I can access millions of images, articles, videos, and content with a few strokes of my keyboard. Teachers and students have access to so much information that it can be overwhelming. Too much technology, too many applications, too many forms of content can make a student or a teacher feel lost. However, through careful reflection and assessment, the quality of this information needs to be analyzed and cited before using it in the classroom.
Through my technology cohort with the University of St. Francis, I learned how to pause and take a look at my technology tools and weigh their authenticity, usefulness and their associated copyright rules that could possibly make it safe to use in the classroom. Tech tools should not be used just because they are available. The quality of the tech tool, the user-friendliness of the tech tool and the curricular connection needs to be strong. When looking at all of these factors, teachers can use these tools in the most effective manner for their students to succeed.
Furthermore, each piece of information we use, be it an image, idea or article, comes from a source. We need to properly cite, research the source and display that for our students. Teachers need to be held accountable for properly following copyright rules and display source material for students. Students learn by example, if they consistently see their teachers reflecting on source material, they will also consider properly citing material and utilizing creative commons for their own projects.
Lastly, any project can be improved with the powerful notion of collaboration. During my cohort, I learned about teachers skyping with different classrooms around the world. I learned about new and innovative projects such as window gardens being improved with collaboration. This fueled my own desire to improve my service-learning projects with collaboration so my students can engage in more authentic ways to connect the curriculum with their surrounding communities.
And the most important thing that I can reflect on right now is to take it one tech tool at a time. Teachers are tired, overworked, underpaid and underappreciated. Technology is supposed to make our teaching easier. If it’s not doing that, take one tech tool at a time. Master one and your students will benefit. No one wants to be a teacher that uses all the tech tools with no clear and measurable success. With this cohort, I hope I’ll never be that teacher. Do better, reflect on your tools and don’t forget to collaborate.