A guest post by Heather Smith
You know, it seems like it would be logical that new technology could benefit the classroom learning environment. I mean that kids are so caught up in the latest iPad and iPhone, the newest gaming system, and the best Blu-ray that they frequently ignore school work in favor of playing around online. But what if teachers could grasp this ardent appreciation for technology and bring it into the classroom? What benefits would that bring?
1. Responsiveness – Kids love to use technology. It has become such a huge part of their lives that to go without is practically anathema. By incorporating technology into education, students’ responsiveness increases. They are interested in learning and become more active learners.
2. Life skills – Learning how to use technology is not a luxury any more. It is a basic life skill. Kids need to know how to do more than just surf the internet and play video games. Take this opportunity to teach those skills they will have to master at their jobs in the future. Research done online is currently the overwhelming majority. If they don’t know what to look for or how to get to it, though, how can they succeed?
3. Multitasking – Why teach one thing at a time when you can teach two or three? By using technology as a regular part of the classroom experience you are giving students the opportunity not only to learn History or English, but to also master computer and research skills that will help them in their future educational pursuits.
4. Filling the cracks – Different children have different learning styles. Some learn better with visual aids, some by hearing, and other by doing. In the classic classroom environment, some of the learners are left out of the experience and thus do not receive the help they need to really understand the subject matter. Technology can change that. By incorporating more than one aspect of learning in a single lesson, all learners can get what they need and be engaged in their learning.
5. Impaired – Maybe you have the different learners. ADHD children, the disabled or mentally challenged. Technology is a great boon to their learning. There are so many applications and software in cyberspace that are tailored specifically for their needs; whether it be bigger print, more colorful photos, or activity oriented learning. Touch screens are instinctive and intuitive to use and most do not require the muscle control that a mouse or pencil would, a distinct improve over the old pen-and-paper method.
6. Multiple Languages – If you have multiple languages to teach, then you need technology. How much easier and faster is it to have on-screen translations rather than looking up every word they don’t know. Technology allows the same software to be played in multiple languages, allowing students to have similar experiences in their own language. Whether you are watching a documentary, teaching them how to use programs, or just learning the basics, technology can help students to learn faster and more accurately than ever.
So no matter what subject you teach or what students you have, enabling technology in your classroom can only help your students to learn more and keep what they have learned for longer. If your school does not currently support or under supports, technology in the classroom they need to get with the program. Technology is not the future anymore. It is the present.
Heather Smith is an ex-nanny. Passionate about thought leadership and writing, Heather regularly contributes to various career, social media, public relations, branding, and parenting blogs/websites. She also provides value to become a nanny by giving advice on site design as well as the features and functionality to provide more and more value to nannies and families across the U.S. and Canada. She can be available at H.smith7295 [at] gmail.com.