Students will come to your class with different sets of technology skills and it is likely that they will need to learn new tools for your class. You can help them be successful learning tech skills if you:

• Remind students to draw from past experiences and translate into new situations. For example, the icon of a pencil usually means “edit” and an icon showing 3 lines or 3 dots usually refers to “more options.” Standard trouble-shooting tips such as checking the Internet connection, logging out and back in or switching to a different browser might solve most issues.
• Allow students a choice of tools whenever possible. Specify the conceptual requirements and the final format of an assignment but allow them to use tools that they might already be familiar with. You might suggest a few comparable, acceptable tools and let students decide on the tool they prefer to use.
• Encourage students to find work-arounds and resources among their friends and family and even online. Tell them to “ask 3; then ask ME!” Technology tools change often; instructions that are accurate today might not remain accurate in the future, so it is helpful to have research skills and go-to people and resources for technology. 
• Provide students with a context or purpose for learning a new tool. Give them a “why,” an assignment or a project. Most apps will have functions that we will not need or use. Having a concrete project will help us focus on the essential features to complete the task.
• Emphasize to students that learning technology is a life skill much like critical thinking. They will always need it, use it and apply to new situations.

More specifically, you can help students by

• Curating resources
• Creating materials
• Sharing models
• Scaffolding the learning process

Curating resources

Post instructions and video tutorials created by

• Hunter/CUNY staff
• another college or university
• the company
• a colleague
• a talented stranger on YouTube

Tweak as necessary

Creating materials

Write step-by-step instructions and include screenshots.

Record screencasts.

Sharing models

Create a sample of a completed task using the tool.

Share work done by former students.

Scaffolding the learning process

Create no-stakes or low-stakes assignment to practice with tool.

Use the tool multiple times in increasingly more complex ways.

Space out assignment throughout semester. Ask students to complete in separate weeks leading up to deadline:

• watch a tutorial
• sign up for tool 
• create a draft or part 1 and come to class with questions (workshop)
• give & receive feedback
• submit