How NOT To Embed Technology

The internet is full of articles advising schools and teachers on the best way to incorporate tech into their lessons. But what if you don’t want to? This article highlights some tips to help facilitate this neglected issue…

  • Avoid technology as much as possible. If someone is showing you how to use something, look as uninterested as possible. Read a book or something.
  • Try and avoid any examples of good practice. Just because tech helps other teachers, doesn’t mean it will help you!
  • Look at how a teacher has to change how they work to make ICT work to keep up with new ideas and concepts – take comfort in your old ways of working, and feel satisfied that you have not had to change anything for many years.
  • Feel free to complain when you try to use technology, especially if it fails you. Looking smug when complaining may or may not help – use your discretion. Alternatively, stay silent, and don’t look for any support.
  • Pointing out when technology doesn’t work is a great way of blocking it’s use. You may need some practice with this, so feel free to try this at every possible opportunity. And if a child offers to show you how to do something, take it as an offence.
  • Keep your life simple and use technology inappropriately. Use an iPod Touch to show the entire class simultaneously how to do long division.
  • Don’t keep laptops charged, do avoid looking after any help sheets, and make sure to lose as many small, but vital bits of technology (interactive whiteboards pens are a perfect example).
  • Try to do everything all at once. When you find it difficult to cope, make sure that everyone knows that the technology was at fault, and not you.
  • Use your experiences to remind others how often technology has failed you. Like a dripping tap, you will make your point, and irritate at the same time.
  • Distance yourself from technology. Convince yourself that it will only distract, and offers little, if any, real-world benefits to your pupils. Don’t practice using technology, even in private.

 

If your school is adamant that you must use ICT in your lessons, then remember:
The most important thing about using technology is how it makes everything look nice and shiny. If your handwriting is unreadable, and your mathematical diagrams look like abstract art, then ICT will help you to convince others that you know how to use technology effectively. If you do find yourself in the unfortunate position of benefiting from technology in anyway, I urge you to keep it to yourself.

Good luck!

 

Feature image courtesy of Flickr, JD Hancock

2 Comments

  1. While I appreciate the humour, sarcasm is generally not an effective way to deal reluctant users. Sarcasm is what is used by the user to affirm their point of view. Some may say that you need to use fire to fight fire by remember that most fire fighters use water :)

    1. Thanks for the comment Flame On! Yes, agree with you completely on sarcasm being detrimental when encouraging reluctant users to try technology. The two worst characteristics I can now recognize when dealing with overzealous techno-geeks is sarcasm and condescension. Two personality traits that have no place in motivating people to learn. Love your fire fighting analogy too.
      Nick

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