Technology is an ever changing field. When I think back almost 16 years ago, when I began working in the school district, I wonder now how I was able to keep busy for a full 8 hours in a day. This field does not sit still for very long, and once you start to get comfortable, its time for a major change.
While I don't teach a class, I help lead Professional Development for my teachers. This is a challenge at times. Some times Technology Professional Development is met with eagerness and excitement, but then there is always that person sitting there staring at you with their arms crossed. (This is usually the same person who comes to Tech PD intentionally without a device.)
This was year two of leading Tech PD on Wednesday mornings, and I did change how things rolled this time around. Year one, I introduced Tech Resources and shared how they could be put to use. Year two, I went for the more hands on PD approach. I only had 1 hour, but I jam packed a wallop of a punch I felt this year to get everyone thinking differently. Not only did I do my research, this year I had other teachers demonstrate for their peers what exactly they did with the resource of the day in Tech PD. This was met with much enthusiasm and started many conversations among each of my teachers.
When we learned Kahoot, I made a small Kahoot and started the session with getting everyone logged in and we took a brief "Useless Trivia" quiz. Then I asked for a show of hands of who has already used Kahoot in the classroom. Then as we all created accounts. I asked those that had used Kahoot already to talk about the good and the bad. I felt this was very important for those that had not used Kahoot to hear, that yes, there are things that will go wrong. But its ok!
I felt that this lead to many good conversations, and teachers that hadn't stepped out on that proverbial technology ledge, did by the end of that week. Some even took that leap of faith, and came to tell me that yes, they did use Kahoot in their room, and it was a successful addition to the class.
Is change an easy thing for us to face? Never...we like comfortable, but not taking that first step to try and make a change to meet our kids as 21st century learners, in my mind that is setting them up for failure. So while it is hard for me to make those major changes, I know it's a necessary part of moving forward and teaching the youth of today what they need to become successful and productive Digital Natives.
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