It can be argued that every teacher wants something different from technology. Some want better management of lessons and assessments, others want to facilitate differentiation and personalized instruction, while others want to deliver more diverse and varied lessons… One thing that teachers may not be aware of, is that technology can offer all of this, and much more. In a recent survey carried out by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 3,100 educators and 1,250 students were asked what they wanted from technology.
What they found was that most educators were looking for better resources to ensure students can meet rigorous new standards such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and are fully prepared for college and careers of the 21st century. The survey’s key findings outlined the following six primary instructional purposes for which digital tools can be beneficial to teachers.
6 Revealing Truths About Teacher Technology Needs:
- 1. Delivering instruction directly to students.
- 2. Diagnosing student learning needs.
- 3. Varying the delivery method of instruction.
- 4. Tailoring the learning experience to meet individual student needs.
- 5. Supporting student collaboration and providing interactive experiences.
- 6. Fostering independent practice of specific skills.
How Can Technology Help Teachers To Meet Those Needs?
With personalized instruction, collaboration and independent learning high on the agenda of teacher technology needs, the traditional concerns of teaching resources and delivery of instruction remain prominent. Technology can prove extremely beneficial to teachers looking for solutions to the above priorities. By integrating a personalized learning platform, social media and engaging in alternative teaching methods such as flipped or blended learning, these issues can be easily solved. But does this mean upskilling in technology as well as researching every new concept on the scene? Fishtree actually provides a solution to each and every priority outlined, without overwhelming educators who may remain reluctant to try teaching with tech. With an easy-to-use system, Fishtree offers engaging teaching resources, easy and fast lesson planners, and personalization and collaboration tools to allow students to foster independent learning, without the over-complicated techy jargon!
In my next blog, I will offer a solution for teachers to meet every single one of these needs, without the necessity for up-skilling in technology or hopping from site to site to find what you’re looking for!
Teachers: What do you want from from technology? Tell us on Twitter!
About the author:
Lorna Keane is a teacher of French, English and ESL. She specializes in language teaching and has taught in second and third-level institutions in several countries. She holds a B.A in languages and cultural studies and an M.A in French literature, theory and visual culture. Subscribe to her blog or follow her on Twitter.
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Image credits: Ben Dalton / CC BY 2.0
