4-A-2+Wiki+Posting+Five+Ways+to+Think+about+Change

=Home > Assignments > 4-A-2: Wiki Posting: Five Ways to Think about Change=


 * INSTRUCTIONS:**

List five ways to think about and address changes in technology in your classroom and school. With each way briefly describe how you plan to apply your thinking with your colleagues. Before developing your five ways to address change suggestions consider the following:
 * Considering the list of fears you brainstormed in the previous assignment, what are the common objections and fears your peers or administration may have to changes in technology?
 * How can you assess if the the objections/fears are valid? How can you educate your peers in determining if these fears and objections are valid?
 * How can you inspire peers who share similar beliefs and interests to apply changes in technology to their classroom or students' learning ?
 * How can you get peers out of the "Resistance" phase into the "Exploration" phase?

Post your "five ways to address change" in the table below. Review your peers' postings and post at least one comment in the Discussion Tab above.

**2.** **Have students teach you the technology.** Students have prior experiences with technology and a comfort level that many adults do not have. Relying on help from these “experts” can make incorporation of technology into lessons a little easier and fun. **3.** **Provide training for teachers who feel overwhelmed.** I have many colleagues who find change overwhelming. It’s not necessarily opposition, but just not knowing where to start. I can provide training for aspects of technology that I am comfortable with. Hopefully, others will share their areas of expertise. **4.** **Focus on Pragmatists and Conservatives.** Rather than spending time trying to convince everyone of the need to change, I’ll spend time defining my reasons for change to inspire those who are willing. Let peers know I’m there to help not pressure them. **5.** **Communicate vision, plans and progress of change.** Sharing my experiences with colleagues may help peers move from the “resistance” phase to the “exploration” phase. Hearing about others’ success may raise interest. || Rachel S. ||
 * ==**5 Ways to Address Change**== || ==**Submitted by:**== ||
 * **1.** **Build alliances with like-minded teachers.** Find colleagues who have similar goals and also similar concerns. Together we can share in the triumphs and failures we encounter as we attempt to change.
 * # **Technology saves easily**. Lesson plans can be made at home, work or anywhere a computer is available. It can be stored on a thumb drive, wiki page or hard drive. It can then be used and modified for future classes.
 * 1) **Technology can easily be shared**. Once a power point or lesson has been made it can be saved and even shared throughout the department. The work can be saved on a shared drive or common wiki page and be available for other teachers to use and modify to their specific needs. Hopefully, the teachers will work cooperatively and this will lessen their work load
 * 2) **Technology engages students**. Students are interested in technology, and are therefore more interested in lessons that have technology integrated into them. If students are more engaged then they are more likely to truly understand the lesson.
 * 3) **Technology does not hinder the curriculum**. If used properly a computer, smart board, or any other form of technology can enhance a lesson. It does not need to take away the validity of a lesson. It does not need to be used every day during every lesson; however, it should be used when it can improve the lesson.
 * 4) **Technology is not a fad that is going away**. Technology is here to stay. It will continue to be developed and improved. It will be integrated into the schools more and more over the years. If a teacher does not keep updated on the current technology they will fall behind. || Molly D. ||
 * **Don’t think of technology as the only way to reach our students**. That will put may too much pressure on those Boomer teachers who are not as comfortable with technology. However, it can be used as an additional teaching tool to help motivate our Net Generation students who are most intrigued by things that are visually and auditorally stimulating and they are constantly interacting with.

**Don’t be afraid to show you students that you are learning too.** If you are exploring a new program with your students, don’t be afraid to show them how you use trial and error to navigate and accomplish your goals. Students will be more alert and ready to help YOU when you’re stuck and need assistance. They’re attention will be on you 100%, ready to catch your first mistake.

**Learning a new technology is a team effort**. If we hold faculty meetings and computer lab sessions to explore and manipulate a new technology in a question and answer method, it will give us the time needed to feel comfortable introducing it in our own classrooms.

**Technology can save you a lot of time**. By sharing documents though our internal server, we can save each other a lot of time preparing relevant documents on our own each year.

**Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.** As we tell our students, you learn from your mistakes. You want to see what that button does? Go ahead, and click on it. There is almost always a solution to fixing those common computer errors. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask questions. || Stacy K. || When it comes to technology, I think there is no better way than to approach it than hands on. Teachers should be given the opportunity to be in the students’ position. To help teachers feel more comfortable, we should teach them by letting them use the technology as they are being taught. The best place to do this is the computer lab.
 * **__ Hands on Learning in the Lab __**

**__ Integrate Technology __** To help teachers integrate technology at first, they should be given some lessons pre-made. By giving them already made smartboard lessons or other technology that pertains to their subject we are helping them to see how easy it is to integrate technology in learning. They will also see how excited and engaged the students will become.

**__ Technology Mentor __** A mentor program is a great way to help teachers become more confident and familiar with technology in the classroom. Pairing teachers up who are familiar with technology and teachers who are less familiar with technology can be beneficial for both sides. The teacher with a background in technology will become more of an //expert// by teaching others. At the same time, the other teachers will be learning in a one-on-one setting.

**__ Train teachers on how to //fix// technology __** Many people who are unfamiliar with technology are scared of it. By showing the teachers what can go wrong with the computer and how to fix it can help them to feel more confident. By showing teachers how to hard boot and soft boot a computer and reasons why they may need to do this will help them when these issues arise.

**__ Setting up Technology “Cheat Sheet” __** Giving teachers a list of ways to integrate technology and the technology available will help them to feel more confident. Sometimes, it is a matter of a teaching not knowing what is out there or how it can be used. || Chrissy Kirk || 1. Evaluate what I (we) are doing in the classroom and decide whether it meets expectations. Admit (and recognize) that students, learning styles have changed and my (our) instructional methods haven’t. There will initially be a state of denial. Teachers have been successfully teaching with these methods for years. There is always a fear of change. What if the change doesn’t work? Change means work, a new learning curve for everyone. 2. Ask the simple question, “Can it be done better?” What can I do to reach those learning styles? Incorporate technology in small chunks and assess the outcomes and be prepared to adjust the delivery methods accordingly. Implementing change will require more work but the rewards will come with improved outcomes for the students. For those teachers that resist technology, encourage them to observe your results and share in both the successes and the failures. 3. What skills do the students have that I want to capitalize on? What do they want to do to master the course content? Students of the net generation want and expect broad goals and the freedom to exercise their creativity in finding the solutions to real problems. The students are familiar with technology, so teachers need to think of ways to reach those students and create productive challenging activities to engage the students in relevant activities. Teacher collaboration with idea sharing fosters improved delivery of content. For educators that are fearful of technology, encourage them to ‘try it’ in small bits, learning as they go. Great things rarely are created on the first try. 4. What are the deterrents to doing something different? Colleagues will resist change. There are always those who will resist change. The students (unknowingly) will force the change over time by openly asking for it. If they have had a positive experience in one class, they will request it in another 5. How do I do it? Try it myself and practice before I do it. Set the objective for the students. Before the project is launched, try it out first to ensure that it is in fact achievable. This is part of the learning curve. Again, this is part of the process. Don’t get discouraged, sometimes it will be a success, sometimes it will fail. Don’t be afraid to ask the students for ways to improve the exercise—they will be sure to voice their opinions. From that feedback, the exercise can be improved. At my school, the use of technology in the classroom is highly encouraged. Professional Development at all levels is offered continuously. Those that are experienced with it are invited to share their ideas and results with the novices. Professional development courses are now developed based on faculty requests as well. More and more, those that initially resisted are realizing that it is inevitable that change take place. Believe or not, it has been the students that have forced the change, they’ve experienced it in one or two courses and they expect it in more, if not all. Most faculty at my school resist change because they are unfamiliar with the technology, but as time goes on, without realizing it, they are it learning it, and eventually, succumb to its use. || Joe S. ||
 * Five ways to think about change


 * ===== **// Five Ways to Address Changes in Technology and how I plan to apply my thinking with colleagues. //** =====

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**// 1. //****// Train – take sufficient time to train staring with baby steps – do not show them the whole enchilada at once. Often we roll out a program and expect people to walk away knowing exactly how to do it. Start with modules and don’t roll out the new attendance system on the first day of school and expect the staff to be happy about it. Give teachers small portions – show them how to open the program and get their class lists and stop. Provide a movie each week and have sessions for those interested to learn more but slowly raise the bar with the expectation and requirement that by the second week they are reaching a new benchmark. If that doesn’t happen, denial will remain. //** =====

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**// 2. //****// Curriculum – do not tell teachers where they should be integrating the technology with the curriculum. I have found that if I demonstrate a new product and show them how it might be used, they can come up with their own ideas. Forcing staff to use a new program or software never works. Instead let them explore and help each other SLOWLY. //** =====

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**// 3. //****// Provide support – ongoing support is needed. Once a product is rolled out, I try to hold after school sessions one or two days a week to be available. It isn’t a training session, just a drop in session. //** =====

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**// 4. //****// Gadgets do not take the place of good teaching. There are those who believe that if a teacher is using gadgets, the kids must be learning more or better. Simply not true and I take offense to Kapp on page 229 when states “After conducting a traditional lesson about rockets, the instructor archives a royalty-free educational video on the topic using a TiVo…” How is that any different than the old 16 mm films we used to watch? The lights are still turned down and if it’s a movie on photosynthesis, we still fall asleep, except we’ve put it on an iPod. Demonstrate to the teacher how it can be relevant. I wouldn’t use that idea, but I might require students to take pictures of a plant every 5 days and create a slide show of their own and they can narrate it and put it on an iPod for Back to School Night or technology showcase or to share the ideas with the elementary students. //** ===== === **// 5. //****// Work with students. Check for understanding. While students may love to be entertained, they often don’t know how programs work, how to modify the settings in a program and so on; let the teachers and the students work together to learn the software. Teachers will resist – they are crunched for time but if time is provided, maybe at an in-service day and students are brought in (many of them would come in), then they can learn together. Take the time factor out of the equation. //** === || Shirley L || 2. __ Have a software search team meeting __ -Our team is required to meet weekly as a team. I think if we could use some of that meeting time to look for appropriate software for our classrooms and consult with one another it would help address that time issue a bit. 3 __ .Provide succesful examples __- If teachers who've had successful technology integrated lessons would share them with each other that would be great. I think using department time would be great for this. It again addresses the issue of time and adds collaboration of teachers from different schools. Sometimes you need fresh eyes to look things over. If you have some apprehensive folks in the group you could hopefully have a large enough group of folks comfortable with technology to help those holding back to really analyze their apprehensions and see if they are valid. Then if they find the fears to be invalid they could take them onto the next step. This could lead them into the exploration phase. 4. __ Encourage use of our classroom technology integrator __ -We have a great classroom technology integrator who is willing to work with anybody and everybody. I think it would be great to have him work directly with some of the apprehensive individuals and pull them along a bit by making them schedule a date for him to come in and work with the students in the classroom. This also keep administrators happy in that the tech integrator is being well utilized. 5. __Don't be afraid to learn from the students__ -In the education world article by Hopkins (2005) they talked about using a student as a tech guru. Kids love to be able to show off. Why not really engage students in the learning process by helping them teach others? It is hard to give up certain areas of control especially to students, but empowering students can be a very powerful experience in the classroom. || Gloria Herlihy || 1. Tech Trainer: A mentor / trainer can help reduce fear. Offering after school workshops to help teachers learn new skills will promote technolgy usage. Working with peers in a positive environment can build relationships. Teachers can reach out to other teachers. The trainer can help guide them.
 * 1. __ Pick a tech buddy __ -I think if the school could have teachers on 2 lists, one list of needing a tech buddy and another willing to be tech buddies that we could form some good partnerships to assist each other. There are 'go to' people in every building it seems, but there are a lot more people with skills in our building and people just don't seek them out for some reason.

2. Peer Support: It is important to have peers that are willing to help. A peer can encourage and offer support. If possible, teachers can work together on a project. The technology skills will be reinforced and teachers can learn new skills in a cooperative setting.

3. Share Information: Offering a chance to share ideas at department meetings or on a school share folder will help teachers learn about new ideas. Teachers can see completed projects and will hopefully be insprired to try something new. Knowing the teacher was willing to share will encourage conversation between / among staff members.

4. School Goal: School tech goals encourage teachers to explore technology. If the school offers workshops to help meet the goals, teachers can be motivated to learn new skills and apply their new knowledge. A school goal can help teachers face the need to change and encourage conversations about what technology fears are real and what fears need to be addressed.

5. Student Information: Teachers need to hear and read student views. Teachers need to understand that they are not meeting the student learning needs. If students are engaged, they will learn more. Teachers need to address the technology gap to create motivated students.

Mary Louise H..

Five Ways to Think about Change: by Jennifer C.

1) I think schools should have student-led committees to suggest technology improvements or changes that they would like to see.

2) Teacher committee that goes on field trips to see how other schools are using technology. These teachers then come back to the school and train the other teachers. 3) I wish our school had a technology blog where other teachers could describe or discuss ways they use technology in their classrooms. Also, this site could be used for trouble shooting problems. 4) My high school should have a list of experts with different types of technology so I know who I can contact with questions. 5) I wish we had teacher training days built into the school calendar so as faculty we could then have time to focus on learning about different technology available.

5 ways to think about change: Phil B

1. Set Clear Expectations: As in many things, I think it is important to set clear expectations and identify a variety of ways on how to implement technology in the classroom. This will eliminate the "gray" areas and the fear that usually accompanies change. Being willing to reevaluate those expectations in team meetings allows teachers to constructively voice their experiences, opinions, and their questions in a collective forum.

2. Have Courage: When dealing with change the fear of failure usually is lurking nearby. Having the courage to meet any adversity head on and find solutions to any problems or fears will create a "refusal to fail" attitude which will lead to a more positive teaching school environment. **﻿**

3. Promote and Model What You Believe To Be True: We must practice what we preach. If we truly believe that technology is needed in the classroom then we must be willing to research and practice the skills and method needed to teach our students using this new technology. We as teachers will need to be familiar with this new technology in order to teach it, use it, and adapt in to our current lessons and classrooms.

4. Build A Team: We will need a technology committee or team of teachers who are leading the push for increasing the use of technology in the classroom. If you have people who are on the same page and are knowledgeable with the skills then they can teach others (students and teachers).

5. Keep It Educational: The ultimate goal should be to combine the content and the technology skills needed in the world we live today. Creating meaningful, purposeful, and valuable lessons that incorporate technology will engage the Net Generation and keep their attention in our classroom.

1. Place a Value on Technology - Teachers need to understand how important technology is in education. They need to

2. Addressing Technology Change in Policies - The administration needs to adjust policies to match with current technology and forms of teaching. This will help ensure that teachers feel more comfortable with using technology without causing any problems with the administration.

3. Coaching Opportunities - Districts need to provide appropriate trainings for current technology. These trainings will need to be ongoing because technology changes so quickly.

4. Encourage Lifelong Learning - Schools need to express the importance of Lifelong Learning and need to provide programs to assist teachers in decision making for furthering their education. It is difficult to figure out all of the steps teachers need to take to enroll in college courses because the process is different from what Boomers are used to.

5. Provide Support - Create programs that will group teachers in a way that will provide support for those that are uncomfortable with technology. Groups should include at least one person that is comfortable with the technology and knows where to find answers to questions about the technology. An online assistance center with tutorials and ways to communicate with experts would be a great idea as well. Mary Hoffman

Erica's 5 Ways to Think About Technology: 1). Technology isn't scary. Apply the powers of positive thinking. If you tell yourself and promote to your colleagues that technology isn't going to overwhelm you--it won't. Too many times we get frustrated with some new technology thing before we even try it. Next time something new comes up, simply tell yourself 'it's going to be easy, and if it's not there are lots of people to help me'.

2) I always remember that someone out there created this new software/technology and so there is always someone to help me. At my school when someone is having trouble with something technology wise, we remind them to wait until Tech Tuesday, when teachers stay after school to discuss and sort out technology.

3) Technology is a good way to connect with your students. For this example, I would like to stick with teachers who are at either end of the technology spectrum. If you are really good at technology, the students will be able to tell and it will help gain a common interest. If you are really bad at technology, it is an opportunity for the students to see that you make mistakes (and aren't perfect) sometimes too.

4) Always remember where you came from and where you're going. Remember those accomplishments like when you first surfed the web or created a SmartBoard lesson. Think about the things you want to learn how to use and remember that there will be a day that you will add those to your accomplishments list as long as you never give up.

5) Technology is fun, entertaining, and essential. Technology isn't going to disappear. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves and our colleages that technology helps us to be better teachers, no matter what we think!

5 Ways to think about technology-By Chi-Chi O 1. Assign student leaders in technology- The Net Generation is well versed in the newest gadgets and programs. By training students how to use specific software or programs, they can teach other students as well as the teacher in the classroom. These "Guru's" can now help the reluctant teacher incorporate technology within instruction.

2. Connect current technology to technology of the past; i.e typewriters, phones, etc. Remind teachers that as times change, inventions are created to respond to the changes, therefore it is important to be well versed to these changes. This connection can help teachers remember that at one point their parents shared the same similar fears.

3. Create workshops that offer a myriad of training on different skills on technology. Just like students, teachers are on different levels when it comes to technology use. By offering either morning or afternoon sessions to meet them where they are, they can slowly become skilled with the basics of technology and become more apt to work with the higher ends of technolgy.

4. Develop peer coaches. Many teachers within the building can be of assistant to work with other teachers to model a technology lesson, and coach the teacher into implementing this learning tool independently. Teachers coaching teachers can help with building the comfort level between each other.

5. Reassure teachers that technology does not take away from the research based teaching strategies that they already have. Technology is more of a tool that help facilitate the learning of students when used appropriately,

__**Shannon Marsiglia - 5 ways to think about technology. **__ 1. **Share**- Share with colleagues the fact that many lessons involving technology are already out there and able to be used. It is important for teachers to know that there are things out there they can use without having to reinvent the wheel. This also applies to the idea of having someone within the grade level to share with as well so he/she is also not reinventing the wheel.

2. **Ask for Help-** It is ok and important for teachers to ask for help when stuck or confused about using technology. This can either be implemented as something among colleagues or students and teachers. It could be a good idea to have a "tech student". This student could have ideas for using technology and be a go to person if the teacher is stuck.

3. **Teacher Training-** It is important for teachers to be trained on new technology. At first, many teachers may be hesitant to the change and not want to try it, but if they are trained properly, it makes the change less stressful. If the teachers receive good training on their technology, they may not be as hesitant to start slowly incorporating it into the classroom and their lessons.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">4. **Time**-Allow yourself time to learn the technology. It isn't something that is going to easy the first time you use it. Teachers and administrators need to understand that it will take a lot of time to master technology and they should allow several weeks and/or months of use and practice before it is expected to be used,

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">5. **INFORM-** I put this one in bold because I think it is the most important. Until teachers are educated and informed about the benefits of technology in the classroom, there will always be someone who is hesitant to use it. The most important thing that can be done to change their minds and inform them. This also means that teachers should be taking the time to inform themselves by doing some research. This will only prove what they think or change their minds for the better.