You Don't Have to Marry It!
Got Ed Tech Relationship Anxiety?
It's so easy to feel Ed Tech trend overload at the beginning of the school year. It's exhausting and can be overwhelming. Just remember, it's OK to date new technology, you don't have to marry it!
Use resources like Common Sense Media, PBS LearningMedia, Twinkl, Google Edu, or Flocabulary to add to your teaching toolkit.
Check out the latest journals and articles. Don't have time to read the latest? Check out the trending hashtags and conversations on Tik Tok, Twitter, and Instagram. Go to those platforms and search for #EdChat or #MiddleGrades or whatever hashtag your subject or grade level uses. Remember, a hashtag is just a search filter.
Consider each new classroom tech innovation or tool as a first date - simply "pilot" and "beta test" by trying it out on a small scale. Then, when you find one you like, you can go steady. Date a while. See how it goes.
When you're ready to commit, you'll know it!
Prenup optional.
Check out this classic post: Time and Tide Reflection.
Hey my longtime readers, don't know if you've heard, but I've left Murray Hill Middle School. After 30 years of teaching, I have now taken an early retirement to lend my expertise, Social Media following, and Ed Tech know-how as a Global Educational consultant and speaker. I'm looking for a challenging and FUN part time remote side hustle that will keep me energized and leverage my talents to help more people, educators, and kiddos! If you know of anything, or would like to talk to me, feel free to reach out at gwynethanne AT the Gmail Dot Com. Let's see if we can make something daring and fun happen!
Finally, if you're still stressed about the next school year -- my best advice
Don't stress, just can pick 1 thing! A week, a month, a school year....just 1 thing!
Once you do that one thing and feel good about it, add another. One at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself - that leads to crazy anxiety and burning out.
--------------Just starting out? Stop here!--------------
Ready for more? Consider Adding these!
Blogger - Professional blog
Edublog - School / Professional blog
Instagram (Why? Read more!)
Slideshare
YouTube
LinkedIn - (Whatever you do, fill out the profile & add a picture! Be where your parents are, because you're a professional, too!)
Thank you for sharing this. As educators, we often attempt to reinvent the wheel and need reminders to slow down and trust ourselves. As our student’s lives change and things become bigger, faster and better, we feel the need to keep up. It is important to do everything in moderation. After running a one-to-one classroom where everything was online, I realized that the good ole reliable sites like you mentioned: Common Sense Media, PBS Learning Media, Twinkl, Google Edu, or Flocabulary were tried and true. I spent many hours, down the rabbit hole, always looking for the newest and greatest only to come back to the reliable and tested!
ReplyDeleteSo many things you say resonate with me and reading this helped to calm my nerves. YES! Twitter! YES! Share, share and share. YES! Just can pick 1 thing! A week, a month, a school year... just 1 thing! Technology is ever changing so my advice to my student teachers is the same as yours, chose one and learn it. If it doesn’t work move on. Thank you for the reminder!
Thank you so much Jenn for your comment and your kind words! I think we're all likely to fall into that "I gotta keep up mode!" OK...maybe not me today cause I'm retired! LOL But still, I like to be cutting edge. Tried and true and reliable are more important sometimes than the flashy & sometimes flukey! Best in everything for you! ~Gwyneth
DeleteI think this is a great way to bring the students together for a good online learning game. it is something I would bring into my classroom one day.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI really appreciate this post! It feels so overwhelming to even think about being an expert in all aspects of technology, especially since it is ever changing. Thank you for providing some very specific resources as a starting point. I also really appreciate that you mention just focusing on one thing. It's okay to feel like it is overwhelming, because it is! Just pick one thing, try it out, explore it and keep it or not! You don't have to marry it! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
That's right! You don't have to be an expert in everything all at once! Impossible! Thank you so much for your comment! Stay in touch! ~Gwyneth
Delete
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gwyneth! I read that and exhaled a sigh of relief. As I study to become a Teacher Librarian, I can see that I am not alone in my jitters about technology. It seems that many prospective TLs are (expectedly) very comfortable with the printed word, yet the word “technology” has us feeling like long-tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs. Your approach has given me a fresh perspective. I can’t lie and say that I’m suddenly brimming with confidence but I’m feeling somewhat better about trying new platforms and tools. You released some of the pressure with your words of unleashing our “daring innovative change agent spirit”. You even took the time to point lost souls in the general direction of discovery by using hashtags as filters.
This one post of yours has been a huge resource and source of encouragement. Merci!
Oh Kappa, thank you for the kind comment! I'm so glad this has helped you! If you ever need me, please feel free to reach out and email. Best, ~Gwyneth
DeleteThank you so much for writing about the stressfulness of including technology into your library/classroom. It was nice to know I'm not alone.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found it helpful, Anon!
Delete