Despite how pervasive technology has become, you probably have more than a few faculty members who are reluctant to incorporate new technology into the classroom. This can be problematic for many reasons.
It’s the responsibility of educators and administrators to best prepare students for a quickly changing job market, starting with the intersection of technology and education. Technology can also improve the learning experience for many students, helping them focus on areas where they need more time or additional resources.
In a recent Education Week Research Center survey, most school leaders from across the U.S. indicated that digital technologies are an important supplemental resource in the classroom. So if your school’s mission includes supporting students in learning new technology, it must become an integral part of your school’s educational offerings.
Helping educators learn to use the latest technology isn’t always easy. But this directive must come from the School Head and be supported adequately. Here are five ways you can set the tone to help your teachers adopt new technology.
#1—Limit the number of innovations or initiatives each year to a maximum of two per faculty member. This will give your teachers the time they need to hone new skills while not overwhelming them with too many new tasks and projects.
#2—Don’t roll out any technology initiative without first providing intensive training for all faculty involved. Teams will respond to fresh innovations much more openly if they have received training before they’re expected to use new systems. Also provide continuous support for at least the first 12 months after a project launches to help ensure long-term success.
#3—Find your school’s early adopters. You probably already know this group—they’re always willing to take on new projects and don’t mind reinventing their processes to stay current. Empower these individuals first with new technological initiatives, allowing others to see their successes.
#4—Help your faculty see early adopters in action. Have your early adopters illustrate how they’re using technology in their classrooms and ensure other teachers are able to visit during their preps or downtime. This will illustrate how effective these new initiatives can be. Also consider working with other schools to see how they’ve integrated technology into their classrooms. Many fellow Heads will be happy to share lessons they learned during the process.
#5—Set the direction and don’t look back. With the correct training and preparation in place, roll out your new initiatives with your entire teaching staff. Provide support and encouragement but remain firm in your direction. If certain faculty members still refuse to adopt these new initiatives, it may be time to part ways with those members of your team.
Have you had success rolling out a new initiative and supporting your faculty members as they learned the new technology? Let us know in a comment below.
Additional ISM Resources:
The Source for Private School News Vol. 17 No. 6 How Schools Can Prepare Students for the STEM Workforce
The Source for Private School News Vol. 17 No. 4 These Jobs Are on the Rise in the U.S.—Will Your Students Be Prepared?
Additional Resources for ISM Members:
I&P Vol. 36 No. 1 Establishing Student Achievement Levels
I&P Vol. 36 No. 9 The 21st Century School: Fairness, Competitiveness, and High Performance
