It
took a long time for computers to become accepted in offices, even though they
are now an absolutely indispensable tool. A big part of that task was training
workers how to use the new technology. Since computers are now household items,
it's easy to lose track of just how much resistance there was at first.
It's the same with an interactive display for the classroom. Unless teachers are
trained how to really use them and how to prepare materials for a lesson plan,
they will not be used.
In the past, teachers considered high-end AV equipment to be too complicated. They
would depend on technicians to operate the equipment for them, and wouldn't
touch it themselves. Part of the problem was the perceived risk of breaking the
equipment. Fortunately, the ubiquity of touchscreen devices has lowered the
barriers for training teachers on how to use them.
However, a teacher must learn to do more than simply interact with the touch
screen. They will need to produce or source content for their lesson plans
unless the school has access to professionally produced content for every
lesson. Even then, there will often be times when a teacher prepares a lesson
plan to specifically address the needs of his or her class. In this case, it is
unlikely that there will be a wealth of pre-written content ready for them to
pick up and use. What’s more, different classes will need a different approach.
Teachers bring their own style to the classroom, and their technical needs will
be different. The only way to ensure they are fully supported is to put them in
control of the technology.
The
early stages should simply consist of getting the teacher up and running. They
should be shown the simpler features of the display, and learn just enough to
be able to start using it in their lessons. There is a big temptation to show
them all the different ways they can use it, but this approach would overwhelm
them. It's better to whet their appetites, and then give them the resources to
teach themselves.
You
may focus on the most technically trained teachers at the start. As soon as
they start to see the benefits of an interactive display, the other members of
the faculty will want to experience the same results. And the first wave of
teachers will make excellent trainers who can get their colleagues up and running!
Remember, all of your
teachers are excellent independent students in their own right. They must be,
to have gotten where they are today! Once they have sufficient motivation, they
will be able to train themselves to use more challenging features without much
external input.
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