A Means to an End

In the world of educational technology, oftentimes, we get wrapped up in the coolest trends, the most popular tools. We sometimes tend to lose the focus to our purpose which is to provide the optimal learning environment for our students. It's not about the tools but how they are used and if they are being used at all. For those of us that serve as technology facilitators, that is the bottom line. We may have found a Web 2.0 site that could possibly meet every criteria for the teachers that we work with but if they don't use it,when we are not there to support them, it serves little purpose. From my experience there is one major stumbling block to using technology in the classroom and that is that it is perceived to be too difficult by the teacher. To avoid this trap there are several things I promote:

• cooperative grouping and collaboration solves many problems associated with not having enough resources or helps to assuage the fear of technology not working (since you have more supplies available)
• teachers need to be aware that there is not an 100% fail proof method for implementation, they always need to have a backup plan (however, you don't want to give them the perception that it is not ever going to work or discourage them)
• when doing project- based learning activities, if you give the students choice in their final project it will require less resources and allows the students to work in a medium they feel comfortable with
• to avoid delays and too much time spent on activities give the students clear instructions and timelines
• when finding sites and resources think about the audience it will serve, does it:
• require a log in, if it is not necessary I don't choose sites with logins
• require specific technical knowledge for the user to be able to use it, if it's too hard to set-up (if the teacher in question can't do it independently) I tend to not use it
• can the students figure out how to use it; even if the teacher is having difficulty using it, if the students know how to, it should be fine; I usually assign a student expert per class who supports the students tech-wise so the pressure is off of the teacher
• does the tool fit the outcome? not every tech-tool is necessary or appropriate; don't just add a technology component if it is not needed
• finally, I try to remind teachers that using technology is a skill and that with practice, they will become more proficient