What is the best way to approach teachers?

Sometimes I feel like I appear to have a swelled head when I approach a teacher and ask how I can help them integrate tech. At times I ask them what stage of the curriculum they are at and so on. But I get an uneasy feeling that if I were in there shoes and another teacher came to me and, for example, said "how can I help you with your Teaching methods?", I might be offended. I don't know. Maybe it's me.

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Permalink Reply by Desmond A. Hasty on March 20, 2010 at 1:29pm

I know what you mean. I don't approach it by the 'how can I help you with your Teaching methods' approach. Instead, I introduce alternative ways students can present their work. When PowerPoint is overused and MovieMaker may seem too daunting, there will always be podcasts, etc.

What do you think?

Permalink Reply by Deborah J. Boyd on March 30, 2010 at 8:57am

Well Kevin,
Imagine my position. I have a Master's in IT and now I am working on my PhD in Education. Do you think I may just be a strong supporter of integrating technology into every facet of education? My ultimate plan is to develop an online blended system of education that avoids artificial barriers to allow all learners to progress at a speed that is comfortable for them.

When it comes to approaching teachers, I think they feel threatened by technology. Many parents and communities want technology to be in their public school system but when it comes to paying for it....another story. If teachers that are over 30 are to be expected to welcome technology to the extent that over half of their students do, then we must pay for it and reward the best teachers that are doing the right thing.

I have added your request to Facebook and Twitter

Permalink Reply by Coleen Stanley on March 30, 2010 at 12:28pm

I have a similar issue. My training is in Computer Science and Instructional Design. I am thankful to be in a position where faculty usually initiate the relationship and actually come to our dept looking for help in how to integrate technology. Even so, my first question usually goes something like...how do you think students learn best in your class, or in your field? They will then talk about doing projects or having them work in teams and taking the lead, etc etc. then I can say how a particular tool can enhance that activity.

Permalink Reply by Josh Nelson on March 31, 2010 at 3:43pm

Don't be offended. Technology is extremely overwhelming to teachers if they are not digital natives. Think about it, by the time they learn one piece of technology, it's outdated and the next bigger and better thing comes along. I have learned to be extremely patient when approaching teachers about integrating technology. At one time I was going to "conquer the world." Now I try to educate teachers on how technology engages students in learning; however it is just a tool. Just my two cents...

Permalink Reply by Debbie Prowse on March 31, 2010 at 5:56pm

Maybe I'm a little sneaky, but I look at the teachers' curriculm map for our county and find out what topics of study are coming up. I come up with a technology based lesson to go along with a topic, and find a way to bump into that teacher and tell him/her about a fun, engaging activity we could do together with her students. My teachers have responded really well to this method. When they see that you are excited about something that they are studying about, they get just as excited to see what you are going to bring to their class. Now I even have a couple of teachers who come up to me and say...."Hey, I have another way we could use that (fill in the blank with technology idea I have used previously with them) when we study WW2!

Permalink Reply by Kevin Murphy on April 1, 2010 at 8:07am

That is a good method.. I sent out a google form whcih asks them for up coming units they want to explore with tech. I got three responses. That was nice,

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