Often, tech in education is put in opposition with “the old way” of doing things. Yet, even though we now have access to some previously unimagined tools (who might have guessed, a decade ago, that it would be common for children to have access to age-appropriate video-editing tools?), our goals for our students are still the same: autonomy, agency, growth, curiosity, joy. Instead of throwing out the approaches that have worked for us in the past, we can say, “Yes, we write stapled-together books, AND we publish slide decks” or “Yes, we paint murals that teach, AND we record a song that summarizes learning” or ”Yes, we have face-to-face book clubs, AND we collaborate online.” Tried-and-true strategies and practices can still be of use, but with the help of technology, we can look beyond the walls of our classroom and give students opportunities that are authentic, significant, and relevant in the world beyond school. In the chart below you’ll see some of the ways technology builds upon the rich pedagogy of literacy instruction to support students. Our work is also about helping our students see technology as a tool to be used strategically. Katie often thinks of the kindergartner who, with the air of an evening anchor delivering breaking news, tugged at Katie’s pant leg, held up her tablet, and said, “Hey, there aren’t any games on here!” It’s common for young children to come to school with the impression that technology is a tool for entertainment. If they have access to Siri, Alexa, Google Home, or other voice-activated technology at home, they might also see technology as a tool to get answers to straightforward questions like “How high can a serval jump?” or “How long does it take for the earth to go around the sun?” But it’s rare that students come to our classrooms already seeing technology as a tool for collaboration and creation, for personal inquiry, or for widening their perspective on the world. Children learn from our example in all ways, including how we use technology and how we allow them to use it. It’s up to us to help students realize the full potential of the tools in their hands, to assist them to find meaningful purposes for those tools, and to learn to walk away from those tools when they’re not helpful or when the tools are becoming harmful to their health or learning.
How Can I Use Technology Strategically and Teach My Students to Do the Same?When planning for technology use, ask yourself:
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For some the pandemic has led to an overdose of digital teaching. For others it has opened whole new avenues of thinking about instruction. No matter which side of this spectrum you fall on, you’ve probably discovered a favorite digital tool, and Katie and Kristin are here to help you make the most of when we truly go back to school.
You can connect with Katie on Twitter @KatieMuhtaris