Technology in Education: Getting the Balance Right

• #UKEdChat session 578
• Choose tech when it is the right tool for learning.
• Upskilling staff’s digital skills is a common issue in schools.
• Click here to view the tweet archive.

Many teachers are tech enthusiasts, many are not. While a group of teachers discussing technology on a tech platform like Twitter will probably skew in a particular direction, it is important to note that not everyone feels the same.

This discussion was prompted by a Twitter colleague asking for thoughts about ‘over-exposure’ to technology in the classroom. I have given much thought to the problematic overuse of technology out of the classroom, fostered by peer pressure to be online or a fear of missing out, which can cause educational issues. But overusing inside the classroom is not something I have previously thought about, as I often see the opposite problem of woeful underutilising the technology that schools already have, for example, the perennial issue of using an e-whiteboard just as a whiteboard. This is why every school should commit at least 10% of the IT budget to upskilling staff.

Technology is a tool, and as such should be used when it is the best method for reaching the desired goal. Teachers and learners should have the choice of when and how to use it to bring about the best learning. If that is 100% of curriculum time, but it is augmenting the learning process, great. If it is zero, that is fine as long as it is considered by the teacher and discounted for legitimate reasons.

In this #UKEdChat session, which took place on Thursday 11th November 2021 at 8pm(UK), we discussed why teachers use technology in the way they do, how to foster a quality over quantity approach, and what training is needed to make the best use of technology.

Questions

1. How would you characterise your use of technology in the classroom?
2. Where would you place yourself on the spectrum of technology enthusiast and sceptic? Why?
3. Do you feel you make the best use of the technology available to you in school, and what further training would you like?
4. Do you think there is such a thing as over or under use of technology in the classroom?
5. How can teachers ensure that learners can choose how much technology they use in their learning?
6. What is the best way for teachers to share technology skills?
7. How can we foster quality use of tech which augments the learning process?
8. What is your favourite piece of teaching tech, either something you have or want?

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