As I reflect on my 3 months as a Teaching and Technology Fellow, I realize that, at the start, I was half expecting to learn about some fabulous new technology that would completely revolutionize my teaching and create an atmosphere in which my students were always engaged in Jewish learning. The truth, however, is that there is not a technology that can solve all of our problems, only tools to help us as educators.
I believe that there are 2 primary ways that we can use technology in our classrooms. The first is as a tool that can help us create interactive content. Students will respond more positively and openly to content that is delivered to them in a “language” that they speak. To this end, I have included a training with the teachers during our upcoming orientation and made the school’s iPads available for their use outside of school hours.
The second way that we can use technology in our classrooms is as a tools for students to create projects of their own. However, the technology needs to be seamlessly woven into the curriculum, rather than tacked on as a “special event.” To this end, I have hired a technology specialist to work with all of our classroom teachers to develop age-appropriate projects that enhance the learning students are already doing. My goal is to help the classroom teachers to become more comfortable with using technology in their classrooms to enhance learning.
