By Nicholas Provenzano
9/14/11 From Edutopia (http://www.edutopia.org)
As the new school year gets underway, there will be plenty of times when the "techy" teachers are going to be asked to help others get their classrooms set up. As I spent the first few days helping my friends put their digital lives together, I made sure to follow some important tips I learned over the years. Follow these tips and helping teachers get ready will be a breeze.
1) Listen
It seems simple enough, but I've seen too many tech support people just come in and plug computers in and re-start programs without really listening to what the problem is. Take a moment and listen to their specific problem, and ask the questions you need to ask. This makes the person feel better about the whole situation.
2) Avoid Saying "It's Easy"
Just because it is easy for you, doesn't mean it is easy. The phrase has a way of making people feel stupid if it was not easy for them. Just tell them you will be happy to help.
3) Show, Tell, and Let Them Try
It is important that you show them the process of fixing their problem. The saying about teaching someone to fish applies here. It is easier to just do it, but if you can show them how to resolve the problem on their own, they might not need to call you for help next time. Even better, they might be able to assist others who might have called for your help.
4) Follow up
I feel it is always important to follow up in the next day or two. Sometimes the problem doesn't stay fixed or another issue comes up and they are afraid to bug you for more help. A follow-up lets people know that you are still available to assist if needed. Helping teachers with tech is as much about relationships as it is fixing things. If people feel comfortable, they will be more willing to ask for support and take advice.
These four steps have helped me help many teachers over the years. Consider them the next time you get a distress call for serious tech support. Happy teching!
If you like this, you might also like
* The Dos and Don'ts of Tech Integration PD by Mary Beth Hertz
* Four Simple Tips to Start the Year Strong by Nicholas Provenzano
Source URL: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tech-teachers-advice-nicholas-provenzano
3 comments:
This is great advice; it is so simple, but it is also so easy to forget. Not saying, "It's easy" is a really tough one for me. Sometimes I think that by saying, "It's easy", it will make it less scary. However, it can really have an adverse effect on teachers who are not so "techy". It makes them feel put down when it doesn't come easy for them. I also think that having teachers try stuff for themselves rather than just watching us do it is the most effective. This applies to students as well. Everyone learns better by doing. It takes extra time to teach this way, but it is more effective and can save time in the long run when you don't have to keep reteaching the same concept. Great tips to keep in mind when helping other teachers with technology!
Lisa,
Well said, as commenting on this blog is a good example of learning by doing.
I really liked this advice. I was the technology "guru" for my building for two years. I also learned to stop and listen before I did anything. I also made sure that I gave the teacher a chance to "try it out" after modeling how to do something. Great teaching is still "I do. We do. You do," even with adults! Instead of saying, "It's easy," I just tell the teachers, "It's not easy for everyone. You will get it, and if you don't, you can write it down for next time!" I usually get a little laugh and then I feel like some of the tension and anxiety lessens. I struggled with the consistency of the follow up part. If I couldn't see them personally to talk about the issue, I would try to send an email to see how it was going. Often, I would just assume all was well if I didn't hear anything else!
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