I fill my days with research, writing and discussing educational woes and possible solutions with educators, educational writers and educational entrepreneurs across the country. Thanks Skype, for allowing me to get a glimpse into education in other parts of the country! One essential question that has driven my learning this year is, “How can we bridge the gap between educational technology and the classroom teacher?”

While I was in the classroom, I was fairly resistant to technology for a few reasons. I am 28 years old and I was not raised on technology. I learned basic keyboarding skills at my local public library during upper elementary school. I never worked in an office environment, or in a place where my efficiency relied on my technological skills. It should come as no shock that it was only two years ago that I traded in my AOL email from middle school to a shiny new Gmail account.

As a teacher, there was seldom any proper training at my level, and I worried profusely about technology glitches and their impact on my classroom management. I taught for three years in an inclusion program for students with motor impairments and at that time, I dedicated my learning to assistive technology and augmentative communication devices, but still was not using technology to support whole class or small group learning to the maximum extent. Over the past year, I have learned so much about technology and its implications in education. Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned is that a teacher’s resistance to technology can be detrimental to students. We are teaching learners who will enter a workforce filled with technology. If we do not prepare them to be tech users, problem-solvers, and model digital citizens, we are doing them a great disservice.

On May 24, 2012 EdVoices.com published a small piece I wrote entitled “5 Tips and Tools for the Tech Terrified Teacher.” I was moved by the teacher feedback the piece received. The piece had promoted conversation and encouraged voices of people who matter to step up and speak out. After spending time reading, pondering, and responding to each comment, I realized there was a pattern. Regardless of their level of proficiency with technology, teachers see a need for differentiated instruction. As a special education teacher, I could not agree more that developing a skill depends on instruction that meets one’s skill level and builds upon it.

One teacher, Nancy Galarneau shared her feelings of inadequacy during tech trainings. “As a tech-terrified teacher…I feel very uncomfortable just trying to play with it and learn on my own since I don’t even know the basics. I don’t like taking the same training as more tech-savvy persons because I feel very dumb and self-conscious. This hinders learning. There should be separate trainings/workshops for different skill levels.” Another educator, Kay draws a comparison between the need for differentiated literacy instruction in the classroom, and the need for technology training for teachers in her district. She explained that it is “like teaching students who are reading 3 levels above their grade level, and those who need remedial reading in a whole group session. It won’t work for the kids and it doesn’t work for the teachers.” Perhaps the most heart wrenching of all was Micflynn’s plead for patience, “I would like to grow…please be patient with us “different” learners.”

Districts, administrators, educational entrepreneurs and developers: I urge you to listen to the voices of these teachers. We need differentiated instruction on how to use technology. Do not try to teach us how to build our own website if we don’t know how to use Google to search for information. Do not try to teach me how to set up an email account when I am perfectly capable of designing my own lessons for the Smart Board. Frankly, this type of professional development is wasteful. Differentiate technology instruction so that you can support us by building upon our previous knowledge and experiences just like we aim to do with our students each day.

There are two kinds of teachers today, the tech guru and the tech terrified. During the first panel at the NY EdTech Mashup on April 30^th, Rhena Jasey exemplified the exact teacher that entrepreneurs need to target: the tech terrified teacher. Many educational events appeal to educators who are already interested in technology. What about the larger population of teachers who live in fear of it?

Rhena shared about how intimidating and overwhelming it was to be in a room full of “techies.” The idea of incorporating technology into the classroom is daunting for teachers like Rhena, who have never had an office job or been expected to use technology to boost efficiency. I know this because I was one of these teachers for a long time. I lived in fear of Smartboards and the laptop cart because I knew that even the smallest malfunction could throw off my lesson, leading to potential chaos amongst my students. I felt incredibly frustrated when an admistrator asked me to use a new website, software program or device in my classroom.

Over the past two years, I have gone through a transformation process. Luckily, I feel much more comfortable in the tech space these days, but I haven’t forgotten the tech terrified teacher-friends I have left behind, and I want to do everything I possibly can to support them. Being a great teacher looks very different in the 21^st Century and there is no reason that as our world evolves, our teachers can’t evolve with it. That doesn’t mean “no more pencils or crayons,” but it does mean finding a place for using technology to captivate students. As always, balance is the key.

5 Tips for the Tech Terrified Teacher

1. Remember, it’s not about you! Your discomfort with technology impacts your students’ futures. Teachers need to be preparing students for the world we live in today. So many jobs are dependent on a basic understanding of technology. Always ask yourself, “am I teaching something that is obsolete, or something that will help my students in the future that lies ahead?”
2. Don’t resist your tech guru teacher-friend: It is difficult to ask for help but partnering up with a tech guru teacher-friend can provide a support system that can help ease your transition from tech terrified to tech curious.
3. Realize it’s okay if you are not in control: In reflection, I realize that a major reason that I resisted tech for so long is because I feared what would happen if I was no longer in control…but it is okay if the tech malfunctions. In fact it can lead to some pretty teachable moments.
4. Let your students teach you something: Newsflash – if you think you are the omnipotent force in your classroom, think again! Kids know a lot these days and it can boost their confidence and engagement if you call on students for support.
5. If you find a product you like, ask someone from the company to come visit – Tech startups want you to use their products so most likely if you send an email, they will answer any questions you have or maybe even come visit your school to teach you how to use their product.

5 Simple Tech Tools for the Tech Terrified Teacher: A starting point

1. Get a Gmail account! This may sound silly but once you have a Gmail account for your email, you begin to feel more comfortable with the Google way. This will pave the way to using Google Docs, surveys, and other fun tools to make you more efficient in your classroom.
2. Figment – For those of you who teach ELA, reading or writing, Figment is a fun and easily accessible tool. It is an online community of young writers. The educator feature allows teachers to create private groups where students can interact and offer peer-to-peer feedback on their writing.
3. TEDed – There are a few options for educational videos these days including Khan Academy, YouTube for Teachers and TEDed, which launched recently. TEDed offers visual videos made by teachers and animators.
4. BrainPOP – Has engaging videos in a variety of content areas but I particularly recommend this tool for math teachers.
5. Mentormob – This tool allows you to curate content from the Internet into an engaging playlist that you can share with your students. The interface is hip so it is great for middle school or high school students. You can click on each track in the playlist to go back to the original source. I use this tool to support students in strengthening their research skills.

Until we actively start addressing the discomfort that teachers like Rhena feel in the edtech space, we will not be successful in moving our teachers or students into the 21^st Century. We need to work on finding ways to support the teachers who feel intimidated by technology so I’ll end with two questions:

1. Dear Tech Terrified Teachers: What can we do to support you?

2. Dear EdTechies: How do you do outreach to tech terrified teachers and engage them?

Bringing education into the 21^st Century is no easy feat. It depends on collaboration between the major players in the field of educational innovation and technology, and at this time the collaboration is not where it needs to be. Please take a moment to note that the terms “innovation” and “technology” appear separately because they are not interchangeable. While technology may support educators, innovative education is not solely dependent on technology. In fact, innovative teachers use a balance of tech and non-tech supported teaching and learning. For the purpose of this conversation, I want to shift the focus to the industry of educational technology.

Two major players in the field of EdTech are entrepreneurs and educators. There is a great divide amongst these two parties, and it grows every time an entrepreneur builds a product without teacher input or feedback. Individuals who have not stepped foot in a classroom for years, are developing solutions for problems which they assume exist for teachers. Many startups build their products and ask for teacher feedback after the fact. I propose that we reverse the cycle. Startups should call upon teachers (or even students, imagine that!) to support the development of products for the classroom. This will move us toward building stronger technologies for learning that are actually practical for the classroom. Not to mention, getting teachers invested in the beginning can help raise awareness about products that are strong. Remember, teachers listen to teachers!

I appreciate the enthusiastic nature of entrepreneurs in our field. We need that kind of proactive energy and “can do” attitude in education right now. I am optimistic that our industry will begin to look more like a partnership over the next few years. While the collaboration is not yet where we need it to be, some organizations are taking steps in the right direction.

*  edSurge now has a teacher edition to their EdTech newsletter!

*  EdUpgrade pairs teachers with technology to elicit feedback from the classroom.

*  Classroom Window gives teachers a voice by inviting them to offer feedback on technology they use, and to recommend and share the tech they love.

*  A few startups are hiring teachers to consult on content development, product development, and teacher outreach.

*  Conferences and edtech events are doing more and more outreach to engage teachers in conversations about tech for the classroom.

Teachers have taken a lot of flack for the state of the educational system. I will be the first one to admit that our standards for teachers is not where it should be, however that does not mean that great teachers don’t exist.

We need to invite strong teachers to share their voices and opinions on:

1)  What are the problems that require solving?

2)  Which solutions are effective?

3)  Which solutions are ineffective?

In the productive spirit of entrepreneurs, I now want to tackle the question, “So, what can be done to solve this problem?”

5 Ways EdTechies Can Help:

1)  If you haven’t been in a classroom this year, you probably shouldn’t be building a product for the classroom – already started? Make a change and visit a classroom this month.

2)  Put teachers and students at the core of your product development and  invite their input from the very beginning.

3)  Show, Not Tell: Visit schools and show teachers and students how to use your technology, rather than sending out an email telling them how simple it is to use. Remember, simple for you may not mean simple for them.

4)  Ask yourself, “Am I speaking teacher or am I speaking business?” Of course it is okay to speak both, but you need to make sure that you are able to relate to your audience.

5)  Make sure your product is simple and ultimately takes time off of a teacher’s day rather than adds to it. While there is a hilarious rumor that teachers get out of work at 3:30PM, the truth is that many teachers take home hours of work.

Recognizing the divide between entrepreneurs and educators is the first step toward building a bridge. The second step is to study edtech projects that have been successful in engaging teachers and to identify what has led to their success. Click here to take a look at a technology that is bringing learning into the 21^st Century by paying close attention to what makes teachers comfortable. Think about how this product can be used as a model for emerging technology for learning.

Your Fan and Teacher-Friend,

Marisa

Resource #1: I must give credit to Jac de Haan (TechWithIntent.com) and Ted Kalmus (Head of School, Billings Middle School)  for opening my eyes to this issue and putting words to what I had been thinking for a long time during their session at SxSWedu: TheirSpace: Educating Digitally Ethical Teens. Jac’s blog TechWithIntent is a great resource for learning more about tech integration in the classroom, and I especially enjoy checking out his teacher profiles to see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms. Check out their presentation here.

Resource #2: I’ve been following Common Sense Media for awhile now and I am quite impressed by their Digital Literacy and Citizenship Classroom Curriculum. What excites me the most is the fact that Common Sense Media is making this aspect of learning and making it just as important as literacy and math. The curriculum even has a Common Core Standard Alignment Chart. The following definition comes from the FAQ page at CommonSenseMedia. It has helped me to better understand the ideas behind digital citizenship and responsibility.

“Digital Citizenship is a relatively new term and concept that is being used by educators, policymakers, and thought leaders alike. It refers to the set of skills and behaviors that one must learn to be a safe, responsible, and respectful member of our 21st century society online. Common Sense Media defines a “digital citizen” as: Someone who is able to think critically about the ethical opportunities and challenges of the ‘digital world’ and makes safe, responsible, respectful choices. Our mantra: With these powerful technological tools comes great responsibility.” (CommonSenseMedia)

Resource #3: My latest resource is Digital Disruption, a project that I am most excited about! Digital Disruption is a project by Bold Creative and is based in London. This team is taking our youth seriously, and as an educator I really appreciate that. The voice of our youth is underrepresented in many of the conversations we are having in education today, but for Digital Disruption, the voices of our youth are at the center of the conversation. Teachers are also very much a part of the development of Digital Disruption and the team is always looking for more teacher feedback.

Digital Disruption’s mission is to provide young people with the tools they need to improve their “digital judgement.”  According to Digital Disruption, young people “trust and use the Internet more than any other generation, but are not always savvy, critical consumers of online content” (Taken from Digital Disruption’s site.) The project aims to support our youth in becoming better able to tell the good information from the bad and to distinguish fact from fiction.

For more information on Digital Disruption, check out their site and read this review on EdGeeks.

What resources do you know of that can help us all become more knowledgeable about why and how to teach social learning in the digital age?

Today I want to discuss the disconnect between edtech companies/startups and educators. SxSWedu offered endless opportunities to meet with inspiring and innovative folks who really want to make a difference in the lives of children. It also illuminated the fact that there is a gaping hole in this ever-so-important conversation…educators! I am boggled by the fact that so many edtech products are being developed without including the voices of educators on the team. Sure, it can be challenging for educators to take time out of their already busy day to offer feedback, but it is possible and there are educators who are willing to do it (I know because I met them last week.) One of the most common questions I asked of educational entrepreneurs was, “So were you ever a teacher?” and the answer was almost always “No.” That is fine…great technology can be produced by people who are not in the field of education…but great educational technology requires the input of a team of educators and dare I say it, even parents.

Great teachers are curators. They curate curriculum and data and do the best they can to facilitate student growth by exposing their class to a broad spectrum of engaging ideas. Edtech companies should recognize that their product, if strong, will be one of many products that a great teacher factors into his/her curated collection. There is no singular technology that will be the answer to all of our educational woes. What we can hope for is that in the coming years there will be more educators stepping into the spotlight to offer feedback, volunteer for beta testing in their classroom, and speak on panels at conferences such as SxSWedu.

Right now I am most interested in solving the issue of teacher and parent engagement in the field of edtech. If you have ideas or a community with which you feel can help, reach out through the contact me page of EdGeeks.com. Looking forward to changing the world with you.

1. Microsoft Word

Here is a great everyday tool that is already in many homes and classrooms today! You might not know it but this is one of the most under-utilized software programs in education today. Most people think of Microsoft Word as simply a word processing program, but it is much more. Imaging your child using Word to listen to a text read aloud, or even to simplify a text that is too challenging to read independently! All of this is possible. Functions such as Speech-to-Text and AutoSummarize can support student learning. Click links above to learn more about how these functions can support your child!

2. LiveScribe

This gadget is revolutionary and what I love most about it is that adults use it too! Today you can find the LiveScribe in universities and even office environments today. That means it can grow with the child and follow them all the way through their career as a student and into the working world! In a nutshell, this device is a computer inside of a pen. You can use this tool to record audio and to transfer your written notes straight to your computer. It has a USB port and is easy to connect to your home computer. To learn more about how the LiveScribe can be used to boost learning at home and in school, click here.

3. Speech-Recognition Software

Today there are a variety of speech-recognition programs. One software program that is getting a lot of hype is Dragon Naturally Speaking. This program is being used in many different fields and lucky enough for us, it is making its way into education hop on board! Dragon is a speech-recognition software program that allows you to speak words that are translated into text at a much faster rate than most people can type. One might say that using Dragon is like having a personal scribe! This technology has many implications in the classroom. This type of program can be used during writing activities to assist: hesitant writers who struggle with the mechanics of writing, English Language Learners, students with learning disabilities and students with motor limitations. Click here to learn more about ways to use speech-recognition software to improve writing.

4. Clickers

Here is a neat tool that can help teachers keep track of the learning in their classrooms. The tool is called a “Student Response System” but I like to refer to them as “Clickers.” A teacher can use a class set of Clickers to get real-time data that can inform instruction. Each student has a Clicker and can use it to respond to various types of questions. Some Clickers have advanced functions such as: true/false, multiple choice, cold call and even texting! Clickers are highly engaging for students, yet also can teach them how to become more independent in their learning. I know an amazing teacher who used Clickers in his classroom and developed rules surrounding appropriate uses for students. To learn more about how he used them in his math class, click here.

5. Reading Pens

A reading pen is a portable device that can scan text and read it aloud. Many reading pens also have a dictionary function where new or unknown words can be defined. A reading pen can connect to a computer so that the reader may upload the words they read after each use. Challenging words can then be stored for future use.

Reading pens are appropriate for children of all ages and even adults! Today there are many different companies who make reading pens so you can choose one that fits your child and that has a design that is age-appropriate. To learn more about how to use reading pens at home and in school check out this article.

Marisa Kaplan is creator and writer of EdGeeks.com, an educational blog that focuses on bridging the gap between home and school. She is a former New York City teacher who recently left the system to pursue other avenues of creativity with the major goal of making an impact in education. Dually certified in special education and general education, her main area of expertise is in modifying curriculum and learning strategies to meet the needs of all students.