Allies, Not Adversaries

One of the common concerns people have with infusing education with technology is a misunderstanding about how the technology can be a vital learning tool. Have you ever heard anyone say, "I didn't have a computer/iPad/email/cell phone/internet access when I was in school, and I learned plenty!" That argument can be hard to win. How can we assure all educational stakeholders that technology is an excellent and necessary tool for learning? In particular, parents are the most concerned. They want to make sure their kids are safe while using online tools, that they're not being over-exposed with screen time, or that expensive technology isn't just a toy.

Here's a nice post about how to help parents understand the value of technology in the classroom. It really comes down to involvement and transparency. If we can involve parents in the way technology is used in the classroom, they understand how it's used and see the value in it. If we let them see how it benefits their children, they see value in it.

What excites me is that after reading the post, I realized that so many of the teachers in this district already do many of the things listed! I encourage you to review the ideas in the post, keep doing the things you're already doing, and continue to implement others! Maybe you don't have a class website but would like one. Great idea! Talk to em and I can show you how to very quickly and easily make a website with the new version of Google Sites! Have you been using Google Classroom this year? If so, maybe next year you can invite parents to join your Google Classroom so they can see more closely the work their kids are doing! The more we share and involve, the more support and understanding there is!