Embrace Digital Transformation

 Back in 2010, I found that school (my instruction) was becoming increasingly irrelevant to my students who were beginning to come to my classroom with more tech-saviness. Something had to change, and that change was me. In my quest, I stumbled upon an article from Edutopia that mentioned Edmodo. The rest, as they say, is history. Although Edmodo no longer exists, it completely changed my life as an educator. It was often referred to as the “Facebook” for students and educators. I was able to connect my class with students and teachers around the world, and we collaborated on many projects. I have many stories and experiences that I could share. One door that opened for me as a teacher was connecting with other educators and going down the rabbit hole of digital tools to use in the classroom. Although I’d never considered myself particularly tech-savvy, I certainly learned a lot that transformed my teaching practices. 

Luckily for me, those years of integrating digital tools into the curriculum paid off when educators were forced to pivot overnight to a Zoom classroom during the Covid pandemic. As an instructional coach, I wasn’t caught flat-footed and unprepared. I was able to help our teachers adapt and learn quickly how to navigate this new frontier. It was a double blessing that before the pandemic, I had been assisting teachers in elevating their instruction by learning some digital tools to solve real-world classroom challenges. Many were used to and had trained their students to use online platforms to create, complete, and submit their work. Students were used to creating videos, audio recordings, and slides. During the shutdown, learning kept happening. We had to adapt and make adjustments, but we learned together.

Keeping up-to-date on all the digital tools available to educators is daunting and maybe impossible. I have learned over the years that tools come and go. They change constantly, so keeping track of the upgrades is challenging. And many tools that start off free quickly have a price after becoming popular. The development of AI is an interesting phenomenon in education. Considering that AI technology is in its infancy, the benefits to educators most likely haven’t even been fully imagined yet. However, it is essential for educators, newbies, and veterans to keep learning about this and other technologies. 

Learning is about being intentional and growing each day. Small, baby steps forward are still steps forward. Learning is a journey, not a destination. Those tiny bits of learning compound over time. The commitment you make to yourself to invest your time and energy into learning will pay off. The wisdom that you acquire stays with you forever. 

Don’t allow yourself to make excuses. Technology doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Learn one thing and learn it well. Use it in the classroom. Ask, “How can I use this tool to make learning more impactful?” Be curious! Explore how you can make learning more relevant. What can you do with a digital tool that you cannot do in a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom? Be creative! Collaborate- especially with students. As you gain confidence, expand your repertoire.