5 Easy Ways to Start Using Technology

Let's get moving.  Technology doesn't have to be some mystical and expensive tool that we can't fit into our curriculum.  I don't know of many schools without a functioning computer lab, and more and more students have computers to work from at home.  This is all you really need to get a start.  All you have to do is go for it.  With today's focus on Web2.0 tools, we don't need the expensive hardware or even fancy software to start using technology to improve what we do as teachers and what our students do as students.  Here are five simple ideas to start with:

1. Use Wikis.
   Wikispaces.com is great; they offer free wikis for education, and students pick up the nuts and bolts very quickly.  For your next project, try replacing the poster board with a wiki.
2. Utilize Google Docs
   Have students write a paper collaboratively, or participate in another writing group activity.  All your students will need to do is create a free Google username and have an assignment to complete, and they'll be off and running.  The interface is a simple text editor that any student familiar with Word will be comfortable with.
3. Create a Class Website
   It could be as simple as posting classroom announcements and homework assignments to discussion topics and extension assignments as well as sharing student successes; a class website could be the key to communicating more easily with parents and possibly engaging more students.  If you don't have the capability through your school's website, webs.com or weebly.com offer free web hosting under some limitations.
4. Start a Discussion Board
   This is a great way to get students involved in thinking outside the box and expressing their thoughts while using what they have learned in class.  You could go as big as blogging and commenting on blogs to a more formal 3rd party hosted discussion board to discussion threads hosted on your classroom website to simple and easy, informal boards like Wallwisher.
5. Start using Digital Media
   I know, I know, I said no expensive hardware and devices.  But, almost everyone has a digital camera or could access the one on their cell phones to participate in a project involving digital images.  There are tons of ideas out there, and these could even be merged with projects involving wikis and shared on your class website.  Create a Flickr group for your images, or if you're capable, jump into digital video projects with Flip Video cameras.

Whatever you decide to do, start something.  It doesn't have to be big, but it will make a big difference.  It's time to start using these tools that we have available; we need to catch up to the rest of the world, and as Lao Tzu stated, "The longest journey begins with a single step."