Teacher - Leaders

What does it mean to be a teacher-leader?

Although educators are responsible for the students in their class and grade level, they are also part of a community that should involve collaborative learning among peers. Developing into a “teacher-leader” can be hard sometimes. Reaching out to others makes us step outside our comfort zones. I think being a teacher-leader should reach well beyond the scope of our own grade level or even our school. If we have great ideas or new ways of delivering content, we should share that with others in whatever way we can. 

Leading others requires taking risks and putting your thoughts and ideas out there. By doing this you are subjecting yourself to criticism, new ideas, with the possible reward of changing how someone else teaches in his/her classroom. One idea could spark many other ideas to catch fire. 

Why is teacher-leadership so important with regard to educational technology?

Being a teacher-leader with regard to technology is very important. Technology is constantly changing and there are times educators move on to the “next big thing” without fully exploring the possibilities of the technology we currently have. Technology can be used in so many different ways. If educators we will share what they are doing in their classrooms, other teachers can branch off of that and do great things. If we want to redefine how we teach and get more funding for technology in our classrooms, we need to use it in a way that is not merely an assessment or gaming device. 

If I am the only one who uses tech in my classroom, my school will probably not allocate funding for more tech. But, if multiple teachers in my school integrate and push for technology within daily class process, budgets could be re-directed to fund more technology for our school.

Why Tech?

What are the benefits of technology use in education?

Like all other tools that have been developed, there is a time to and place to use them effectively. Technology use has many benefits when integrated correctly within pedagogy. I recently (two days ago) sent home a letter to the parents of my students concerning our increasing use of technology in our flipped classroom. Here is a list of benefits I listed:

1. Students can watch a video on their own. They can pause and rewind whenever they need to review what they heard.

2. Parents do not have to worry that they can’t help their child with the math homework.

3. It helps busy students. Many of our students are involved in activities outside of school and often have a hard time getting all their homework done. Students will be able to watch videos at home and then will complete the homework in the classroom.

4. If a student is absent, lessons missed can now be watched at home. 

5. In a traditional model, if a student had questions about problems they were doing at home, they had to ask for help the next day. With this method, students are doing the work in the classroom and are able to get their questions answered immediately.

6. Flipping the instruction helps struggling students. By doing the work in the classroom, I will be able to monitor students more closely. I will be able to identify students quicker that have some misunderstandings or need more individualized instruction.

7. Learning is student-centered, not teacher -centered.  Focus is not on the teacher teaching the content but on the student practicing and producing quality work.

8. There is more interaction between teacher-student and student-student. Since I won’t be spending the class time in instruction, there is more time for me to answer student questions, work with small groups, and guide the learning of each student individually. There will also be more emphasis on students working collaboratively with other students to facilitate the learning. They will be able to have more relevant math conversations and tutor each other.

9. This method provides individualized instruction for your student. Each student will have the ability to go through each lesson at his/her own pace. Students will be able to take control of the learning process. 

Why isn't technology used more effectively?

Although there are many barriers to technology use, the one outlining factor that instigates change comes from within. For example, you can push people to lead healthy lives that involve good diet habits and consistent exercise; everyone knows the many benefits that come with living a life like that. Why isn't everyone living a healthy lifestyle then? Any long-lasting change has to come from within. Desire, motivation, and the drive to be better is the baseline reason why people do not change. 

Those who want to use technology more effectively will use and study it and start building a momentum of change.

Secondary barriers are time, money, resources, etc... the list goes on. 

The key to changing how we view technology in the classroom is our responsibility. We have to lead, innovate, and push boundaries. As we lead, people will see the change and jump on board.