our advantage, but even I got tired of running the rat race of trying to keep up with it all. Once I took on a new perspective and had to figure out the best way to get teachers to integrate technology (to make it work for them), I realized that my tech integration goals for them should actually become secondary to their instructional goals. It was time to start putting the focus on instruction, students' needs and teachers' goals for his/her students. IF the focus stays on those things, and the mindset of the teacher is right, you have a recipe for AMAZING! So where does technology come in? It comes into the background of that instructional focus. It is mostly invisible and it is the thing that powers those instructional goals, student needs and teacher goals like an engine powers a car. If you wanted to build a house, would you focus on the tools, or would you focus on the desired end result? I would hope you would focus on the desired end result and would only choose the tools you need to reach that. If we do that, then we become less overwhelmed.....at least about the technology. (and we have fewer "tools" to learn)
Bottom line: Focus on your instructional goals and student needs---choose only the tools you need to accomplish those....step away from the rat race, and DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE REST!
What are your instructional goals? What specific technology, nothing more nothing less, could you use to reach those goals? I would love to hear what this looks like in your classroom!
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