When I first started using iPads in my classroom, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of resources and possibilities that existed. For the first few months, I was constantly trying new resources and designing activities for my classes. It wasn’t long before I hit a bit of an ”too much tech” slump. This experience reinforced one of the most valuable lessons I have learned as teacher:
From that point forward, I determined to begin by finding a few resources and using them well. I found the key to success was to establish routines. I built a foundation with several tech tools that were time tested, they were not going to disappear or switch to a payment plan. Resources such as Google Drive, Wikispaces and My Big Campus became a daily, integral part of the effective delivery of relevant, engaging course specific content.
Once I established a routine, I was able to begin finding and implementing content specific tools that created connections to real life experiences for my students. From Culinary Arts to Language Arts to Health and Physical Education, tech tools and helpful resources exist to make this happen. Choosing just one new resource to begin using is a great way to start using more technology or continue building its use into your classroom.