Edtech confidence leads to bigger things

Teachers everywhere recognise its possibilities for innovation, communication and learning, but it is still the case that some feel daunted by its complexity and anxious about using it with their students.  
 
It's understandable. If teachers are simply given a whistle-stop tour of a solution for an hour or so during a training day, they are unlikely to be confident enough to put it to use in the classroom straight away. What’s needed is the chance to get their hands on it, practice, and become familiar with it on their terms. Without this time factored into their timetables, they will struggle to gain a working knowledge of the edtech or use it meaningfully with their students – and so the cost of buying and implementing it is wasted. 
 
Getting started
Even if teachers do work in a school committed to helping them develop technical skills, where's the best place to start? Being left alone with unfamiliar technology can be intimidating, so they must receive practical training that they can subsequently try out on the actual devices they will be using with their classes.
 
Accessing the technology as soon as possible after the training will help teachers to consolidate what they have learned. Taking it slowly and becoming familiar with one feature at a time means that knowledge and confidence will build together before they put things to the test in front of their students.
 
To achieve fluency in any new skill, repetition is the key. This rehearsal time is where making mistakes is beneficial, as it provides teachers with the chance to find out how to fix things without being under pressure; minimising the fear factor and leaving them better prepared for the classroom. Some teachers I have spoken with say they have practised by videoing themselves and, when happy with the results, have incorporated the feature into their video exemplars for students or parents. This means they can review and adapt as they go while building up a bonus library of instructional resources.