This column regularly features ways that teachers can enrich their knowledge of technology and use these resources with their students. As much as things have improved across the system, some schools still have little in the way of technology hardware and resources. What can you do if you want to use technology in the classroom, but you don’t have the equipment you need? Here are some ideas:

If you have essentially no resources:

• Look for castoffs. Many people replace technology frequently these days. A two-year-old laptop or tablet is still very usable. Check freecycle.org or wastematch.org for giveaways — many people would rather donate to a school than throw away electronics that still work.
• Check your school building. Is there a place where hardware is available for the taking? You may find perfectly good equipment just lying around.
• Complete a Donors Choose application and request what you need.
• Look for teacher grant programs. Best Buy, Target, HP and Intel all offer tech grants for educators. Check online for instructions and current deadlines.
• Find corporate computer recycling programs. Computers for Learning is a government program for donated equipment. Computers for Youth and Per Scholas run programs in New York City where schools receive donated computers, software and training.
• Ask your school administration to make tech purchases. Budgets are always tight, but principals have flexibility in their spending.

If you have one computer, laptop or tablet, but no reliable Internet:

• Set up a classroom station and cycle students through it, whether in small groups or individually. Assign students specific tasks or projects to complete at the station.
• Make the station a reward for good behavior.
• Use it for students’ individual time to practice skills such as word processing.
• Students use the webcam (most computers have them built in) to make projects such as point-of-view videos or presentations.
• Search for appropriate CDs or educational resources compatible with your device.
• Maintain a process (such as a calendar or wall chart) to ensure all students have equal time using the device.

If you have working Internet and a computer or tablet:

• Create a hub for Internet searching to practice online skills. A classroom job could be “online expert,” a student who searches to verify classroom content being taught or to obtain specific statistics or facts.
• Set up Skype chats with experts in your curricular area for your class. Have students prepare questions and take turns doing the asking.

If you have Internet, a computer or tablet, and a display device:

• Show video clips to explain or visualize difficult concepts (as found on sites like brainpop.com or MovieClips.com).
• Complete whole-class activities using technology, like analyzing word choice with Wordle or brainstorming with Padlet.
• Visit sites with interactive content as part of a mini-lesson. The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has an excellent collection of math interactives for all age groups.
• Allow for student-led teaching or presentations of work that students have completed in their stations.

Once you have more than one computer with Internet, even more can be done with student groupings and project-based learning.

While I’m lucky to now work in a school that has a plethora of technology, I’ve had to strike out on my own many times. It requires some persistence, but it can be done.