Young learners, these days, have never known a world without technology. From staying in touch with friends to getting Cheap Assignment Help, students rely on technology for most of their daily activities. So, why not incorporate technology in education too and promote active learning among students irrespective of their ages? As per research conducted by the US Department of Education, many educators reported that technology facilitates peer collaboration and improves students’ ability to work and share together. Here are ten amazing ways you can use technology in the classroom.
- Use videos to bolster your lesson plans
How often have you felt frustrated just because you couldn’t explain certain complex topics to your students? Now you can use videos as stand-alone overviews for all those topics. There are tons of websites out there that host video content made by teachers. For instance, TeacherTube is an education-only version of YouTube and it covers all the core school subjects. Adding a multimedia element to your lessons always come in handy since students tend to resonate better with video content.
Importance of using videos in classes:
- Videos create a more engaging experience for students as compared to using paper materials alone.
- It increases knowledge retention since you can stop and play the videos as many times as needed.
- Digital literacy and communication are the two most important skills in the 21st And videos can help your students adept at both these skills efficiently. Read Also – Free Resources to Help with Remote Learning in 2021
- Opt for a virtual field trip
Let’s talk about your history lessons, for instance. What if you could show your students the famous architectural structures rather than just reading out the texts? This is what the virtual field trip is about. It lets you explore famous buildings if the location is out of reach due to logistical issues. A Google Cardboard costs around $15 and it can help you visit a foreign landmark or hold a mock conversation in a foreign country language. Your students needn’t have to leave the comfort of their homes. They can use this app and explore the world smoothly.
- Have students respond to video discussion platforms
Students find it difficult to interact with teachers or respond to their queries, even if they know the answer. Instead of forcing them to come out of their comfort zones, try using a video-based discussion platform to engage your students. That way, you can pose a question or prompt and ask your students to respond to it via short videos. Flipgrid, for example, can help you amplify your students’ voices and even share your best practices with other teachers.
- Encourage online music education
Thousands of schools and colleges have shut down due to the pandemic. Thus, most students have resorted to online education as the only way to continue their studies. But what about your music classes? Isn’t it difficult to conduct those classes when you can’t meet your students in person? Well, you can use a K-12 music education software, Solfeg.io, to engage students with your music classes online. This software uses a web-based audio player that displays chords, melody, and the rhythm of any song simultaneously in real-time visually. You can provide a hands-on experience to your students and explain music theory effectively.
- Coordinate live videos
Pre-recorded videos often bore students and may not pay full attention to those videos. You can capture and retain their attention if the videos are live. They would know that the teacher or the guest lecturer is investing time to explain specific topics in real-time. Several video conferencing apps exist out there, such as Zoom or Google Meet. You can also use Skype to conduct those live tutoring sessions in the class. Skype also consists of a list of guest speakers who can voluntarily speak about their expertise topics. Live videos can help you expose your students to new ideas and efficiently hang complicated subjects.
- Promote teamwork through gamified learning
Gone are those days when video games only meant a gradual reduction of IQ. Nowadays, computer games are incredible and house different engaging programs for teaching students a wide variety of skills. For instance, you can come up with a list of questions for students and create a virtual scavenger hunt for them to find the correct answers. You can then use this virtual game to add students to groups or pairs, thereby encouraging collaboration and teamwork.
Here’s what happens when you merge gamification with education?
- Makes learning fun and drives human engagement
- Creates an addiction to learning
- Helps students see real-world applications
- Provides real-time feedback
- Add multimedia to your presentations
Slideshow presentations are quite common among students and teachers. Your students may get distracted or rather bored if your presentations consist of only texts. Why not add multimedia elements to your presentations and hold their attention through different types of content delivery? You can use the following elements to make your presentations more interesting and engaging:
- Images
- Graphs
- Podcast clips
- Sound effects
- Animated apps
- Short video lessons
- Teleshop show or movie clips
- Pictographs
- Integrate social media in the classrooms
It is no new fact that students already spend a lot of their time on social media. Thus, you can engage your students effortlessly simply by integrating the use of social media into your classrooms. For instance, you can create a Facebook group where you can post specific discussion topics for your students. They can look up the posts if they miss your class for some reason. You can also develop unique hashtags on Twitter for students to encourage them to ask questions or discuss lessons related to that hashtag.
- Play podcasts specific to all academic lessons
From the calming sounds of meditation to the real-life stories of famous entrepreneurs, podcasts are more than just simple background noise. As per a 2016 study by UG Berkley, listening to podcasts can stimulate multiple parts of your brain and boost your endorphin. You can try playing motivational podcasts, online courses or even interviews to prepare your students for a better career in the future. Here are the three main types of podcasts that you can include in your classroom:
- Podcast blogs
- Lectures from other educators
- Basic research information on an academic topic
- Insert instructional content in web pages
Insert learning is a tool that enables teachers to add instructional content on any web page on the Internet. You can go with essay writer, questions, post videos or pose interactive discussions to engage your students. This method also deepens their understanding of the subject matter topics in question. You can also use ‘Bounce’ to engage your students. Bounce lets you insert any web page’s URL and create an interactive screenshot. Your students can visit the URL, see commands to write feedback or create notes once they open the screenshot.
Wrapping Up,
Whether you want to pay your utility bills or buy medicines, technology has got your back. Education is no exception to this. Technology In Your Classrooms such as virtual classrooms and online discussion platforms can improve education quality and make the students eligible for better career opportunities. Some schools and colleges have already started integrating technology into the classroom. We just need to wait and see when technology-based education can reach students from all parts of the world.
