11 Hitting Your Stride
Once you feel that the new tool is working, it’s a good idea not to introduce additional tools or make significant changes for a while. Your students — and you — need some time to enjoy your newfound expertise and to deepen your familiarity before additional changes are introduced. Instead, look for ways to reinforce and celebrate those new skills.
Whether you are looking to foster intrinsic motivation in your students or believe that a bit of extrinsic motivation has been well-earned, it’s a very good idea to find ways to reward your class for taking on the challenge of using the technology. This may be something as simple as offering extra points on assignments that are based solely on successful use of the tool or publicly praising students for showing creativity or supporting each other.
If you have any data showing signs of growth, consider sharing it with your students to demonstrate how their efforts are paying off in higher grades or the development of new skills. (This is also a valuable moment for you as the instructor to step back and appreciate your own hard work!) When the immediate stress and challenge of learning a new tool have faded, it’s a great time to shine a light on your collective success and re-commit yourselves to your new approach for the rest of the term.