Posted by Amy Scherb on Aug 04, 2016; 12:51am
URL: https://nabble.aealearningonline.org/Topic-4-Narrative-Voice-tp3794p5326.html

There are many words that come to mind when you hear the word technology, but if I were to choose just one it would be convenient.  Think about it, every technological advancement has made our lives easier and more convenient.  Television remotes allow us to comfortably lay back on the couch to flip through channels.  Refrigerators with a built in ice dispenser allow us to enjoy an ice cold drink without having to mess with the pesky task of filling up ice cube trays. Communication has also changed tremendously from the Pony Express to the US Postal Service, and now we have a vast menu of options to instantly communicate across the globe on the Internet thanks to technology.  However, just like any new and improved item technology has it fair share of flaws.  

As a teacher in the 21st century who wants my students prepared for the jobs of the future I am making every effort possible to get my students’ hands on technology in order to enhance their learning.  I have pursued this effort in a variety of ways; attending conferences and webinars, following blogs, watching YouTube and TedTalks, enrolling in classes, and learning on my own through trial and error.    It is through these avenues in which I will take a tool back to my classroom with visions of greatness through simplicity, engagement, high level thinking and advanced application.  

Often times teachers including myself have the mindset that if it worked for teacher B’s class it will also work for mine, however this vision doesn’t always prove to be true as technology can often times create more problems than it solves.    

Pinterest is a great source to illustrate this point. You see Pinterest has thousands of ideas that paint a portrait of making your life fabulous (similar to the idea that technology will make everything grand)   They have everything from amazing home remodels, elaborate hairstyles, creative twists on getting your picky child to eat their vegetables, and photo ideas that would be worthy of being printed on the front cover of a magazine.  

There are plenty of pictures floating around the internet labeled, Pinterest Fails. One example of the fails is a picture of adorable babies perfectly posed with Christmas props with brilliant smiles.  The picture below has two babies occupied with the props in their mouths rather than perfectly posed.

A mom might pin the "perfect" picture as an idea to use when taking pictures for family Christmas cards.  That mom, just like teachers using new technology see something that not only looks great but also looks attainable.  However, the bottom picture shows that the great and attainable idea is actually harder than it looks.  Many teachers could use the same words when describing their attempts when incorporating technology into their classrooms.  

One of the reasons that so many teachers find themselves saying that technology creates more problems than it solves, is the fact that we expect perfection, or at least ease especially when an example presented appears to be flawless.  The reality of this is that technology isn’t flawless.  Add an elementary classroom and the introduction to a new tool to the mix and you might as well quit if you are expecting perfection.  

In order to reverse this mindset teachers must provide scaffolds along the way in order for students to feel successful when using technology.  These scaffolds include allowing students to explore a tool before being required to use it proficiently.  Once students have explored the tool teachers should provide a solid model for students to follow.  Finally there should be some time for students to share their experience and findings in order to create a community of learners.  Students should be able to share what they found to work and what trouble they had.  Within these sharing sessions students begin to learn from one another. Rather than just being held against a high standard that students see as unattainable they can use the scaffolds as building blocks in reaching proficient levels of work, and giving the credit that technology deserves as being a tool that truly does make our lives easier rather than creating more problems than it solves.