6 Ways not to become Rote in Instructional Technology

[Carla Arena]

This is just a wonderful reading for all innovative educators who are in this space. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

The article is very down-to-earth in the sense of giving 6 practical recommendations to incorporate technology in the classroom. Which one do you think is the most valuable for you in your teaching practice?

6 Ways Not To Become Rote Using Instructional Technology via kwout

[Gilmar D. da Silva Mattos]

Carla...
This is simply fantastic. It'll be my springboard when I introduce this new idea to my colleagues. You are really right. The article is actually down-to-earth and I loved it. If I had to choose one that has been more "meaningful"for me I'd say number one. I, for one, truly believe we must get down to work and actually do things. This one may have touched me more maybe because of the analogy with the driving experience. I have used it many times when I talk to my students preparing for the Michigan Exams or any other exam class I've already taught. My father had a driving school and as a teenager I used to help him in the office. At that time it used to be common people getting there and saying that they had been driving for a long time (and it was true!) and so they did not need to take a certain number of lessons. Unfortunately most of them would fail the "simple test" because they had not had proper training to do what they were supposed to do. In other words, I totally agree - there is nothing to substitute this hands on approach. We really have to take risks, make mistakes, hopefully learn from them and keep going. To sum up a Chinese proverb also comes to my mind now "I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand!" That's it. We must leave our comfort zones, put on our learners' hats and enjoy the journey. Wonderful reading!

[Carla Arena]

That's exactly the point, Gilmar. Of course all the 6 points are essential if you are considering incorporating technology in the classrom, but have our feet wet is the first step into understanding what it takes to start the process, what is useful or not for our learners, and, most of all, realizing that we don't need to know it all! We just need to know where to ask for help, connect to others and share. If we put ourselves as learners, chances are we'll be successful 21st century educators. I truly enjoyed this text, just like you, Gilmar. And after we have the hands on experience. What's next?

[Maria Claudia Pires Gonçalves]

Hi, Carla
'Getting hands dirty' sounds like a sine qua non condition to incorporate technology in the classroom, especially for newbies like me. But I don't want to lose sight of why I am doing that. So I think identifying learning outcomes and remaining open to change would top my list as the most valuable recommendations in my practice.

[Carla Arena]

You're so right, Maria Cláudia. Since I started in this ed tech area, I've been telling people that it's only worth adding the tech element to the classroom if there's a pedagogical purpose and if it can make a difference for the learning outcomes. Otherwise, a simple flashcard or a note on the blackboard will do. It's not just a matter of changing one technology (pencil, blackboard, etc) for another. It needs to impact on the learning process. Otherwise, it's not meaningless. It's just finding another means to deliver the same old way.

Being open to change is our biggest challenges. Just today I was reading something about it. We, people, tend to stick to the safe, known zone. It's hard to accept and incorporate change, but if we are open and see the signs when fundamental changes are needed, then chances are we'll go on.