Avoiding Pitfalls PART TWO

Avoiding Common Pitfalls PART TWO PART TWO Wrong selection of Technology Lack of follow up In today's Technology World, we see changes daily.  You buy a piece of hardware or the the latest software only to find that all has changed overnight.  I remember buying my first computer, an Apple IIe, and having the sales person, who knew that this was a big decision, understood the problem. He said to me this following statement which summed up the general feeling of so many, "If you wait to buy that 'perfect' computer, it would be like waiting to marry the perfect wife.  Each day that goes by will make you change your mind and you will never get married or buy that computer". I have never forgot that. Technology Pitfalls are all around us.  If it's not money, it's appropriate selection issues; or it's lack of training or follow up.  These pitfalls, while are easy to overcome, will doom any project to failure.  So often I hear Educators say that they struggle with this issue at budget time.  The Pitfall:  Wrong selection of Technology "We really need this"!  How many times have you attended a conference or sat through a sales pitch and got so excited about a piece of Hardware or that "just got to have" software only to find out after getting the items that you can not use it.  If they tell you it is "the only thing you will ever need", don't buy it.   The Solution:  This goes back to The Plan.  You need to really spend some time working on deciding what you need.  Remember it what you need and what will effectively help your students.  We began out planning process with the focus on what we felt would be a good place to start.  The Lap Top Project is a good example of beginning with the basics.  A lap top, video projector, and a ELMO.  This was the jumping off point because the requirements for the teachers were to utilize the lap tops for imputing grades, keeping attendance, online training, and other types of jobs.  The projector would allow them to use one computer for whole class instruction, and the ELMO would be a great tool for students.  We knew that if we could get the teachers to use these tools, it would be easy to move to the next stage. While we had a nice technology and for the first time we could have outfitted the classrooms with a lot of technology, we didn't want to just have it sit  and collect dust.  It was the right amount at the right time. The Pitfall: Lack of follow up Most systems do provide the initial training but most don't utilize effective followup.  I have found so many times as I travel around to classrooms, I see the stuff we just trained the teachers and students on, not being used.  The  main reason for this is, most teachers didn't remember what they had learned in the initial training or once they go back to the classroom and have problems.  I can't tell you how many times a teacher will become so frustrated when they hit the wall and refuse to use the technology.  The next time you attempt to train or require them to use technology, they will always remember the unpleasant experience.  This usually is the killer for technology usage.   The solution: As for the followup training, it should be provided also in a variety of methods. Usually you can tell what works and what doesn't.  I have found that following up at least two or three weeks after the initial training is about the best time for followup.   This period of time allows then time to play with it and get to the point where they want to start using it.  The period between the initial training and the follow up will also provide you with compliance.    "Don't expect what you don't inspect".   Compliance is always required when monies are used.  Also you didn't buy the technology just because you could.   Follow up also allows you to make up for the gaps in training.  Not everyone is a born trainer.  Some trainers know all about the product but do not know howmto explain it in terms that the 'non technical' person can understand.  Don't expect the teacher, student, or parent to always pick up on using the devices without followup.   Tomorrow's topic will be "Technology on a Shoestring Budget"

Avoiding Pitfalls PART ONE

Avoiding Common Pitfalls PART ONE

Lack of A Technology Plan

Tight monies restricting buying decisions

Lack of effective training

PART TWO

Wrong selection of Technology

Lack of follow up


In today's Technology World, we see changes daily.  You buy a piece of hardware or the the latest software only to find that all has changed overnight.  I remember buying my first computer, an Apple IIe, and having the sales person, who knew that this was a big decision, understood the problem. He said to me this following statement which summed up the general feeling of so many, "If you wait to buy that 'perfect' computer, it would be like waiting to marry the perfect wife.  Each day that goes by will make you change your mind and you will never get married or buy that computer". I have never forgot that.
Technology Pitfalls are all around us.  If it's not money, it's appropriate selection issues; or it's lack of training or follow up.  These pitfalls, while are easy to overcome, will doom any project to failure.  So often I hear Educators say that they struggle with this issue at budget time. 

The Pitfall:  Lack of a Technology Plan

This seems to be one area that most people attempt to complete but usually fail.  We are all aware of how important a Plan is but we fail to properly construct a Plan that fits our needs.  Copy and Pasting just doesn't get it.  This is not really the time to attempt to 'fit' another plan created by someone else into 'our' plan.  Templates are great but only if they are blank to begin with.


The Solution:

Do your homework first.  Review several Technology Plans and then take the FIRST STEP: Assess Your Needs.  I have always felt that spending time on this Pitfall will be the most important thing you can do.  "If you FAIL to PLAN, you PLAN to FAIL.


The Pitfall: Tight monies restricting buying decisions.

This is probably the killer for most buying decisions that you will face.  On a personal level, I have found that most decisions about technology is based on funding.  You either have to limit what you buy or it forces you to spend the monies on things you really don't need.  It really all goes back to your Plan.  What is needed and what is the level of experience of the user.

The solution:

The first step of the Major Plan is: Managing the funding source.  This will require you to identify monies that you are going to use for technology.  This decision MUST be FINAL.  You can always add to your budget but you can NOT take away.  In my previous system, we utilized ARRA Funding as our source for technology.  This was a land fall of monies but that presented us with many problems.  Since there had been a lack of technology for our Special Programs, it would have been easy to go overboard and spend, spend, and spend.  Here is the key: Match the Money with the Need.  The NEED must be based on the teachers, the students, and what you need to be able to integrate technology into the classroom.

The Pitfall: Lack of effective training

As far I am concerned, this ranks as number one.  The key is 'effective'.  Hands-on Training, before implementation, and followup training to provide problem solving.  Most systems do provide the initial training but most don't utilize effective followup.  

The solution:

Provide various methods for training such as, Hands-on, online, video, and additional types of training on the Hardware and Software you want them to use.  Small group training sessions seem to work well.  Make sure you have enough hardware and copies of the software for each trainee.  As for the followup training, it should be provided also in a variety of methods.  Don't expect the teacher, student, or parent to always pick up on using the devices without followup.  

Tomorrow's topic will be Pitfalls Part Two