Teachers, why you no use technology?! By Samuel Mack-Poole

Teachers – why you no use technology?

By Samuel Mack-Poole

Nietzsche once famously declared, “All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.” Well, give me a computer with internet access and I can help you travel through different dimensions; the dimension of being stressed and overworked right through to smug street.

As a historian, I look back at Gutenberg’s printing press and marvel at it; it is an invention which doesn’t nearly get enough credit. I can boldly, and correctly, assert that the advent of its technology revolutionised mankind; medicine, theology, politics, science, law...no academic discipline was immune from its overwhelming positive impact.

Yet we live in a braver, newer world (literature buffs will see what I did there); we live in the age of the internet, where I can access first class information within seconds with my extremely privileged fingertips. The internet is akin to the printing press on steroids. It really is a marvellous thing; nonetheless, how much are teachers using it? I still believe that even teachers such as myself, not to be too arrogant, are only using a fraction of the whole.

Quite simply, we must move with the times, unless we want to be left behind like the dinosaur.  I have some colleagues who think that reliance on technology is a wholly negative thing. Well, to an extent, they’re correct – after all, we should have moderation in all things. Nonetheless, I think that many of my colleagues are missing out on making their lives a whole lot easier.

I’ve even started an ambitious project of shared planning with multiple teachers through a Facebook group; I have organised sixteen volunteers to plan one or two lessons, and all they get an entire unit back. Now, I’m going to sound extremely self-obsessed, but I think that sharing planning at a time when the wider British teaching community are bemoaning our working hours, as they longest in Europe, is a cracking idea.

To be formulaic, and to keep this blog pithy and concise, I will now post a grid outlining the strategies I employ with regard to technology on a daily/ weekly basis. Enjoy!

Website/ technology	Teaching Hack	Is it free?
www.showmyhomework.co.uk	Creating quizzes on this in your department will save time. It gives you % breakdowns of your classes’ learning (priceless data) and chasing it up is very easy. If you use community resources, you will notice that many people have made quizzes you can recycle at the touch of a button! Nice	No! Your school has to sign up to this.
Kahoot	This is an excellent website. It uses a competitive model and students love it. You can create your own Kahoots, or you can use public Kahoots. If you’re really savvy, you can get your students making them in computer lessons and use them during the rest of the year.	Yes! Extra cheeky J
Youtube	Okay, this one is nothing new. However, there really are some amazing videos on this website. I try to incorporate a 5 minute video into all of my lessons. This, in my opinion, is good practice. The internet combines the collective power of human intelligence, and gaining someone else’s insights will only be a strength. However, don’t be lazy and abuse this, or students will soon point out that you are not teaching. Lastly, why not create your own resources on there, if you’re brave enough?	Free!
TES	Okay, I know everyone used to use this.  You will also know that people are now charging for resources. However, some people still give their resources out for free, and there are a lot of legacy resources out there, too. Often, you can take something embryonic and develop it.	Yes and no.
Facebook	Believe it or not there are some amazing teacher support groups out there. I cannot commend the Edexcel  History Support Group 2016. This group has really inspired me to make some changes to my teaching. From box learning to drama, it’s been truly great.	Yes J
Promethean whiteboards.	I love my whiteboard, and its pen soooooooooooo much. It has countdown timers which can be used in a PowerPoint, an alarm bell to signal when a task has finished, tickertape to add extra information which you didn’t think until you were in lesson...you can take screenshots of mind maps and keep them for another lesson... It has a pen which enables you to annotate your resources...I loves my smart boards technology. It is a wonderful, wonderful piece of technology.	No. Ask your boss to invest in the teaching and learning.
A wireless mouse.	This enables you to go through your slides from any position in the classroom. It is just great for keeping your more verbose students quiet through teacher proximity.   It gives you freedom!	No. However, you can buy this from amazon for under £10.
Podcasts www.soundcloud.com	Record your voice of you explaining something.   This is great for computer room lessons, so you don’t have to explain the same thing again and again.	Yes...up to 2 hours per email account.
Google Drive	Again, this might be nothing new to you.  However, you can have entire SOL on this.   In the modern age, why not? You’ve got immediate cover is someone is off, and it’s brilliant for NQTs who need guidance with their planning.   Obviously, you don’t want a straightjacket, but it will give your department consistency.	YES.
Your mobile phone	The above podcast comment relates to this (on voice notes). Nonetheless, there are also photos which you can take which will make AFL cheaper than photocopying. Also, why not make your own memes of key figures within the scheme of learning? I do this and students enjoy it very  much.	Well, if you have a smart phone, it’s free.