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Ways to use technology in the classroom 

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Ways to use technology in the classroom 

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ClassDojo helps teachers, parents, and students build amazing classroom communities.

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Acceptable Use Policy Student Information Teacher Information Technology Advocacy Announcements Digital Citizenship Frequently Asked Questions Homework Parent Information School and Community Information

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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Interactive Websites to use in the Classroom 

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Interactive Websites to use in the Classroom 

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The term education reform is very broad. It encompasses a lot of different models of pedagogy from the flipped classroom to formative assessment to mobile learning. And while these models are distinct, they are all intuitive in nature.

Interactivity, whether it be between peers or between students and the education technology that they use, is crucial to make the learning process more engaging. However, crafting a lesson plan that takes full advantage of interactive tools such as games and videos can be daunting. Fortunately for today's educators, there are many online-based interactive learning sites that make learning fun and engaging.

Source: https://www.im-c.com/en/spotlight/trends/game-based-learning

8 Interactive Learning Sites:

If you're looking for one-stop shopping, this is the site. With interactive options that encompass the core curriculum and more, this website is an invaluable resource for K-5 teachers. From multiplication problems to quick brain teasers that jump start the cognitive process, you'll find it all here. The site even has games in Spanish. While the site is rather plain aesthetically, the games are vibrant and function smoothly with little lag. However, all content is online-based, and it must be noted that the site functions as a portal to content on other websites, and does not produce its own original content.

Funbrain is a vibrant and intuitive website full of rich learning content for grades K-8. While it doesn't cover a wide range of subjects, the basics are represented well. What it lacks for subject range it makes up for in grade range and original content. Funbrain offer interactive flash cards, a newsletter and links to teacher resources.
3. Scholastic.com
While we mostly think of gaming when it comes to interactive learning sites, Scholastic.com is much more than that. The site has daily starters, which are prompts to start students off on the creative track while taking some of the pressure off of educators. The Storia service on the site provides unlimited access to e-books, an essential part of interactive learning. The site also dedicates an entire page of resources to interactive whiteboard use, another staple of interactive learning.

SMART Exchange is a website where educators can download a plethora of interactive resources. The site provides games, lesson planes and even virtual-workspace templates to facilitate interactive learning. The website itself is stark and simple, which makes it easy to navigate. Educators can download and share resources easily. There is a community section to facilitate collaboration between educators. Smart exchange is a free membership-based service, which means that to take advantage of the community and training services, you have to sign up. However, the benefits are worth it as you will have access to a global community of educators.

PBSKids is an incredibly rich and vivid site with a focus strictly on game-based learning. Featuring both original games and those based on popular PBS series, the site demonstrates a good balance between games that solely serve to entertain and those with educational value. The site takes it a step further by allowing students to create their own virtual avatar. The most progressive feature on the site is the PBSParents section, which allows parents to see the new games in development, as well as real-time feedback on their child's activity.

Much like PBSKids, ABCya! is focused on game-based learning, providing options for grade levels Pre-K to 5. With family as well as classroom login access, it facilitates game-based learning via classroom or parental collaboration.

e-learning for kids has many of the same features as the previously mentioned websites. Educators can access interactive and engaging lesson plans that cover a range of subjects such as life skills, computer skills and the standards like grammar and math. Where e-learning for kids sets itself apart is with its offline access. Educators can download the e-learning courseware and access some of these lessons offline, which can be beneficial for students who can't always rely on internet access.

While most of the entries on this list have provided educators and students access to interactive games or lessons, this one is a little different. ReadWriteThink's printing press is just that, a virtual interactive printing press. It gives students across different grade levels the ability to create their own newspapers, brochures and flyers. Students can choose the font size and colors of the text they use.

Source: https://mrbarlow.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/the-state-of-digital-education/

Interactive learning sites provide an entry point for educators looking to make the classroom a more collaborative environment. With L iveTiles Mosaic, teachers have the ability to compile these interactive sites into one instantly accessible digital classroom. As the screen shot below shows, all one has to do is embed the appropriate links to the digital classroom, or direct students to these links in the Yammer feed. Within minutes, student can take advantage of these interactive learning sites.

The lives of our students have grown with the technology around them. They are incredibly connected, crossing borders and social barriers with smartphones and tablets. The classroom shouldn't be inoculated from this process. It should benefit from it and grow with it. Interactive learning sites are one step closer to achieving this vision.

Take Advantage of Interactive Learning Sites Today

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8 Must Have Interactive Learning Sites For The Digital Classroom

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The term education reform is very broad. It encompasses a lot of different models of pedagogy from the flipped classroom to formative assessment to mobile learning. And while these models are distinct, they are all intuitive in nature.

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Reasons to Integrate Technology in the Classroom 

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Reasons to Integrate Technology in the Classroom 

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Think that integrating technology into the classroom will only distract students and marginalize educators?

Think again. Since students are already interested and engaged in technology, teachers can harness that attention for educational purposes. Incorporating the internet, laptops, tablets and even smartphones into the curriculum has many benefits for teachers and students alike.

1. Engages students and creates active learners.

Using a computer, tablet, or other device encourages self-directed learning and creates an active participant in the learning process, rather than the passive learners found in a lecture environment. Interactive lesson plans can help turn "boring" conceptual subjects like math and science into fun, engaging, and educational activities for students.

2. Encourages individual learning and growth.

No one learns in the same way or at the same pace, but technology can level-set the classroom. For example, technology can provide accommodations for struggling or disabled students, and virtual lesson plans provide individualized instruction for all. Students can learn at their own speed, reviewing difficult concepts or skipping ahead as needed. Additionally, access to the internet gives students access to a broad range of resources to conduct research.
Ready to get started? Four steps to take to help you prepare a 1:1 classroom.
3. Facilitates peer collaboration.

In a research project conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, many educators reported that technology facilitated peer collaboration. They noted that when students were assigned to small groups for technology-based projects, those students who already had certain computer and technology skills routinely assisted less skilled students. Peer tutoring, mentoring, and collaboration were the unexpected results of the technology integration.

4. Prepares students for the real world.

Technology is an integral part of how we work and live, every day. Teaching students how to use technology to learn, research, collaborate, and solve problems from an early age will better prepare them for their careers. It can also help reduce the fear of new technology in the future by familiarizing them with the discovery process for each new tool.

5. Creates more engaged and successful teachers.

Using technologies like virtual lesson plans and internet resources can help free up time - both in developing and delivering the curriculum. This allows teachers to spend more time with the students who are struggling, ensuring the whole class is better prepared for tests and advancement.

As an educator, integrating technology into the curriculum is key. In other words, don't just add a piece of technology to a lesson plan just because you can. Make sure you understand:

How to use the technology

How to train students on using the technology

How the technology supports your curriculum

What benefits the technology brings to your lesson

An easy way to introduce technology is to start small. Try using a document camera to project textbook images on a screen, or introduce a website a week that corresponds with your lesson plan.

The point is not to let technology take over your classroom, but to integrate it. Traditional teaching processes like lectures, writing papers, and analog testing should not be abandoned. When combined effectively with the methods you're used to, technology can help you and help your students.
Capella University offers over 20 free professional development courses focused on educational technology, with options in three proficiency levels: limited technology experience, moderate experience, or teacher leaders/PD professionals.

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5 Reasons to Incorporate Technology into Your Classroom

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Think that integrating technology into the classroom will only distract students and marginalize educators? Think again. Since students are already interested and engaged in technology, teachers can harness that attention for educational purposes. Incorporating the internet, laptops, tablets and even smartphones into the curriculum has many benefits for teachers and students alike.

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How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom  

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How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom  

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.