How To Improve Use of Technology in the Classroom

In this digital age, students require technological literacy as much as traditional, white page, paper-pencil literacy.  Beginning in elementary school, students are required to type out their papers and print them for class.  Increasingly, students need to learn how to use web resources to write papers and blogs, research credible information, type efficiently, and use technological applications to their advantage in every subject. 

Another great advantage of using software in the classroom is that it easily differentiates students based on their level of knowledge in each subject, allowing students to learn at their own pace and their own level.  

Teachers can even use technology to help with classroom management. Occasionally when students begin using their laptops and are given instructions to complete a task, they will become distracted by social media websites and online games. Simple ways to monitor are using software from companies like LAN School

Another great online resource that can be used for classroom activities are Google apps, and particularly Google Docs. You can’t beat the collaborative nature of this resource.  A great feature is that it is all online and saves instantaneously, so there is no worrying about computer crashing, losing files, etc.  as it can be accessed on any computer with internet access.  Students can literally write group papers, projects, and brainstorming simultaneously on the same document.  Other useful school-related apps they can work with are powerpoint-like presentations, spreadsheets, forms, and drawings.

Podcasts can also be an innovative way to incorporate technology in the classroom. We Are Teachers offers ten podcasting projects as an alternative to oral reports, suggesting projects such as weekly podcasts reading about a current event, reenacting events in history, and recording reports about important cultural months.

(photo courtesy of useoftechnology.com)