7 Characteristics Of Teachers Who Effectively Use Technology

by TeachThought Staff

In most ways, teachers that use technology in the classroom aren’t much different than those that don’t.

Effective teachers assess understanding and then revise planned instruction based on data from those assessments. They manage their classroom in a way that works for them, create a positive learning environment, and (great teachers especially) collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to make sure every humanly possible attempt is made to meet all students’ needs.

They care about learning more than tools, people more than curriculum, and questions more than answers.

But using technology in the classroom–and using it effectively–might require some slight adjustments on the part of the teacher to sustain the effort, creative problem-solving, and innovation required to actually improve learning through the use of technology. This occurs at the belief level–what teachers believe about technology, education, and their own abilities to manage technology (using bookmarking tools for teachers, for example).

Looking at the characteristics of teachers that effectively use technology in the classroom, then, can be useful to create an ‘edtech’ mindset–one that believes in purpose, adaptation, change, and meaningful planning. If you spend your time planning at the upper limits of the SAMR model, this graphic may simply work as a quick reminder of how edtech can work–and work well–at the teacher-human-belief level.

For everyone else, it’s a beautiful starting point to frame your thinking about education technology in general.

7 Characteristics Of Teachers Who Effectively Use Technology



1. They always start with the why


2. They are malleable and can easily adapt

3. They embrace change

4. They share

5. They think win-win

6. They are thorough and think ahead

7. They actively care

Ed note: This post has been updated with an updated visual from Sylvia Duckworth, who took our graphic from alwaysprepped.com (now getalma) post and created the above visual. It is also sporting a new title, as the ‘habits of’ is a trademarked term. As such, the new graphic and phrasing appear above.

7 Characteristics Of Teachers Who Effectively Use Technology