The Human Element in Teaching

It never fails. It’s like clockwork. Every year I hear the same statement, “Tech is going to replace us, why do we need to teach anymore?” Well, don’t let it replace you. Using tech doesn’t mean having students watch videos on EdPuzzle, and playing Kahoot everyday. Find ways to INTENTIONALLY use tech in your teaching, but do NOT remove the human element from your teaching.

This world is changing and it’s changing fast. It seems a new technology tool emerges every week! Intentional use of technology can help kids create awesome projects, allow kids to share ideas with the world, and allow kids to collaborate with one another. I can’t think of a piece of technology, a $50,000 reading program, flexible seating, or maker-spaces that will be a cure-all for student learning. The biggest difference in helping a child learn is, and always will be, the relationships among students and teachers. We need to keep the human element in teaching!

Looking back on my first 3 years of teaching Social Studies, I was so focused on content and technology that I didn’t have time to understand my students. I’m so passionate about History that I thought it would be infectious. Boy, was I wrong. Push back from students, disruptions in class, and students with their head down sleeping. I thought to myself – How can I fix all of this?

I had a solution! Technology was the answer to all of my problems. Boy, was I wrong! Push back from students, disruptions in class, and students with their head down sleeping. If my passion for history and use of technology couldn’t fix this, then I had to change something.

This past school year, I started focusing on understanding my students. A question came to my mind, “Would I want to be a learner in my classroom?” In the past, I was kidding myself by saying, “Yes.” In reality, the answer was “No.” So, my “Why” for education shifted to relationships. I began talking more with my students, greeting them at the door, remembering their names, understanding where they came from. This shift allowed me to start intentionally blending technology with my students’ passions. Did I still have some behavior problems – yes, every class has them. But, did I have as many behavior problems as before – no!

Here are some rules that I live by in Room 303:

1. Remember every student’s name by the end of the first day, and show them you remembered their names on the second day.
2. Greet every student by name at the door. Ask them how they are doing. Tell them you’re glad they are there.
3. Talk to every student at least twice before they walk out of the classroom.
4. Don’t rush to judgement, assume, or overreact – if a student is sleeping in class, talk with them and figure out the reason.
5. Do NOT remove the human element from teaching – 1:1 technology is great, but it’s not a cure-all. Create simulations, interactive lessons, use digital breakouts, gallery walks, or outside lessons. In the end, interact with students and have students interact with each other.