Life in the 21st century is very technology-driven, and the classroom is no different from other aspects of our lives in this respect.
Classroom
What are the Benefits of Technology in the Classroom?
Life in the 21st century is very technology-driven, and the classroom is no different from other aspects of our lives in this respect.
Many teachers have been reluctant to fully embrace technology in their classrooms, but today we will discuss some benefits of adding tech components to your curriculum. There’s no denying that technology is inescapable, and it’s time to consider some of the positive aspects of social media, tablets, and internet-driven research.
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So what are the benefits of technology in the classroom?
There’s no denying the impact technology has had on teachers and students, some of it positive and some negative. With this in mind, let’s focus today on the positive outcomes that can be gained through technology in the classroom. Tablets are replacing textbooks, and research no longer relies on dusty old encyclopedias.
Today’s students will be joining a technology-driven workforce, and there is no doubt that they will need cutting-edge tech skills to compete in the job market of the 21st century.
Increase student interaction and engagement with technology
Children today have grown up with tablets. They are used to navigating the operating systems and can easily find the information they need. The interactive experience that tablets and laptops provide helps students to approach their school work with greater engagement and enthusiasm while meeting learning goals.
There are a lot of ways that teachers can incorporate tech into regular lesson plans, with one of the most impactful being research. Collaboration can also be explored through chat platforms and group texts.
Help students prepare for their futures with technology
This generation considers technology an extension of themselves and weaves it seamlessly into almost every aspect of their lives. It only makes sense for them to use their tablets or smartphones when doing their homework or studying for an exam. When teachers bring Ed-tech into their lives, these students can turn their social media savvy into real skills that will serve them well when they move on to the job force. The use of tech also encourages collaboration, instilling the necessary skills for career success.
Rather than curtail their use of devices and social media apps, why not encourage them to think of new ways to use technology to enhance their educational experience?
Increase retention rates
Technology can help students retain what they’ve learned more readily, and working on a PowerPoint presentation can be just as impactful as analog methods regarding retention. Having students retain what they learn is one of the most challenging aspects of teaching, and technology excels in this area and should be used as often as possible for these types of tasks.
Remembering what they have learned and recalling that information when necessary is one of the greatest challenges students face. Utilizing technology for reports and creating graphics is a great way to increase retention of gained knowledge and help students to increase the benefits of their time in the classroom.
Technology is great for self-paced learning
Educational research has shown that students perform better at their own pace. With today’s technology, children can revisit any part of their “live” instruction that may be difficult or confusing. Self-paced learning is easily accomplished with online and app-based learning modules. There are many ways for teachers to add a self-paced component within their regular curriculum to allow students who need more instruction in a specific area to benefit from the additional time.
Self-paced learning is also great for gifted students who often become bored by the repetition that may be necessary for other students in their class. The ability to skip ahead will help them to stay more engaged.
Students are already using technology in their everyday lives
Today’s students don’t understand much that is analog. You increase the potential for impactful interaction and learning when you meet them where they live in the digital universe. Yes, such teaching requires quite a lot of change in teaching styles and methods, but these efforts will be worth it in the long run. Gone are the days when schools banned all devices and forbade using the internet for research.
Today, teachers are encouraged to use more tech in their classrooms, not less. Because there is so much online information, the resources available to today’s students are limitless. Conducting online research also encourages students to “consider the source” and learn how to spot trustworthy sources.
Make learning more fun
A lot of “gamification” can be done with digital learning, and such strategies can make it easier for students to learn difficult and new concepts. The results are astounding when teachers can make learning more fun for students. You will have students who are more engaged, enthusiastic, and genuinely interested in obtaining knowledge.
Integrating tech can create a lot of exciting outcomes and is often what gets kids interested in “learning for the sake of learning” because it is so easy to discover interesting facts and statistics on the web. There are so many ways that technology can help make learning fun and increase the engagement level of students of every age.
Get ready for the future
In today’s professional world, there is no choice but to be technologically savvy. Without these digital skills, job opportunities can be quite limited. To avoid disappointment when starting their job search, it makes sense to arm today’s students with the digital skills they will need to succeed in today’s challenging workforce.
Without technological skills, it can become very easy to get left behind in today’s work environment. Not everyone needs to be a master coder, but with familiarity with basic coding and HTML skills, students will be better equipped to compete. Teachers want their students to succeed in the classroom and the future, and by providing them with a strong foundation of tech skills, they are in a good position to do well.
As you can see after reading this article, the uses and benefits of technology in the classroom are many and varied. Now is a great time to think about ways to incorporate more technology into your classroom lessons regularly. Technology is a great way to meet kids where they are while also challenging them to expand their horizons and skill set. How are you going to enhance the educational experience of your students?
