Trying new things is scary, especially in technology.

And with all the new tools that come out every year it can be downright daunting. Where to begin? It is overwhelming when you already have a full plate just keeping up with day to day responsibilities.

As a Tech Coordinator in my school, I try to share out cool and engaging resources as I come across them. I research tools so I can see how they play out in the classroom and then recommend them to teachers who might like to try them. I think it’s important to keep the teacher in mind when I try new things.

Of course, my true guinea pigs are my students. If I like something, I will try it in class first, incorporating it into a lesson. My classes will give me feedback on the new tool so I can judge if it’s lesson-worthy.

Over the years I have refined my go-to tools and use them regularly–the others I use for specific projects as they fit. I will say as a caveat — I do not use technology for the sake of it — and do not recommend it for that reason either. It must serve a purpose to furthering the learning process and it must make the teacher’s job easier.

With that said, I also think it’s important for lessons to be looked at and refreshed from time to time. After 20+ years, I readily admit that even I get bored with some lessons. I often survey students afterward to see what worked and what didn’t. I adjust the lesson delivery or abandon it altogether. I find something new to make the topic more interesting.

So with all that’s available, how do you know what’s right for you?

Reach out! Talk to your edtech person (if you have one), talk to your colleagues, get on social media!! There is a plethora of resources online. There is one thing that I know and yet am always surprised by and that’s the generosity of teachers. People are using and creating curriculum resources every day. Why reinvent the wheel?

Over the years I have found some tried and true sites that offer fantastic ideas. There are also innovative leaders in education who are on social media and sharing their stuff all the time (blogs, twitter, Facebook). Check my resource page for some of these people.

Pick One Thing

My best advice to avoid the “try it all and use nothing” syndrome — PICK 1 THING. Pick one thing to try in a lesson and use it until you’re comfortable with it. Once it becomes part of your teaching toolbox, try something else. But, give it a chance. Try it with your kids and reflect on its effectiveness. Soon your arsenal will grow and become refined. If you have trouble, get help first. If after you’ve tried it and it doesn’t work or infuse something into your lessons–move on.

I recently ran into a former student. This was a kid who I worried about. He didn’t always get his work done–but when he did, it was inspired. He told me how well he was doing, now an A student. He made a point of saying how well I had prepared him. He had even shown his teacher some things he had learned with me. (I beamed inside). Sometimes you don’t get the affirmation you want at the time, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t made an impact where it counts.

Take a look at your lessons. Find one that has some dust on it. Blow the dust off and infuse some new life into it. Your students might actually thank you.