Educational technology can be a maze of tool pathways, pricing ladders, and capability dead ends. Educators have to navigate this maze and search for the tools that fit their classrooms best. For Diane Trout, a STEM Lab teacher in Alabama, she found a tool that not only fit into her classroom but transformed her entire teaching career.
A Late-Blooming Passion
Diane’s journey into education wasn’t traditional. As she shared in a recent podcast interview, “I actually started my education journey later in life. My boys were in kindergarten and fourth grade when I started.” She was working as a bank teller and had an unfulfilled feeling. She was called to education from a dive to be a strong positive role model for her children.
Her journey to education was motivated by a profound realization: “I saw the way they looked up to their teachers and I saw the way they enjoyed learning.” This insight prompted her to quit her job at the bank and pursue education. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher finding joy in play and hands-on learning. She continued to invest in STEM education eventually becoming her school’s STEM lab specialist.
During her journey, she continued to use technology. While scrolling through Twitter one evening, Diane discovered Seesaw, the digital platform that would become instrumental in her professional growth. She quickly tried this tool on her own and implemented it into her classroom. Within just two weeks of implementation, 90% of her parents were actively engaging with the tool. As she candidly describes, “It’s all in one place. I’m not trying to sell anybody, but I don’t know why anybody would use other things.”
Transforming a Classroom
In her STEM lab, Seesaw became more than just a communication tool. It became a platform for capturing learning in its most authentic form. The built in multimedia tools allow every student to share their understanding in a way that fits them best. One of her favorite projects illustrates this perfectly – a limestone cave model where students used sugar cubes and clay to demonstrate erosion.
“The kids take pictures and a final video as they are making it rain and showing how it is eroding the rock,” Diane explains. “Because we can take pictures and video and integrate it all in Seesaw, the teachers and parents can see that they fully understand it before we even go on our field trip.”
Diane focuses on teaching resilience and creativity. “Getting these kids to recognize that failure is okay… getting them to think of multiple ways to come up with an answer is a big deal,” she emphasizes. Seesaw is the perfect tool to build a growth mindset in children. The multiple ways that students can share their understanding intuitively leads to their not being one way to answer the question.
Perhaps most importantly, Seesaw gave Diane confidence. From initially being ostracized from colleagues when suggesting the tool, she had to prove its value. “Probably about 18 out of 20 parents in my classroom were on board with it and they really liked it,” she recalls. This portion of parents were far higher than the current methods being used and was a selling point for her coworkers.
Transforming a Career
The tool didn’t just transform her classroom, it expanded her professional horizons. “Seesaw has really given me confidence,” she says. It enabled her to speak at state and national conferences, connect with educators, and share innovative teaching strategies. These opportunities would not have been possible without Seesaw.
Diane’s story illustrates how the right educational technology tool can transform any classroom. It’s more than just choosing and using a tool, it’s about creating connections, building confidence, and continually evolving as an educator.
As Diane herself puts it, “We learn by talking to different people and sharing ideas.” Her journey with Seesaw proves that embracing educational technology can open doors to unexpected opportunities and discover profound professional growth.
To hear more about Diane’s success with Seesaw, tune into her podcast episode here.
