When considering the EdTech Tools for your class, you almost must make sure it will be funded. As a teacher you only have so much money funded towards your class materials and tech tools. The bigger the school, the more money you will have to work with. To play it safe you should look for resources that are free are readily available. You should also ask other coworkers for advice and to see what they use in their classroom
Every school and district has an approved list of hardware and software that can be used in the classroom. This is because they want to provide a list that can be used in basically every classroom. Bigger Districts and Schools have greater lists because they have extra funding and have more of a board to make decisions normally. Therefore there is more money available to spend and also greater input than there would be say at a small public school or even a private school.
Lastly, the most important thing to look for when looking for a tech tool is how much it matches with your curriculum. It is important for tech tools to match your curriculum or to be based upon it. This way you are following what your students should be being taught and what your school expects your students to do. But also using tools to utilize the experience and help engage them more in what they are learning in order to help them obtain the information better.
- Educators 2 Educators= "The One Word Difference"
Educators 2 Educators Podcast:
First, define your life vision. Write it everywhere so that you can see it and it reminds you. This way it helps remind you and keeps you focused on what is important in your life. In other words, these are the priorities that you want to have in your life. Another way to ask the question is, "What does your best life look like?" To me my best life would be this: Christ is the center of my life and all of my relationships, followed by my family and friends because they are important to me and I want to do everything I can to be there for them and lastly, it would be to properly teach and do what the Lord has called me to do.
Second, cut out and say no to the things that don't fit in vision. What are the 3 big things that you can say no to? Those are extra things you do that you can say no to. My list would consist of saying no to things I don't want to do, some social events held on campus, and some big opportunities that don't align with my vision. You have control over your personal limits and what you say no to. If it doesn't align with your personal vision it is not selfish to cross them off and cut them out to help lead you towards your better life and focus on what really matters.
Third is saying yes to the things that fit the vision. The best part about the above paragraph is that if you say no, that leaves more room for a yes to something that you love. Therefore, that helps lead you to your best life. So if I so no to the things above then it gives me more time to do what I enjoy and not feel pressured, hangout with my friends and family, spend time and Christ, and spend time with myself.
Last of all, realize that mistakes will be made. You don't always have the strength to say no or you may say yes to something that doesn't line up with what you believe. It's part of life and it would be out of the ordinary if you didn't make mistakes. But with those mistakes you can make short cuts that can lead down the path towards your life vision.