The Tech Edvocate

Top Menu

  • Advertisement
  • Apps
  • Home Page
  • Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
  • Home Page Four
  • Home Page Three
  • Home Page Two
  • Home Tech2
  • Icons [No Sidebar]
  • Left Sidbear Page
  • My Account
  • My Speaking Page
  • Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
  • Newsletter Unsubscription
  • Our Brands
  • Page Example
  • Protected Content
  • Register
  • Request a Product Review
  • Shop
  • Shortcodes Examples
  • Signup
  • Start Here
    • Governance
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • The Edvocate
  • Topics
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise

Main Menu

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
    • Request a Product Review
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • Pedagogue

logo

The Tech Edvocate

  • Start Here
    • Our Brands
    • Governance
      • Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
        • My Speaking Page
      • Careers
    • Write For Us
    • Contact Us
    • Books
    • Edupedia
    • The Edvocate Podcast
  • Topics
    • Assistive Technology
    • Child Development Tech
    • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
    • EdTech Futures
    • EdTech News
    • EdTech Policy & Reform
    • EdTech Startups & Businesses
    • Higher Education EdTech
    • Online Learning & eLearning
    • Parent & Family Tech
    • Personalized Learning
    • Product Reviews
  • Advertise
    • Request a Product Review
  • Apps
  • Tech Edvocate Awards
  • The Edvocate
  • Pedagogue
  • Top 7 Education Apps for the Classroom

  • Should Parents Also Know How to Use E-Learning Platforms?

  • Advances In Text-To-Speech Technologies Help Computers Find Their Voice

  • Campuses Have Used IoT Projects to Promote Convenience, Security, and Comfort for Students

  • Home-based Learning Tips For Parents: 6 Tips For Effective Learning

  • K–12 Leaders Get Creative to Make the Case for Network Upgrades

  • Network Segmentation Boosts Wi-Fi Performance And Security For K-12 Schools

  • The IoT In Higher Education Has Big Potential If Devices Are Kept Secure

  • How Schools Are Recruiting New Teachers Virtually

  • How K–12 Schools Are Doing Summer School Virtually

Higher EducationHigher Education EdTech
Home›Higher Education›10 Habits of Tech-Savvy Professors

10 Habits of Tech-Savvy Professors

By Matthew Lynch
February 20, 2018
Spread the love

If you’ve ever found yourself reciting the phrase, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, you’ve likely observed older coworkers, and family members refuse smartphones and tablets. As a professor, this kind of attitude is unacceptable. Your students need an education infused with technology, and it’s your responsibility to become a tech-expert yourself.

We’re breaking down the top 10 habits of tech-savvy professors! Implement these in your professional life and regain control of the classroom. 

  1. They Invest in Personal Development: If you’re new to the world of tech, do everything you can to invest in yourself. Invest time in trips to the library for reading material, invest money in online courses that offer advanced instruction and speak to higher-ups at your university about opportunities for additional training. Remember: great schools make internal professional development a priority!
  2. They Practice, Practice, Practice: Sometimes this means investing in new equipment or speaking to the school board about implementing new classroom resources. After all, to learn how to use technology, you must have technology that’s easily accessible. Once the physical resources are available, anyone can master an unfamiliar digital landscape by taking the time to practice, practice, and practice. We recommend having an iPad or digital device at home that mimics tools students use in the classroom for additional, at-home practice. It’s better to make mistakes in the privacy of your own home than a lecture hall filled with 200 students.
  3. They Listen (To Their Own Students!): Let’s face it. Unless you’re Steve Wozniak, the students in your classroom can handle a tablet better than you can. As a professor, it’s difficult to feel like your students know more than you. But don’t be afraid to ask them questions and listen to their advice. Get the perspective of students who love online learning and figure out how their minds adapt to new tools. Your students can be your best tech resource if you allow them to be.
  4. They Have Confidence: The less certain you feel handling technology, the less motivation you’ll have to continue mastering new resources. The more courses you take, the more materials you read, and the more Google searches you navigate through, the more inspired you’ll feel to continue educating yourself. Build up your confidence through practice and don’t let little mistakes discourage you.
  5. They Focus on the Purpose: Every edtech tool implemented should be applied with a particular purpose in mind, whether that’s to address students struggling with dense material or inspire students to improve their research skills. Likewise, every tech-savvy professors understand why they’re learning what they’re learning, whether that’s to improve their ability to navigate classroom web pages or understand how to pull information from an online database quickly. If you don’t understand why it’s important for you to master a particular program, you’ll never successfully communicate that information to your students.
  6. They Create Their Own Web Presence: Create your own blog, website, or social profile. You’ll be amazed how much you can learn navigating a web page that you’re responsible for managing and updating. You’ll learn to troubleshoot, you’ll master the principles of digital design, you’ll figure out how to communicate effectively with other influencers online, and you may even learn basic coding.
  7. They’re Fearless: Like anything else, don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t be afraid to troubleshoot and, when things get especially tough, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Even professionals who’ve mastered tools like Adobe Photoshop and Avid Media Composer have, at one point, doubted their ability to do so. Once you have a little experience under your belt, technology begins to feel less frightening and more enjoyable.
  8. They Communicate: Communicate with fellow faculty members who’ve been in your shoes, communicate with higher-ups who’ve recommended resources to other professors and communicate with your students. If you’ve got a classroom full of tech pros, figure out how they’ve learned to adapt quickly and implement their advice.
  9. They Stay Up-To-Date on Tech Trends: Read articles about software updates, follow the launch of new products, watch news stories on cutting-edge technology, and subscribe to blogs outlining digital trends. Once you’ve got an understanding of the modern tech landscape, mastering specific tools becomes much easier.
  10. They Love Change: This takes serious practice. The tech world is constantly evolving, and the minute you revert back to old resources, you’ll stop learning. Accept software updates with open arms, listen to fellow professors who’ve implemented tools in their classrooms that you’re unfamiliar with, and make an effort to shed stubborn habits. Otherwise, the modern world will leave you behind.

Technology is a part of the professional landscape. It requires knowledge of digital citizenship, and it allows for effective communication and collaboration. Not to mention, many schools that have implemented tech programs for students have witnessed incredible student growth, increased efficiency, and higher test scores. Like it or not, technology is here to stay. It’s your job as an educator to prepare students for the dangers our digital landscape presents while instilling essential habits for healthy tech consumption. For that to happen, you as the professor must master technology and become savvier than those who’ve grown up with an iPad glued to their hands.

 

 


Spread the love
Previous Article

Teaching Digital Citizenship to Various Age Groups

Next Article

Black Boys in Crisis: The Technology Vortex

Matthew Lynch

Related articles More from author

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechHigher Education

    Fact Checking? Not Any More

    May 21, 2019
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Higher Education EdTech

    Diverse Conversations: The Benefits of an Online Education

    June 28, 2016
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechHigher Education

    Lights! Camera! Action! Creating a School Film Program

    June 28, 2018
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Higher Education

    Why Digital Credentialing Will Render University Transcript Obsolete and Redefine Higher Education

    October 14, 2019
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechHigher Education EdTech

    Use Google Calendar Like a Boss

    July 10, 2020
    By Matthew Lynch
  • Higher Education EdTechOnline Learning & eLearning

    eLearning Course Design They’ll Love

    February 6, 2020
    By Matthew Lynch

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    8 Essential Digital Literacy Skills That Students Need

  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech

    The Call to Teach: The Role of Technology

  • Edtech Research

    Why Edtech Needs More Researchers, Not More Companies

Search

Login & Registration

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Top 7 Education Apps for the Classroom

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 21, 2021
  • Should Parents Also Know How to Use E-Learning Platforms?

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 20, 2021
  • Advances In Text-To-Speech Technologies Help Computers Find Their Voice

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 19, 2021
  • Campuses Have Used IoT Projects to Promote Convenience, Security, and Comfort for Students

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 15, 2021
  • Home-based Learning Tips For Parents: 6 Tips For Effective Learning

    By Matthew Lynch
    January 14, 2021
  • 20 Top Virtual Reality Apps that are Changing Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 11, 2017
  • 7 Ways Technology Is Impacting Modern Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    March 4, 2017
  • Why Mobile Technology Enhances Instruction

    By Matthew Lynch
    December 14, 2016
  • What is the Future of Online Learning in Higher Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    April 2, 2018
  • 7 Roles for Artificial Intelligence in Education

    By Matthew Lynch
    May 5, 2018
  • Campuses Have Used IoT Projects to Promote Convenience, Security, and Comfort for Students - The Tech ...
    on
    January 15, 2021

    9 Examples of the Internet of Things in Education

    […] Institutions with campus-wide ...
  • Home-based Learning Tips For Parents: 6 Tips For Effective Learning - The Tech Edvocate
    on
    January 14, 2021

    The 3 Types of Interaction During Online Learning

    […] providing students with ...
  • A Bad RAP – SAM P LENOX
    on
    January 13, 2021

    Cyberlearning vs. Elearning – Is there a difference?

    […] in learning more about ...
  • Network Segmentation Boosts Wi-Fi Performance And Security For K-12 Schools - The Tech Edvocate
    on
    January 12, 2021

    5G Networks Promise to Make Instructional Technology Better

    […] already mentioned, there ...
  • Creating Powerful Learning Experiences in Google Classroom – MarkerSpace America
    on
    January 12, 2021

    Creating Powerful Learning Experiences in Google Classroom

    […] Read full Story ...

EdTech Policy & Reform

  • EdTech Policy & Reform

    How Much Bias Is Okay in Your School?

    Spread the loveThe algorithm has proven itself to be a handy tool when it comes to solving education problems. It’s also not without bias.  You may be wondering how some ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    Edtech Should Complement Good Pedagogy, Not Attempt to Replace It

    Spread the loveThe newest generation of edtech is downright amazing; it’s no wonder that various education stakeholders might be a little excited about its potential to transform education. However, edtech ...
  • EdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How to Teach Kids to Communicate in This Digital Age

    Spread the loveWhen even the youngest children are spending the equivalent of a full work day looking at screens, it is perhaps no surprise that parents are wondering how to ...
  • EdTech FuturesEdTech Policy & Reform

    3 Reasons Why India Will Be A Leader in the EdTech Industry in the 21st ...

    Spread the loveAccording to a joint report by KPMG and Google, the online education industry is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 8 times to become a $1.96B ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Policy & ReformFeaturedFresh

    How Does Technology Immersion Shape the Brain?

    Spread the loveDo you wonder what all of the screen time we have is really doing to our brains? As edtech continues to rise in prominence throughout the world, this ...

EdTech Startups & Businesses

  • EdTech Startups & BusinessesOnline Learning & eLearning

    Using Nudge Theory in Your Corporate Online Learning Classes

    Spread the loveAfter reading this headline, you may be asking yourself, what is nudge theory? Nudge theory centers on positive reinforcement and inferred suggestions to motivate a person to complete ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Bringing Education into the Business World

    Spread the loveU.S. businesses spent nearly $20 billion on training in 2019. That number decreased by roughly half from the year before. Companies aren’t providing fewer professional development opportunities for ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    You Must Include These 3 Things in Your Edtech Business Plan

    Spread the loveDo you have a business plan? It’s the one question you’re going to be asked a lot as you begin your edtech business. The reasons to write a ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    Edtech Marketing Ideas to Implement Right Now

    Spread the loveEven if you do have the most exceptional edtech product or service in the world, you’ve still got to market it. Your sales and your success depend on ...
  • EdTech Startups & Businesses

    How Your Edtech Startup Can Make the Leap from Failure to Funded

    Spread the loveThe best ideas in edtech are often only ideas. They never become a reality because they lack the funding they need to get off the ground. Taking an ...

Digital Equity

  • Digital EquityDigital Leadership

    How Can You Assess the Tech Needs of Your Students Outside of School?

    Spread the loveToday, I received an email from the middle school principal in Los Angeles. She explained to me that the school that she ran was in one of the ...
  • Digital Equity

    It Is Time for the Edtech Industry to Stop Denying Its Equity and Race Problem

    Spread the loveThe EdTech industry is dominated by white employees, white leaders, and white entrepreneurs. If you doubt this statement, just attend an Edtech conference. Admittedly, educators and others don’t ...
  • Digital Equity

    How OER Can Help Overcome the Higher Education Equity Barrier

    Spread the loveThe cornerstone of the American dream is the ability to succeed in life regardless of one’s family of origin. And, for most people, that requires a college education. ...

EdTech Futures

  • EdTech FuturesOnline Learning & eLearning

    IT Trends To Watch As Higher Education Moves Into a New Decade

    Spread the loveEdtech couldn’t have hoped for a better launch into the new decade than the push the industry received from COVID-19. Even the most tech-resistant institutions and individuals have ...
  • EdTech Futures

    4 Emerging EdTech Trends in 2021

    Spread the loveCovid-19 has not only changed education as we know it, but it has forced education technology (EdTech) to up its game. EdTech has been crucial since the start of this ...
  • Adult EducationEdTech & InnovationEdTech FuturesEducation LeadershipEducational LeadershipHigher EducationHigher Education EdTechThe Future of Education

    Education Technology and the Future of Higher Ed Leadership

    Spread the loveEducation Technology (EdTech) has had a more significant impact on education than anyone expected. Now its effects are reaching into the field of higher education. In this article, ...
  • EdTech Futures

    Top Edtech Trends for 2021

    Spread the loveAre you ready to look ahead? Schools will soon be reflecting on what’s been working this year and what’s not. They’ll also begin thinking about their budgets for ...
  • Early Childhood & K-12 EdTechEdTech Futures

    In the Wake of Teacher Shortages, Schools are Turning to Virtual Teachers

    Spread the loveTeaching was once a greatly respected position, and today, morally it still seems to be of high value to many Americans. Institutionally, however, teaching no longer seems to ...

About Us

Since technology is not going anywhere and does more good than harm, adapting is the best course of action. That is where The Tech Edvocate comes in. We plan to cover the PreK-12 and Higher Education EdTech sectors and provide our readers with the latest news and opinion on the subject. From time to time, I will invite other voices to weigh in on important issues in EdTech. We hope to provide a well-rounded, multi-faceted look at the past, present, the future of EdTech in the US and internationally.

We started this journey back in June 2016, and we plan to continue it for many more years to come. I hope that you will join us in this discussion of the past, present and future of EdTech and lend your own insight to the issues that are discussed.

Newsletter

Signup for The Tech Edvocate Newsletter and have the latest in EdTech news and opinion delivered to your email address!

Contact Us

The Tech Edvocate
5322 Markel Road, Suite 104
Richmond, VA 23230
(601) 630-5238
advocatefored@gmail.com

Follow us

Copyright © 2021 Matthew Lynch. All rights reserved.