Staying current with technology as a teacher is critical for effectively engaging and educating students in the digital age. Technology can not only improve the learning experience but also save time and simplify classroom management responsibilities. Improving your technology skills can also help your career development and advancement. In this post, we will look at how to assess your present technological skills, create specific goals, take advantage of professional development options, seek peer assistance and collaboration, and practice and apply new skills in the classroom. So, once you’re done going through this post, you should have a good idea of how to improve technology skills as a teacher.

Assess current technology skills

Before you can effectively develop your Technology skills, you must first assess what you already know and can perform. This will assist you in determining your strengths and places for improvement. Consider asking yourself the following questions:

• What technological tools do you feel at ease using in the classroom?
• How do you incorporate technology into your present lessons and activities?
• Are there any technological talents that you haven’t mastered but would wish to?

To obtain a better understanding of your existing skills, try completing several online quizzes or attending a class or workshop on assessing technology competency.

Set specific goals

Once you know where you stand, you may establish some precise goals for increasing your technological abilities. These objectives should be SMART, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. “I want to learn how to develop interactive lessons using a platform like Nearpod by the end of the month,” for example, is a SMART goal.

When making goals, think about the importance as well as the practicality of the talents you wish to gain. You may have a big list of technologies you want to learn, but it’s critical to select and concentrate on the ones that will have the greatest influence on your teaching and students’ learning.

Take advantage of professional development opportunities

There are numerous possibilities for teachers to participate in professional development related to technology integration. Among the options are:

• Attending seminars and conferences: Many organizations, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), offer educational technology-specific conferences and workshops. Attending these events might provide an excellent opportunity to learn from professionals and network with other educators.
• Participating in online courses or webinars: There are several online courses and webinars on a wide range of technology topics available. Some are free, while others are not.
• Joining educational technology-focused professional groups or communities: Many professional organizations, such as the ISTE, provide members with tools and professional development opportunities. Joining online educational technology networks or groups can also provide a wealth of information and support.

Seek out peer support and collaboration

Improving your technological talents does not have to be a one-man show. Connecting with other instructors who are interested in integrating technology can be a tremendous source of encouragement and inspiration. Here are some suggestions for getting peer support and collaboration:

• Join a technology committee or an interest group at your institution to discuss and learn about new technologies. Joining one of these groups can be an excellent opportunity to meet other teachers and share information and best practices.
• Join online groups or forums: There are numerous online groups and forums for teachers interested in integrating technology. These can be a terrific opportunity to connect with educators from all over the world and share materials and ideas.
• Collaborate on lesson plans and projects: Collaborating with other instructors to produce technology-infused lesson plans or projects can be a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another while also exploring new technologies. Collaborating on a project also allows you to practice your new abilities in a supportive atmosphere.

Practice and apply new skills in the classroom

It’s time to put your new talents to use after you’ve set precise goals and taken advantage of professional development opportunities. Here are some suggestions:

• Consider the following strategies to use technology in your lessons: Look for ways to use technology to improve or enrich your current classes and activities. You could, for example, use Kahoot to build a quiz or Quizlet to make flashcards for vocabulary practice.
• Experiment with various tools and approaches: Don’t be scared to experiment with new technology tools and strategies in your classroom. This can be an excellent method for determining what works best for you and your students.
• Reflect on your use of technology: As you include technology in your teaching, it is critical to reflect on how well it is functioning. This will assist you in determining what is working well and what may need to be tweaked. You might want to keep a notebook or write down your observations and opinions.

Conclusion

Improving your technology skills as a teacher is a continuous process. It’s critical to keep up with new technology and search for ways to incorporate them into your teaching. Knowing how to improve technology skills as a teacher can better serve your students which you can do by defining specific goals, taking advantage of professional development opportunities, seeking peer assistance and collaboration, and practicing and implementing new skills in the classroom. Hopefully, this blog post is helpful for you to know how to improve technology skills as a teacher.

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Khondker Mohammad Shah – Al – Mamun

Khondker Mohammad Shah-Al-Mamun is an experienced writer, technology integration and automation specialist, and Microsoft Innovative Educator who leads the Blended Learning Center at Daffodil International University in Bangladesh. He was also a Google Certified Educator and a leader of Google Educators Group (GEG) Dhaka South.