USING TECHNOLOGY CAN CHANGE YOUR CLASSROOM FOR THE BETTER
Kids love technology. It is like a kind of a magic pencil. If teachers give them the opportunity to learn using technology, then their motivation increases, allowing a better retention of knowledge.
Recent research shows that the majority of the learning process occurs outside the classroom. The main reason why this happens is because of the interaction. People learn through action, instead of learning passively. So, why not just bring that “outside” into the classroom?
Technology may be able to help teachers achieve that. In fact, some research indicates that technology can improve both the teaching and learning aspects of education. It also encourages active engagement and interactivity that students are so accustomed to outside of class, and miss when having to pay attention to lesson materials. Interactivity makes it easy for students to revisit specific parts of the subjects, to explore them more fully, to test ideas, and to receive feedback.
One of the most important goals of teachers is to develop the creative thinking of students and prepare them for the life ahead, equipped with a mindset that allows them to overtake problems and challenges with innovative and creative solutions. Having this in mind, it’s very important to keep the students’ motivation high so that they can assimilate all the knowledge teachers transmit.
These days, technology brings innovative learning methods and educational tools, including computers, interactive apps and games, virtual lectures, tablets videos or slideshows. Let’s use these resources.
There are several ways to increase students’ motivation using technology, such as:
Videos – Educational videos can be used to boost students’ motivation. This new approach has a great impact because most of the students are visual learners. Leveraging YouTube videos while explaining some subject is a more effective method of teaching than only explaining and describing things. Teachers can search educational videos online or create their own – there are many options readily available.
Independent Research – Students should be encouraged to take responsibility of maximizing their own learning potential. When they do independent research on a topic they feel smarter and more motivated and that allows a better retention of knowledge.
Intelligent use of Podcasts – Teachers can use podcasts in place of some of their reading material to break up some of the monotony. Break up repetitious reading assignments by mixing in a few podcasts; this will keep more students awake and it will increase their participation.
Classroom Gaming – There are many educational games that allow students to apply what was learned in the classroom. In fact, video games are no longer seen as something bad for the students but one of the best ways of using technology in the classroom. Using educational games makes students eager for learning and they get motivated by challenging each other.
It is important to integrate technology in the classroom because it has become so integral to the world outsite of the classroom and students are more tech-savvy than ever before. Having technology in the classroom is not a replacement for a good teacher. However, when we combine a great teacher with a constructive classroom technology usage the results are an even-better education.
This approach has not yet become the norm around the globe due to infrastructure limitations.
At Critical Links, we are working to make this change happen!
The micro-cloud approach brings together these critical technologies in virtually any classroom, anywhere in the world, regardless of networking and infrastructure challenges. With the micro-cloud, there’s no reason not to leverage technology for better results, and a better future.
FAQs
How technology motivates students learning? ›
It also encourages active engagement and interactivity that students are so accustomed to outside of class, and miss when having to pay attention to lesson materials. Interactivity makes it easy for students to revisit specific parts of the subjects, to explore them more fully, to test ideas, and to receive feedback.
How do you use technology to support your students critical thinking and impact student learning? ›- Interactive activities can stimulate student interest and improve academic achievement. ...
- Multiple representations and models clarify complex concepts and procedures. ...
- Technology-rich environments foster self-regulated learning.
- Increased L2 exposure and more opportunities to practice the target language. ...
- Access to authentic, real-life content. ...
- Flexibility in teaching and learning. ...
- Educational technology allows personalisation of teaching. ...
- Feedback that is relevant and timely.
Technology encourages collaboration.
By working on group projects, on forums, or by sharing documents through technology, students can teach each other through mentoring, tag-teaming assignments, and creative cooperation.
Using technology in classrooms has the potential to create increased student motivation, increased social interactions, positive outcomes, enhanced student learning, and enhanced student engagement. Technology is capable of unlocking keys of learning with all students.
How technology can be used to engage students in learning? ›- Submit assignments as blogs. ...
- Submit assignments as podcasts or videos. ...
- Work with a classroom on the other side of the world. ...
- Gamify skills like problem-solving. ...
- Create infographics to explain complicated topics. ...
- Record and playback reading. ...
- Interactive attendance.
- Staying Tuned In. ...
- Polling the Class. ...
- Defending Answers. ...
- Immediate Feedback. ...
- Class Debates. ...
- Seeing Others' Work. ...
- Critical Thinking Skills and Multiple Perspectives. ...
- Organized Knowledge.
- Use analogies.
- Promote interaction among students.
- Ask open-ended questions.
- Allow reflection time.
- Use real-life problems.
- Allow for thinking practice.
Critical thinking helps us to think through problems and apply the right information when developing solutions. It is important that the digital age learns to differentiate factual and fake information.
How does technology inspire student learning and creativity? ›It can improve learners' creative skills and help them explore the meaning of their own experience and work. There are several tools to help students create their own digital stories, like Slidestory and StoryBird. Blogs are an excellent tool for students to develop their writing and creative thinking skills.
How do you use technology in driving the interest of the students? ›
For example, Learning students to type faster can be taught in the form of playing typing games in the computer lab. Not only are they incredibly engaging for teaching students to speed typing, but they also invoke fun and excitement for students.
What are the benefits of using technology to support teaching language? ›- They make the teaching and learning process more efficient. ...
- They help English language students engage with the language. ...
- They help provide personalised practice. ...
- They allow language students to become more independent learners.
Technology provides educators essential tools to create a student-centered learning environment. The careful integration of technology into the classroom provides teachers and students with a limitless amount of educational resources that transform learning – inspiring creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.
How will technology empower students to control their own learning? ›Technology has also helped in improving the learning experience. With the help of technology, students can now enjoy learning more because they are now exposed to a more interactive and entertaining way to learn. Technology can engage learners in order to keep them focused on what they are learning.
What are five benefits of technology in the classroom? ›- Provides A More Engaged Learning Environment. ...
- Prepares Students for the Future. ...
- Connects Better with Students. ...
- Boosts Collaboration. ...
- Supports Learning.
The usefulness of technology in staying connected, working from home, and having access to medical services has been evident in these challenging times. Expanded security, enhanced communication, increased information, education, and, last but not least, amusement are vital aspects of technology.
What is the impact of technology on learning? ›Technology enables teachers to improve their teaching methods and tailor learning for their students. Schools profit from technology by lowering the cost of physical teaching materials, increasing the efficiency of educational programs, and maximizing teacher time.
What is critical use technology? ›Those technologies that may pose major technological risk during development, particularly during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of acquisition.
What impact has the internet had on our ability to think critically? ›Although the internet could relay more information than anyone could possibly know on a topic at a given time, if we solely turn to the internet for our answers and decision making, we inhibit our ability to critically think by not preparing our brains to fulfill higher order thinking and we stop filling our memory ...
What is the relationship between critical thinking and technological innovation? ›Critical thinking is then used to form associations between content, effectively linking ideas/processes/solutions together which helps innovators generate new uses for existing technologies modification to existing technologies that can improve the effectiveness [3].
How can teachers encourage and promote critical thinking among their students? ›
Encouraging students to make connections to a real-life situations and identifying patterns is an excellent way to boost their critical thinking skills. Ask students to always be on the look for these connections, and when they find one to make sure they tell you.
How do you encourage critical and creative thinking? ›Critical and creative thinking can be encouraged simultaneously through activities that integrate reason, logic, imagination and innovation; for example, focusing on a topic in a logical, analytical way for some time, sorting out conflicting claims, weighing evidence, thinking through possible solutions, and then, ...
What should teacher do to support student creativity and critical thinking with the use of technology? ›Small group activities. Small group activities allow students to communicate, problem solve, hear different perspectives, and collaborate to analyze and synthesize course content. By assigning small group activities, instructors can engage students in multiple levels of critical thinking.
How technology helps in developing learners higher order thinking skills? ›Technology has been shown to positively influence student learning when students explore technology-rich tasks that simultaneously require them to use higher-order thinking skills (HOTS), such as analyzing or evaluating information or creating new representations of knowledge.
What is the best way to use technology in the classroom? ›Developing slideshows and digital presentations, playing music or a video for background and context while presenting, or by inviting virtual guest speakers to engage with your class via programs designed for conference calls (such as: Skype, Google Hangouts, and Facetime) are all fun and creative ways to boost ...
What are 3 benefits of using technology in education? ›- Creates a More Engaged Environment. You may think technology is just a distraction, but it can help encourage active participation in your classroom. ...
- Incorporates Different Learning Styles. ...
- Improves Collaboration. ...
- Prepares Children for the Future. ...
- Connects You With Your Students.
Technology also has the power to transform teaching by ushering in a new model of connected teaching. This model links teachers to their students and to professional content, resources, and systems to help them improve their own instruction and personalize learning.
What is the importance of empowerment technology to students? ›It helps your students create their own forms of reflection, letting them assume the teacher's role to design reflective questions for themselves. Students' empowerment through technology should be obvious, as today's students live their lives surrounded by it.
How technology empower students to their own learning? ›Technology has also helped in improving the learning experience. With the help of technology, students can now enjoy learning more because they are now exposed to a more interactive and entertaining way to learn. Technology can engage learners in order to keep them focused on what they are learning.
What are the 10 advantages of technology? ›- Production expansion: The technology allows for multiple-fold increases in production. ...
- Time management: ...
- Technology enhances services: ...
- Easy and quick communication: ...
- Reduces online fraud and cybercrime: ...
- Has increased people's safety: ...
- Improved storage: ...
- Medical Care and Services:
What are the 3 advantages of technology? ›
Advantages of new technology include: easier, faster and more effective communication. better, more efficient manufacturing techniques. less wastage.
What are three benefits of technology? ›- Provides A More Engaged Learning Environment. ...
- Prepares Students for the Future. ...
- Connects Better with Students. ...
- Boosts Collaboration. ...
- Supports Learning.