Ok, the title of this post is a little misleading. On the day to day basis I am totally excited about the technology that I get to work with. I know I am blessed to have a school issued tablet and Smartboard in every classroom. And I know that these tools make lesson planning easier. They help me to be more creative and I think this enhances the learning experience for students. Kids are much more excited to write on the Smartboard than a whiteboard. They are also in awe when I use my computer in Ink mode. And to be honest I am in awe of the technology as well. The fact that I can hand write a math equation on my computer and have it show up on the screen for all of the students to see is pretty cool.
But…..I’ve had to miss some school recently and I am questioning what my students are learning in the classroom without me. When I have a substitute, they do not have access to my computer, my files, or any technology for that matter. I find myself wishing there was still an overhead projector in my classroom. The overhead would be a way for me to be able to give information to the sub to post for all of my students to see. I understand that asking the sub to write notes on the whiteboard in the front of the classroom is a little burdensome, especially if I have a sub who doesn’t understand the subject material.
Maybe the question shouldn’t be, how can I get some of the old technology back, but how can I use the new technologies in the classroom. Is it possible to give the sub a loaner laptop so that they could project information I give them in front of the class? Would the substitute know how to use this technology? Maybe that doesn’t matter as long as the students know how…They tend to be pretty helpful, especially if it lets them be the center of attention!
One thing I have learned since I began teaching was that the kids will survive without me. My first 2-3 years of teaching I would be sick with a really bad cold, with a terrible cough or no voice and still come to school. I was under the impression that all of their learning would go out the window if I was gone for a day or two. Then I realized that I was a much more effective teacher if I was healthy. So I began taking sick days as need be. In the grand scheme of things I think the students and sub can manage without great technology for a day. The question is, what happens when a day turns into a few days, or a week, or longer? I think the educational environment is compromised. Shouldn’t technology be able to help?
Maybe the question should be – how do I make use of the technology when I am gone – to make sure that it is NOT a wasted day? We all go through that, what can I have the sub do with the kids so that the day is not wasted. I am not one of the lucky ones that has a smartboard or a tablet and I have little concept of how that would change my classroom. I would like to think that with that technology, I would be able to “be” in my classroom even when I am not there (obviously in the case of an illness that would not happen – but for a planned absence maybe). The possibilities are endless. How cool would it be to have a “bank” of lessons that subs could just pull out and use when we are gone. You are right to wonder if the subs would be able to use the technology. Many of our subs are retired teachers from our district and the technology is often over their heads. I do think that the kids could teach them – or teach the class, using the technology and lessons that we have left.
Recently, we had a huge teacher/community celebration planned. I had prepared a video as my part in the celebration and others had prepared parts that required technology. Less than an hour before the planned start time, our electricity went out and was out for the entire celebration. Our reliance on technology, changed the entire day (well actually it didn’t because our head custodian lives across the street from the school and we ran extension cords to his house – but what other school would be able to do that?). Technology is great – until the power goes out
That is a day that we would want our “old technology” back you can write on a chalkboard or a whiteboard with just sunlight streaming through the windows!
[...] under the weather. I had to do it on Friday though, I didn’t think I could stick it out. Rita’s entry made me think about how it is true that I feel very fortunate to have an ActivBoard in my classroom [...]
My school has run into some issues with technology and subs, especially since we went to an attendance database system. The first year the system was in place, the subs had no access. They had to do paper and pencil attendance, and didn’t have access to school announcements. Now there are sub logins, but I have to leave my computer on or leave my computer login for the sub. Technology inspires students, but so do good teachers. I definitely feel that my students learn less when I’m out, especially with math. I’ve had subs tell me they don’t do math. On the other hand, I’ve had retired math teachers come in and do an excellent job. We just never know who the sub will be, or if they will be able to use the technology. Even with the sub logins, many don’t use this as the computer is intimidating. So here, I suppose, would be a time when I’d rather have my old chalkboard than a Smartboard. But since I rarely take a day off, I’ll take a Smartboard for Christmas!