Digital Workspace

How Upgraded Technology Supports Teachers in the Classroom

With new devices and software, teachers can connect with students and work efficiently.

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Jasmine Haverly is a sixth grade English language arts and reading educator at Aldine Independent School District. She recently graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a master’s in educational administration. She coaches cheer and loves to spread positivity to students and staff members.

Editor’s Note: EdTech is exploring the classroom as a workplace and the impact of legacy technology on teaching. Click here for more on legacy systems; explore essential edtech for today’s K–12 educators here; and read more about the connection between teacher retention and legacy technology here.

As a sixth grade English language arts teacher at Aldine Independent School District in Texas, I use technology from bell to bell. Our school provides many applications that I can use with my students, and I constantly share tips with other teachers in the district, encouraging them to use this technology in their own classrooms.

For the 2021-2022 school year, Aldine ISD provided every educator in the district with devices. While we need to return the laptops and peripherals when the school year ends, it’s been great having this new technology to use with my class.

Technology isn’t going anywhere, so we might as well go ahead and embed it in our lessons and the curriculum. The hardware and applications the district provides help me engage and connect with my students as well as the middle school cheer team I coach.

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New Teacher Laptops and Peripherals Strengthen Classroom Learning

The educators at Aldine ISD received new Chromebooks to use with their classes this year. Previously, another teacher and I shared a set of 25 laptops for our classes. We alternated the days we would use the computers; for example, she had them on Monday and Wednesday, I had them Tuesday and Thursday, and we rotated every other Friday.

Now, it’s so convenient to work with the students, who also received devices from the school in response to remote learning and the pandemic. Because students can do so many assignments online, my room is less cluttered with papers. Parents also like being able to log in and see their students’ grades on the computer in real time, rather than waiting for a paper report card.

I like that I can see when my students are logged on and that applications are constantly updating. As a reading teacher, I love finding ways to get everyone hands-on, even when working digitally.

In addition to the Chromebooks, the school gave us headphones and computer mice. These extras really help us out as teachers.

Professional Development Needs Slow Teachers Down

There are some classroom devices that are fairly old that I hope the school is able to update soon. One of the biggest difficulties, though, is when new technology is put in classrooms without any training. This can be especially difficult for less tech-savvy teachers who may not learn the technology as intuitively.

When needed, I was pulled into different classrooms last year, along with a few other techy teachers, to help out with new applications or devices. The 2020-2021 school year was already crazy because everything was new, and no one knew what was going on. Catching up takes time; it’s important that we give teachers a lot of grace when it comes to learning new technology. We need to teach people how to use the tech and not just say, “Take this, hurry up and learn it.”

Overall, the IT leaders at Aldine ISD support everyone really well with the new computers.

When I do have issues with the older tech in my classroom, I reach out to the IT help desk. It can be difficult not having an IT person at each district campus, especially when some campuses have more issues with technology.

How to Ask Your District About New Classroom Technology

When looking to upgrade educators’ tech tools, Andy Arnold, CTO of Kingsport City Schools in Tennessee, says every district has a different process. Varying policies and budgets change how IT departments approach purchasing. Here’s where Arnold says educators should start conversations about new classroom technology:

Talk to the principal: Educators should start by having a conversation with their principal before they bring their desires to the IT team. This way, educators can ensure the principal is on board with their ideas and that they have all the information.
Build relationships with IT staff: Opening lines of communication with the IT department is more effective when those relationships are already in place. It helps the technology administrators understand the wants and needs of the staff on an ongoing basis.
Know the building’s strategic plan: New instructional technology should align with the goals of the school. For example, if the school’s goals are community communication, show how the new tech will enable or support that connection.
Learn the district IT standards: Knowing what the district is already using, even if it’s being used in another building, can help educators make the case for getting that new technology into their classroom.
Be aware of district IT restrictions: Remember that the IT department has its own non-negotiable criteria for new programs and devices, and they must also follow state and federal criteria. CTOs are looking at the technologies’ manageability, interoperability, safety and security, and scalability.

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