Have you ever planned a lesson where the kids need to use the Chromebooks or the iPads or the laptops or the computer lab only to have there be some sort of technology problem? How do you handle it? Do you react like this?
Or do you react like this, cool as a cucumber, completely unruffled?
Sad but true -- sometimes the technology doesn't work! Here are a number of reasons why there could be a tech failure:
- Website is down
- Power failure
- Network is down
- Network is busy (like we have experienced in past years during MAP testing)
- Internet is busy (like we experienced a couple years ago during the US Olympic hockey game)
- Low/dead battery
- No apparent reason
Planning a lesson that uses technology then not having the technology work can be hugely frustrating! So here is the best piece of advice for planning lessons that integrate technology -- HAVE A BACK UP PLAN :-)
What can you do if the technology fails you -- for whatever reason? Check this link for some ideas:
The most important thing is to never give up! We know the world is an imperfect place -- John Bender taught us that!
Remember, a good lesson isn't good because of the technology being used; it's a good lesson because of the learning experience it provides for the students. Try one of the suggestions in the linked document above and move on! The technology problem will be resolved and then you can keep moving forward!
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