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Likewise, principals face financial and other stressors which require them to provide evidence of student learning and that they are being wise stewards of institutional resources. Once you understand how both you and your institution view the learning process, then you can move to the next step and consider your beliefs and values with regard to technology. Some people might value the acquisition of technical skills for the sake of technical skills to be a good thing, while others might believe that technology should only be used if it is helping students to learn content better or to learn more. Thus, the first step toward defining effective technology integration for yourself is to consider how you define learning and what constitutes evidence of learning. Similarly as teachers work within educational institutions, the criteria by which they and their students are evaluated will rely upon one or more of the learning theories mentioned above. From the constructionist viewpoint, the most effective way to teach in a constructivist manner is to have students construct artifacts in the outside world that support and reflect their internal construction of knowledge. STEAM educators who are looking to add reading and writing elements to their curriculum can try Storybird.
With a class of pupils all with their own individual needs, it is very difficult for the teacher to engage with each individual in every lesson. This of course results in some students losing track in https://wave-accounting.net/ a lesson or struggling to grasp new topics having not mastered the previous one. For a variety of reasons, regular physical interaction between parents and teachers is becoming increasingly difficult.
Education technology can expand classroom boundaries
It is important that educators keep up with these changes to ensure students are prepared for our ever-changing world. For example, most jobs now include interactions with some level of technology.
- As technology becomes more prevalent in schools, students who receive special education and use a laptop for help will not stand out or seem out of place.
- It would be dishonest to say that tech in the classroom is without its challenges – and even its dangers.
- It’s no wonder, then, that so many U.S. teachers report feeling overworked and underappreciated.
- I would like to point out that you’re contradicting yourself on the Pro#4 with the interaction of a student via tech, and with the Con #3, that a student needs to interact with oral participation.
- Those who value compliance will ensure that new technologies meet security requirements or legal requirements regarding student security.
The students in your classroom constantly use technology to communicate with each other and learn about the world around them. Integrating technology into the classroom creates learning opportunities that are more engaging, and sometimes more effective, than traditional Technology In The Classroom teaching methods and principles. A 2012 pilot study by textbook publishers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt found that 78% of students scored “Proficient” or “Advanced” in subject comprehension when using tablets compared to 59% of students who relied on paper textbooks alone.
Advantages of Technology in Education
For example, many teachers use MindMeister, as its features are designed for students and educators. Work with your students to brainstorm ideas as a way to reinforce lessons or launch a problem-based learning exercise. It should only take a few minutes to set up this kind of classroom technology.
Technology gives students access to a variety of programs and information sources at the simple click of a button. Teachers can find leveled readers or allow students to choose research topics that fit their interests much more easily than by going to the library where resources may be limited. In addition, teachers can assign programs to help students remediate or expand their knowledge so that students can process or investigate topics further. This work can be done during centers or group work, freeing the teacher to attend to individual students or other small groups. Using technology in this way ensures that all the students get what they need. You don’t need to be an expert graphic designer to create engaging infographics for your classroom.
Run a Virtual Field Trip
This can be done alone, as part of your “grade team,” or as part of your school or district’s personal-growth plan. You can also begin to seek out professional-development opportunities online and outside of your district or school to begin to connect with other educators exploring the same challenges and seeking solutions. For more resources for taking professional development into your own hands, check out our DIY Professional Development page.
