Now, more than ever there are a variety of tools to help teachers do their jobs more effectively. Not long ago, teachers were required to fill out by hand multiple forms, from attendance sheets to lesson plans. Today, software takes the place of much hand written work. The software tools in use are generally user-friendly, which cuts down on bureaucratic time and frees the teacher to concentrate on instruction.
The software used in a typical school districts to note attendance and grades will automatically calculate student grade averages, and has different tools to print very useful reports, e-mail communication between parents and teachers, the ability to access the student's address and phone number, to organize seating charts, to check the district calendar, to verify objectives for each subject, and to receive timely reminders.
A recent update in my district allows teachers to access a curriculum guide that is detailed by 6-weeks (the normal grading unit), and by unit of the subject which contains a plethora of useful information for the teacher. He/she can easily access the data from home (yes, we do have homework) and plan his/her activities for the next day, the next week, the whole 6-weeks. The lessons will even give you an approximate duration (we sometimes get carried away by a certain area, for example "The Gilded Age", and may have to cut short on future lessons). The curriculum software will even take into consideration the level of English of LEP (Limited English Proficiency) students by focusing on certain words and phrases.
Aside from friendly software, most schools now offer data projectors which will project a large image on a screen or wall. The traditional overhead projector is still in use although many districts now prefer the so-called Elmo projector, which allows showing any printed material on a screen (no transparencies needed). Projectors have a double purpose: They illustrate the lesson, a valuable tool for visual learners, and they help keep discipline in the classroom.
At the beginning of the year, I was assigned (as an inclusion teacher) to a first year teacher. I noticed right away that he had trouble keeping the 28 sophomores on task and disciplined. I then suggested a frequent use of the data projector for his class (world history), showing snippets of documentaries that are readily available from the school library or from the Internet. He agreed immediately (I am a little older) and the situation changed dramatically. Teens (and children) cannot help watching a moving image on a screen; it has been ingrained in their psyche (I know, I am jumping to risky conclusions) through many hours of watching television at home.
Another valuable tool that did not exist (in schools) 10 years ago is the Internet. Schools now offer high-tech computer labs that are connected to the Internet and serve as an excellent device to change the routine and perform document and project research. Students today are constantly using and interacting with the Internet. From video games to social networking, modern children and teenagers are irresistibly attracted to the small computer screen. School districts have firewalls that impede access to objectionable websites (most of the time) and teachers have discovered that students who use the labs learn more and obtain better grades than those who don't.
In today's climate, becoming a new teacher requires the ability to use various instructional tools to make lessons more attractive and more effective. But these tools will be worthless without the strong human qualities and values that serve as role models for any youngster.
