Technology evolves at a phenomenal rate. Education is one of the sectors vastly affected by modern technology. The era of learning strictly through chalkboards and monotonous textbooks is almost behind us, and while these vital tools have cemented their place in the learning sphere, technology is fast changing the way teachers disseminate information to learners and students’ uptake of the same.
Teachers and administrators need to embrace technological change since there always exists the constant risk of being outdated and rendered dormant as we move into the timeline called the future. So how can students and teachers be better placed to work alongside technology? We explore 10 effective ways in which digitization can augment classroom learning and make it super-interesting.
Bringing Content to Life through Video Learning
Baby boomers and the generation before them could only dream of some of the realities of today made possible through technology. Learning was probably boring and abstract, and students and teachers purely had to rely on their imaginations to understand difficult subjects. While this imagination is exactly what opened the current doors to the technology we enjoy today, the process took a long time and was still quite difficult for most to comprehend. In 2018, students virtually have their imaginations at their fingertips. One can experience what they learn first-hand, and this presents a greater opportunity for students to learn faster and innovate. Teachers can employ tools such as YouTube and real-world videos to teach their students practically.
Games Are Always Fun
Subjects which require much more technical brain engagement such as math and science can be difficult to understand especially for younger students. Games such as Minecraft present an opportunity for students to learn better and understand what they are doing through practical engagement. There are advanced games built for all levels of learning and kids will certainly enjoy using these tools instead of having to cram numbers and formula which may hold little meaning for them.
Social Media Interaction & Learning
Social media presents new and exciting opportunities, not just for students but for teachers and administrators as well. Who said learning had to be strictly confined to a classroom? Using hashtags and social media handles, students and teachers can interact, not just with themselves, but with vast educational content online. A teacher can say upload an educational video remotely on a class page and then ask students to interact and share more on what they have learnt and understood. This is not only fun but is effective seeing as most students are on social media in one form or the other. Sharing different perspectives in real time will make the learning experience better as students can keep actively engaged for longer periods.
Webinars and Podcasts for Distance Learning
This is important especially for higher education students. You can be enrolled in a course thousands of miles away and still be able to attend your classes online. There are different platforms that can be used, for example, Skye is one of the most popular for interactive sessions. Who said you have to part with huge sums to get a degree or diploma? Many institutions including top-tier colleges are embracing the concept of distance learning, and the growth trajectory has been impressive.
Customizing and Sharing Lesson Plans
While this one seems fairly simple, it can have a dramatic effect on overall engagement vis-à-vis teacher-learner interaction. Teachers can create custom lesson plans and share these with students maybe through a bulk SMS/MMS system or even social media. Using tablets with inbuilt customizable functionalities, teachers can keep students engaged on what they will learn next and keep anticipation up for these lessons.
Using Mobile Technology to Reach Poor, Isolated Communities
In some areas such as Turkana in Kenya, learners don’t have the luxury of pricey tech gadgets such as iPads, PCs or even the internet. It is up to local educators and other stakeholders to come up with innovative ways to ensure learners are always in the loop when it comes to learning. Mobile phones are accessible in these areas, and the golden rule of technological innovation is to start building on what is most readily available. These initiatives involve sharing lesson plans, questions and answers and other details that developed areas may otherwise take for granted. It also allows teachers and administrators to communicate constantly thus allowing for progress.
Practical Skills Such As Coding Early
One of the best ways to ensure that students are adequately prepared for the technological demands of the future is to ensure that they start learning practical skills as early as possible. Nowadays, gifted six-year-olds already have coding skills with simple programs which would put any experienced employee to great shame. This makes learning not only fun but also innovative and is one quality of highly advanced economies such as Japan and South Korea. And it’s not just coding. Depending on the child’s interests and skills, different technological tools can be applied; paint programs for artists and music creation programs for potential musicians.
Enhancing Classroom Collaboration
Collaboration is one of the most important parts of learning. Through technologies such as tablets and mobile devices, combined with the internet, the learning experience can be greatly enriched for learners, even remotely. Group work and assignments can be done in online teams which teaches students how to work together as a team.
Research
“Google is your friend”, the popular saying goes. The internet provides the biggest resource pool and holds information of all kind. The monotony of library research is slowly moving behind us, and even with an internet-enabled phone, one can do their research. Students who have difficulties doing their assignments or aren’t skilled enough can now contract online custom writing services OK Essay to assist them in a flash.
Presentation Using Slideshows
Teachers can make lessons and presentations even more interesting using PowerPoint and other visual presentation programs, keeping students fully engaged.
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