Using technology in the classroom generates new learning opportunities and helps students engage in online, digital environments. At the moment, classroom engagement is at an all-time low, and teachers are trying to compete against a variety of diversions, including phones, tablets and laptops. Technology in school can be seen as a culprit by some people, as a distraction, however, there are several positives to bringing technology into the classroom.
Using technology in the classroom allows for more experimentation and offers instant feedback. It gives the opportunity for more active learning, and encourages increased engagement with online polling and quiz questions during class time that has instantaneous results. Giving the subject matter a dynamic makeover and bringing in digital textbooks with embedded links to other relevant material gives students more information much faster. By integrating technology into classrooms, it offers teachers a better idea of student’s progress.
Introducing technology into classrooms also helps to ensure full participation. Using online polling and other digital tools can help engage every student, especially shy students who don’t tend to raise their hand in class to join in discussions or answer questions. By using online engagement systems, teachers can check-in and monitor student’s feedback on their course materials and assignments. With this data, teachers can spot where students may be struggling in the curriculum, allowing them to make sure they’re focussing on the specific area the need help in or offer more support to those students who may benefit.
There is a huge range of resources that help enhance education and make learning much more effective and fun. With options from apps and e-books, to organisational platforms, there’s plenty of options to transform the classroom and keep students engaged. A popular method being rolled out into classrooms currently is ‘gamification’- the use of competitive scenarios. The distribution of points and rewards in activities adds more fun into the classroom and helps engage students in the curriculum. It allows for interactive lessons, involving everyone in the room and reducing passivity.
Technology can also automate a lot of the tedious tasks that builds up, such as keeping track of student attendance and their performance. There’s a variety of engagement tools that can help streamline grading for assignments, participation and discussions, as well as finding ways to answer student questions.
By introducing technology into the classroom, students can also have instant access to information they didn’t previously that can support their learning. With online textbooks and course materials being constantly updated providing relevant and accurate information, there will be an extra layer of development to learning. There is also the option for students to add their own information to the collection which encourages collaborative learning environments.
By introducing technology into the classroom, the benefits are not only surprising but impressive. Teachers can also consider an EYFS assessment tracker for schools to monitor their student’s progress.
