As a parent or even a stand-in substitute teacher who hasn’t been in school for a long time, you may have been overwhelmed with the huge role technology has played in the classroom and in students’ lives. You may have wondered how this will benefit learning capabilities and teachers. Does more technology in the classroom make better teachers and students? Regardless of what you believe, it is clear that technology is not going anywhere soon and will become an even bigger part of life.
No Longer Your Mom and Dad’s Classroom
In today’s typical classroom, you will rarely find kids sitting at desks reading books, writing tests, or watching the teacher write on a chalkboard. Some kids are using an iPad, others are using small notebook laptops, and others are utilizing a smartphone to look up answers, definitions, and educational videos. You can email your homework to your teacher versus physically handing it in on the day it is due. Your teacher can then email you with feedback and a grade. Gone are the blackboards and chalk dust of yesteryear. In their place are SMART boards with special interactive styluses. This technology is introduced into the classroom as early as kindergarten. Such tools are used to teach math, foreign language, and other creative projects. At this point, children need to possess computer skills in order to succeed later in life.
How Teaching Has Changed
The education sector is quickly becoming a radically different place. Today, according to Instructure, teacher’s pedagogical strategies have to adapt to the changing virtual classroom, or they will be unable to effectively teach. As a result, professional development workshops become all the more vital to get teachers up to speed on the newest digital tools to help them reach even more children than before.
The benefits of such developments are numerous. Digital innovation makes it feasible for teachers to learn faster and better so they can then help more of their students do the same. It enables them to network with other teachers, and it has the capability to increase the performance of mediocre teachers. It also has the potential to convert uninteresting, hum-drum subjects into enjoyable and stimulating ones. Instead of meeting with parents face to face or sending notes home with students, parents and teachers can interact with each other via text, email or instant messaging. For this reason, parents remain more involved in how their child is doing and can easily contact the teacher with any questions or concerns.
Digital Connectivity and Schools
While technology does have a myriad of advantages, it definitely has its issues as well, according to The Conversation. Internet outages, outdated equipment and the fact that there are different requirements with different devices can create a major headache for the school on a budget. Some technology companies are recognizing this and providing free or reduced-rate software and computers to schools. This can help to create early brand loyalty, so it is a long-term marketing strategy.
Kids with various life and learning challenges can have the opportunity to shine with the use of technology, which then boosts their self-esteem. Technology in the classroom, when used properly, is decidedly a win-win combination.
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