Ten reasons teachers can struggle to use technology in the classroom | Other Sciences - Phys.Org

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Somewhere in a school near you, a teacher is struggling to handle a query from a student whose laptop has a flat battery or another who's watching a funny cat video on a phone. 

Integrating technology into the classroom can have huge benefits. But it’s not always straight forward.
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Perhaps the wireless internet connection is dropping in and out, or the electronic whiteboard is playing up.

While teachers are expected to integrate technology into the classroom, the reality can be very different.

Some of the issues teachers can face relate to the technology itself. Others relate to student or parent expectations, or whether there's enough of the right professional development to help teachers become proficient in digital technology.

Without addressing these concerns, we risk creating a generation of students ill-prepared for a digital future.

The pressure to become digital experts
No doubt digital technologies can enhance learning through accessing information and improving communication, as well as providing self-directed and collaborative learning opportunities. ICT skills can also help develop capable, future-ready citizens.

So over the past decade, teachers have been expected to integrate digital technologies...

In practice, many teachers struggle
Despite significant resources allocated to integrating technology in the classroom, many teachers have struggled with disruptions that devices can bring, had their work negatively impacted or have not used technologies effectively. And many pre-service teachers perceive introducing new technologies as a future teaching barrier.

Here are ten reasons teachers can struggle to use new technologies in the classroom.
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Source: Phys.Org