Week 2: Technophobia

I have met a fair share of teachers who are extremely wary of technology. You know the type. The one who shudders at the word “powerpoint”, who thinks that QR Code sounds like the name of one of those new-age sci-fi movies, who thinks that Tik-Tok is just the sound that a clock makes. The ones who start their sentences with “Back in my day…” or “When I was younger” and will probably end with them saying something like “we had AOL chat rooms, and they were very cool. Much cooler than your chatsnaps or whatever they’re called.”

For this type of teacher, the use of a marker and a whiteboard is sufficient. And it works. Because it always has. And it always will, right? ...Right?

Now, this teacher can cause some serious problems in our classroom. Even if we have an entire school that values advancement and technology integration, it is entirely possible that the class won’t advance. Why?

Vicky Davis broke this problem’s effect down into a series of not very mathematical equations:
Good Technology Access + Good Technology Pedagogy = Improvement!
Good Technology Access + Bad Technology Pedagogy = No Improvement!
No Technology Access = No Improvement!
(Read the full blog: “Why Technology in Classrooms Doesn’t Always Boost Education Results” )
There is no doubt that technology can help us in our teaching endeavors. It helps create a collaborative classroom experience and connects us to our students. However, it isn't enough that technology exists in the classroom - that every student in the classroom has an iPad, that every student has learning apps on their phones, that every student is a member of the grade's Whatsapp group.
 The teacher is a crucial part of that experience. If the teacher isn't involved in the learning process that happens when technology is introduced into the classroom setting, then the students will not progress.
How do we fix this problem? How do we help our technophobic friends face their fears?
If you have the time, I really recommend reading the two following blogs.
1) If you are the teacher who is ready to take on the technology challenge - Good for you!!!
I recommend the following blog by Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator. It is called "7 #BYOD Building Blocks for Success"
It is a step-by-step plan that makes the process of integrating technology seem a little less daunting.
(By the way, BYOD is an acronym for Bring Your Own Device. If you don't know why there is a pound key in front of it, google the word "hashtag". Perhaps, I will even address the use of hashtags in a future blog, so stay tuned :D)

2) If you are someone who knows a teacher who is struggling with this topic I suggest reading the following blog by Josh Work - "5 Tips to Help Teachers Who Struggle with Technology"
This is a way to help your colleagues through the stress of technological advancement. Once you get passed this step, feel free to reference the first blog.

There is, of course, the possibility that you don't have the time to read the aforementioned blogs and have many other fascinating blogs to grade... uh, I mean, read.
Perhaps this short reflection on the blogs will suffice.

Firstly, the administrators and fellow colleagues should understand that teachers struggling with integrating technology need affirmation and guidance. They need strategies, guidelines, and exposure to technology at a slow and steady pace. If you see your colleague needs help or you learned something new, share those ideas. When we learn different teaching methods in college, we incorporate different activities into our teaching. Incorporating technology is no different. We should allow for all teachers - regardless of their level of experience and tech-savviness - to go through that process themselves. It is a learning curve. Once we increase exposure, we can reduce the severity of the phobia and we will be able to reach many more teachers.

More importantly, the main knowledge I gained from reading these blogs is that teachers are much like their students. We are afraid of being overwhelmed. We are afraid of trying new things. We are afraid of not succeeding.

If you're one of the TESOL teachers with technophobia, it's okay. Take a deep breath.
The same way you want your students to appreciate the wonderful world of the English language, you should try to understand their world and all the wonderful opportunities technology presents you. If we encourage our students to face those fears, then we must also learn to face our own fears.
It's time to take that simple board marker, that squeaky-clean whiteboard, and that standard ministry approved textbook and replace them with something that challenges you and your students to become better learners.
The first step is to start learning.