Friday 11 May 2012

Top Digital Tips for Teachers

I was asked to provide an input to a group of secondary school teachers who are promoting the use of Learning Technology within their schools. I was given the title 'Top Tips'.  After considering a variety of tip type lists, I decided to list the principles that underpin the work I do to promote the use of digital approaches.

I started teaching secondary school science in 1978 and have been using computers in my teaching since then. I have also taught on FE, undergraduate and Masters level courses and over the last 11 years I have been a Learning Technologist providing staff development, support and advice for FE teachers and managers.

The following list has guided my work with teachers over many years:
  1. Priorities the digital
  2. Make your VLE your foundation
  3. Expect learners to engage
  4. Make digital demands
  5. Look before you make
  6. Try one new thing
  7. Join a group
  8. Review your pedagogy
  9. Give CPD time
  10. Face the fear
This list assumes that the organisation that you work for is providing adequate digital kit and web connectivity. If not, the top tip is to encourage managers to adopt a digital focus and allocate appropriate resourcing. Sometimes however, you may only persuade managers to change once a large enough number of teachers have already engaged!
  1. Prioritise the digital
    Many teachers feel that they don’t have the time to learn and use digital techniques and resources. In these cases, Time = Priority! We are all busy people but we find the time to do all sorts of things because we prioritise them. Lack of time = lack of priority.
  2. Make your VLE your foundation
    Provide all the essential, and extension, resources for your teaching and assessment over the web for anytime and anyplace access. Use your VLE (Learning Platform) on a daily basis during your teaching so learners see it in action. This assumes that there is a minimum of 1 staff PC and projector in every classroom.
  3. Expect learners to engage
    If you don’t adopt a positive attitude toward the beneficial role that digital tools and resources can bring to learning, don’t be surprised if your learners don’t engage.  If you use digital and you train your learners to use digital, your expectations will be met (assuming you have a good relationship with your students).
  4. Make digital demands
    Sometimes called ‘Blended Learning’, mix traditional teaching & learning techniques with newer digital approaches (see also 8 and 9 below). Add digital tasks, in class or outside the classroom to develop student’s digital knowledge, skills, confidence and competence. This is one crucial aspect for their future.
  5. Look before you make
    Most teachers like to make teaching and learning resources but there is a World Wide Web of ready to go resources. With effective search techniques and a list of trusted websites you can save masses of time (your librarian might also help you find eResources). Only make something new if it doesn’t already exist.
  6. Try one new thing
    There are a wide variety of digital materials, methods and technologies available. Plan to try something new each term/year and give yourself time to play, implement and most importantly review new things. Done regularly, your digital repertoire quickly increases.
  7. Join a group
    Find a local or national interest group that shares ideas, good practice, new resources etc that can be a source of inspiration and support. Once you’ve lurked for a while, become active in your communication and collaboration.
  8. Review your pedagogy
    Think about your teaching approach and how it works for preparing learners for a digital and connected world. Social constructivism seems to work well in a digital context.
  9. Give CPD time
    The points above won’t happen without some thought, training and practice. Use some CPD time to increase your own knowledge, skills, confidence and competence.
  10. Face the fear
    For some teachers, using new technologies and resources with students is daunting. There was a time when just standing in front of a class was daunting (but most of us overcame that one). Remember:
    • experience is that quality that lets us keep a sense of humour when things go wrong!
    • the idea that young people are innately better than we are with technology is a myth!
    • DON’T PANIC (and have a backup plan).
I haven’t provided links to further information above because new resources appear all the time.

However, the following links are fairly current:
Teacher resources - www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk
Tools and Reviews - http://c4lpt.co.uk/directory-of-learning-performance-tools/
CPD Focus - http://futurelab.org.uk/resources/digital-literacy-professional-development-resource
Teachers Online - #addcym on Twitter

I hope you find something useful in there.
It is for you, the reader, to decide if this list constitutes 'Top Tips' or not (it does work for me however) and thanks to LearnTech Wales (an FE interest group) and RSC Wales (a support group) for your thoughts on the list.

Tip 11 - have good weekends - TGIF

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