Back to the Drawing Board: The 5Js

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I really enjoyed reading Mary Burns’ article on the eLearn Magazine website this morning on “How to Help Teachers Use Technology in the Classroom“.

Mary quotes a number of sources (some I’d never heard about before, so I’m happy to add them to my growing list) of which the below struck a chord with me, and possibly with you too. When talking about training on technology, whether new or existing, teachers find …

“… the instruction they receive in technology integration, whether online or face-to-face, is still too focused on learning how to use the software versus integrating it into the teaching and learning process.”

I have always said that technology should be used with a ‘considered approach’, meaning, for me anyway, use it when it is applicable, not just for the sake of using something new.

The 5Js
Mary talks about the 5J’s, which are:

  • Job related: focused on the core competencies of the classroom, not technology,
  • Just enough: emphasizing increased comfort, not proficiency, with computers and management of limited technology resources,
  • Just in time: meaning teacher are provided with skills as and when needed,
  • Just in case: teachers need to plan for contingencies. followed by the attitude of
  • Just try it: instructors apply both pressure and support to compel teachers to use what they’ve learned.

If we can get more educators/facilitators involved in the ‘just try it’ campaign then we could achieve something truly wonderful; whether it’s a greater use of (appropriate) technology or just a better understanding of what’s available (even if it’s not used, yet), then we are somewhere closer to a more coherent and student focused learning style.

She ends the article with a very succinct and concise way, outlining that we do indeed nee to be careful to correctly plan the technology and it’s use, but;

“only when these five ‘J’s come together in a systematic way might the story of technology-based trainings have a different ending.”

Thank you Mary, a good read and well worth anyone else spending 5 minutes or so reading too.

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