Critical Links

USING TECHNOLOGY CAN CHANGE YOUR CLASSROOM FOR THE BETTER

Kids love technology. It is like a kind of a magic pencil. If teachers give them the opportunity to learn using technology, then their motivation increases, allowing a better retention of knowledge.

Recent research shows that the majority of the learning process occurs outside the classroom. The main reason why this happens is because of the interaction. People learn through action, instead of learning passively. So, why not just bring that “outside” into the classroom?

Technology may be able to help teachers achieve that. In fact, some research indicates that technology can improve both the teaching and learning aspects of education. It also encourages active engagement and interactivity that students are so accustomed to outside of class, and miss when having to pay attention to lesson materials. Interactivity makes it easy for students to revisit specific parts of the subjects, to explore them more fully, to test ideas, and to receive feedback.

One of the most important goals of teachers is to develop the creative thinking of students and prepare them for the life ahead, equipped with a mindset that allows them to overtake problems and challenges with innovative and creative solutions. Having this in mind, it’s very important to keep the students’ motivation high so that they can assimilate all the knowledge teachers transmit.

These days, technology brings innovative learning methods and educational tools, including computers, interactive apps and games, virtual lectures, tablets videos or slideshows. Let’s use these resources.

There are several ways to increase students’ motivation using technology, such as:

Videos – Educational videos can be used to boost students’ motivation. This new approach has a great impact because most of the students are visual learners. Leveraging YouTube videos while explaining some subject is a more effective method of teaching than only explaining and describing things. Teachers can search educational videos online or create their own – there are many options readily available.

Independent Research – Students should be encouraged to take responsibility of maximizing their own learning potential. When they do independent research on a topic they feel smarter and more motivated and that allows a better retention of knowledge.

Intelligent use of Podcasts – Teachers can use podcasts in place of some of their reading material to break up some of the monotony. Break up repetitious reading assignments by mixing in a few podcasts; this will keep more students awake and it will increase their participation.

Classroom Gaming – There are many educational games that allow students to apply what was learned in the classroom. In fact, video games are no longer seen as something bad for the students but one of the best ways of using technology in the classroom. Using educational games makes students eager for learning and they get motivated by challenging each other.

It is important to integrate technology in the classroom because it has become so integral to the world outsite of the classroom and students are more tech-savvy than ever before. Having technology in the classroom is not a replacement for a good teacher. However, when we combine a great teacher with a constructive classroom technology usage the results are an even-better education.

This approach has not yet become the norm around the globe due to infrastructure limitations.

At Critical Links, we are working to make this change happen!

The micro-cloud approach brings together these critical technologies in virtually any classroom, anywhere in the world, regardless of networking and infrastructure challenges. With the micro-cloud, there’s no reason not to leverage technology for better results, and a better future.