Schools around the world are going through some kind of painful and inevitable growth spurt. I’m, of course, talking about technology integration. Maybe your class uses a oxcart (computer on wheels) once a week, or maybe every student at your school suddenly has an iPad in their hands and the administrator throws up the dreaded “no paper” phrase. . Regardless of the level of technology integration, we all seem to be in a transition phase to new technologies all the time. However, the painful truth is that no matter how many training sessions we get or how many tools we get, many adults struggle to adapt to new technology. We enter the new school year fully aware that our students will hijack media and use it for their own perverted purposes even before we teach teachers to turn on devices. The solution to this problem is simple. Time to take a page from our student manual. We must quickly overcome the barriers of fear, anxiety and mistrust to stay ahead of the technology race.
Overcoming the fear of new technology
As with the 5 stages of loss and grief, everyone (not just adults) experiences a predictable set of reactions when faced with new technology. Knowing that these stages are the same for everyone and not just you facing the world will help you progress through the stages faster. You can learn to follow the example of your students and turn fear into excitement and ultimately acceptance.
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Step 1 – Disclaimer
As teachers, we work hard to perfect our art. Year after year, we make minor adjustments to our curriculum, lesson plans, and classroom management system to maximize our effectiveness. Therefore, it can be a real surprise when the administrator announces a drastic and drastic change, such as a phone). Many teachers will experience an automatic response to news. The general response was: “This will never work!
It turns out that this is a normal reaction to new technology. Children who seem flexible and enthusiastic about any new technological developments also experience early uncertainty. The key to successfully embracing technology is accepting that you feel frustrated and scared. This is normal. Recognizing your fears will help you get through this phase faster. The last thing you want is to let go of your fear and become paralyzed. It’s okay to say, “I’m freaking out and I don’t like it. But don’t stop there. Get over your fear and try technology.
Step 2 – Negotiation
“You can put this in my class, but you can’t force me to use it!” You’re probably telling yourself that you’re going to learn the basics. You use technology while the principal is supervising your class, or you use it for the first week of school, then save it and get back to your regular routine. Negotiation isn’t really bad in this situation. This could pave the way for the actual use of the new device. Even tech enthusiasts will say, “I’ll try, but if it doesn’t work for me, I’m not going after it.” As a teacher, tell yourself that you will try the technology. If you don’t like it, use it as little as possible, but at least give yourself permission to try it without taking too many risks.
Step 3- experiment
This is an important phase for successful technology introduction. This is a figurative turning point in how you view technology as a user. Once you give yourself permission to experiment with technology and actually start clicking on it (whether it’s a new device like the iPad or a new website like Edmodo.com), experimenting really sets us apart.
When experimenting with new technology, you may run into obstacles. Your frustration may increase, your fear may resurface, but don’t let that hold you back. Be careful not to damage the device by clicking on it. You can reboot, reboot, or reload at any time. Look for help buttons, user guides, or even YouTube tutorial videos that can help you overcome these obstacles. Be open as you experiment and find anything that interests or helps you.
Phase 4- Fun
More often than not, experimenting with new tools will spark teachers’ enthusiasm for the uses of their classrooms. Teachers are naturally creative and innovative people. We always look at the material with a concern for differentiation and adaptation for our students. You can start to think about how this new tool will fit into your lessons as you experience it. Conversations with other educators are essential to ironing out the details and paving the way for real implementation in your classroom. Research the technology online and read blogs and teacher reviews to learn more about the products and see how others are using them effectively in their classrooms.
Phase 5- Acceptance
The sooner you can get past the previous step, the faster you will feel confident in using the new technology. Adoption means you are ready to incorporate this technology into your lesson plans, maximize its usefulness, and make the most of this initiative for the benefit of your students.
Everyone goes through the stages of technology adoption at their own pace. But if you are aware that you will feel an early setback, you will be able to overcome your fears faster and reach a productive level of exploration and acceptance more quickly. As teachers, we don’t always have control over new educational reforms or curriculum initiatives in our schools, but the only thing we can control is how we react to those changes. Overcoming fear allows us to spend our energy more productively. Good luck with everything your school has planned for the coming year. You can handle it. Even if you “don’t use paper”!
Everyone goes through 5 stages in the face of new technologies.
- Disclaimer:
- Negotiate
- Experiment
- Joy
- Reception
Speeding up the early stages and getting frustrated and anxious will help users adopt new technologies quickly.