Getting Over “Teacher Comfort” in Integrating Technology

In fourteen years of teaching technology, one thing hasn’t changed: if a teacher is not comfortable with the technology they are given, they won’t use it. Two things have to be present for the teachers to use the technology; professional development and insistence by the administration. Even when I give professional development, I only am able to win over just so many teachers. There are those instantly ready to try it out, those who need a push and suggestions for lessons on integrating it, and those who think it’s great but refuse to use it. Or they don’t understand how to use it, and won’t ask for help, and are so used to doing things the way they’ve always been done, they see no reason to change and incorporate it.

It has consistently been the push of the administration, up until 6 years ago, that the new technology that walks into the building needs to be used in a lesson during the evaluation of the teacher in January/February. The year I installed Microsoft Office, the principal wanted to see Power Points at the open house the following September. Most teachers still upgrade them and have them running in the background during Open House each year. When we received SMARTBoards, and MimioXis, the principal wanted to see them used, even if only for a portion of a lesson. In the last two years, we received new digital cameras, and all the teachers know how to use them. They don’t all know how to upload the prints to iPhoto and print them, they leave the cameras on my desk for me to complete. So that is one of the topics of professional development this year. The reason it may work, and they will begin developing the photos, is because they know I am stretched to the limit on what I can do.

However, professional development does not stop at the one session I give to several teachers at once. It means answering the questions at any time, or giving “refreshers” to those who ask, shortly after they ask, before they give up and lose interest. It is offering the same course in a different way, with more ideas for integration to prompt those who haven’t used the technology or are tired of using it in the same way all the time. Even giving memos through email or in their mailboxes of a great website or two, as well as references on handouts to helpful sites they can peruse on their own is a must, just to keep the technology in the forefront of their minds, as a reminder to use it.

And since the administration stopped insisting on seeing the technology at work, several teachers have relapsed or not felt the drive to use the given technology. This year also saw the incorporation of SRS Crickets and MOBI pads into the building, but I don’t see their widespread use with out administrative backing. In discussing the situation with other Computer Instructors in other schools, the same two truths hold true – both on-site professional development and administrative backing are needed, or the technology gathers dust.