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5 Reasons to Incorporate Technology into the Classroom

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5 Reasons to Incorporate Technology into the Classroom

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This article explains 5 reasons to incorporate 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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Take a look at this article to see why students need technology to enhance their learning.

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Written by Explorance.

The learning environment is more dynamic than ever before. As a result, today's students learn in ways that are very different from how our educational system was originally designed. With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the rise of remote/hybrid learning, the idea of the classroom is being remodeled and redefined in a number of ways to fit the evolving needs of modern digital learners.

Many Higher Education Institutions are substituting traditional resources with educational technologies to keep up with their digital learning population. Below we've listed why adopting a learning strategy that embraces technology in the classroom environment can improve engagement and increase student success rates.

1. Access to information and resources

Technology provides students with instant access to a vast amount of information and resources. The internet and digital tools allow students to explore various subjects, conduct research, and access educational materials that may not be available in traditional textbooks. Here are some concrete examples of how students can use technology to enhance their learning:

Digital Libraries: Digital libraries or online databases allow students to access various academic and research materials, including e-books, scholarly articles, journals, and multimedia content that can support their learning.

Online Platforms: Educational platforms and learning management systems (LMS) provide a centralized location for teachers to share resources and for students to access information. These platforms can host digital textbooks, multimedia content, interactive modules, and assignments.

Open Educational Resources (OER): OER refers to freely available educational materials accessed online. Instructors can utilize OER platforms to find textbooks, lesson plans, videos, and other resources that align with the curriculum and provide students with additional information sources.

2. Connects the classroom experience to the real world

A geology professor takes her students on a Grand Canyon National Park virtual tour. A history teacher walks his students through the corridors and history of the White House. Technology allows educators to remove the physical barriers of the classroom, offering students a way to connect the curriculum with the real world and those areas of academic focus that can genuinely enrich the student experience. Technology can also facilitate virtual guest speaker sessions allowing students to connect with experts and professionals from different fields through video conferencing, expanding their access to information and real-world perspectives.

3. Prepares students for the modern workplace

To thrive in the 21st-century workplace, students need more than a working knowledge of current technological tools. They must gain exposure to the tools and skills they will likely encounter in the modern workplace. By integrating these technologies into the regular curriculum and ongoing activities, institutions ensure that their students are workforce ready in more ways than one.

Digital Literacy: Digital literacy skills is in high demand in the workplace. By integrating technology in the classroom, students learn to navigate digital platforms, use productivity tools, collaborate online, and effectively communicate using digital mediums.

Information Management: Technology enables students to access, organize, and analyze large amounts of data. Employees often need to gather data and conduct research to make informed decisions. Classroom technology familiarizes students with information management tools and techniques, preparing them for these tasks.

Adaptability and Flexibility: Technology integration exposes students to various digital tools and platforms. This experience helps students become adaptable and flexible in using different technologies, as workplaces often require employees to learn and adapt to new technologies and software.

Creativity and Innovation: Students can use technology to create multimedia presentations, design projects, develop prototypes, and express their ideas innovatively. These skills are highly valued in many industries where creative problem-solving and innovative thinking are essential.

Encourages collaboration and communication: Many educational tools offer a variety of functionalities that promote collaboration. For example, video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Skype allow students to hold virtual meetings with classmates from anywhere in the world. With free online storage solutions like Google Drive, students can easily share and edit projects with each other, helping to foster better overall collaboration in both the academic sphere and the world of work. This mirrors the teamwork and communication skills required in any workplace.

4. Global awareness and cultural exchange

Technology allows students to connect with peers and experts from around the world. Through video conferencing, online collaborations, and virtual exchange programs, students can gain global awareness, learn about different cultures, and develop a broader perspective on various issues.

5. Supports different types of learning styles

No two students learn the same way, but educators can address diversity in learning styles and experiences with the right tools. A Student Insight Solution platform like Explorance Blue can help identify student needs based on real-time feedback. Explorance Blue supports student learning by allowing instructors to connect and engage with every student, no matter where they are or their challenges.

6. Teaches students how to be responsible online

With social media sites galore, most students are already digital citizens. However, by incorporating technology into the classroom, students can learn how to be responsible in the digital world and with their digital actions. The class becomes a microcosm of the broader digital landscape where students can practice communicating, searching, and engaging with other digital citizens.

7. Adds a fun factor to learning

Outside the classroom, students use technology in all aspects of their lives. Within the classroom, technology can make learning more fun and exciting. Here are some fun ways to incorporate technology into classroom activities:

Educational Games and Quizzes: Utilize educational game websites or apps that offer interactive quizzes, puzzles, and challenges related to the subject matter. This engages students in a fun and competitive environment while reinforcing their learning.

Online Polls and Surveys: Use online polling tools or survey platforms to gather student feedback, conduct class surveys, or facilitate class discussions. This encourages active participation and allows students to express their thoughts.

Coding and Programming: Introduce coding and programming activities using educational coding platforms or apps. Students can learn the basics of coding through game-based tutorials and then apply their skills to create simple programs or animations.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): Explore AR and VR technologies to create immersive and interactive learning experiences. Students can use AR/VR tools to explore historical sites, dissect virtual organisms, or visualize complex concepts in a three-dimensional space.

Effective instructors leverage technology to enhance their instruction and engage students. However, it's essential to ensure that students are guided on effectively searching for information, critically evaluating sources, and using technology responsibly. Instructors are crucial in helping students navigate the digital landscape and develop information literacy skills.

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7 Reasons Why Students Need Technology in the Classroom

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Ways in which adopting technology in the classroom environment can improve engagement and increase student success rates.

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Using Technology to Connect with Parents

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Using Technology to Connect with Parents

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I am a huge advocate for keeping parents involved with what is happening in the classroom. This article shares a few ways to connect with parents using technology.

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43 Apps, Games, and Websites for the Classroom

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43 Apps, Games, and Websites for the Classroom

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The website below lists many games, apps, and websites that can be used in the classroom for interactive learning.

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The Common Sense seal program recognizes outstanding media with an official seal for quality and impact. Common Sense Selections for Learning are best-in-class media resources and tools that facilitate great learning experiences for students and educators. Common Sense expert reviewers make hand-picked, official selections annually based on our independent rating criteria and pedagogical rubric. See how we rate and review

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The Common Sense seal program recognizes outstanding media with an official seal for quality and impact. Common Sense Selections for Learning are best-in-class media resources and tools that facilitate great learning experiences for students and educators. Common Sense expert reviewers make hand-picked, official selections annually based on our independent rating criteria and pedagogical rubric.

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This article has several useful tools for making mind maps and graphic organizers.

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Years ago I was a contributing author to What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media. The section that I co-authored was all about mind mapping. Eight years later the concepts that we wrote about are still solid, but the tools have changed (mostly for the better).

Creating a mind map is an excellent way to generate and write down ideas connected to a central topic. I frequently use mind maps to generate ideas for blog posts and for workshop topics. Students can use them to generate ideas for creative writing, to plan presentations, and to record all of the factors contributing to a central event. Flowcharts help students see how a process works from start to finish.

Twelve Good Tools for Making Mind Maps & Flowcharts

Transno is a service that lets you write notes and outlines that can then be turned into mind maps and flowcharts with just one click. It reminds me a lot of the original Text2MindMap service that I used to use. Transno is better because it offers a variety of mind map and flowchart styles while Text2MindMap only offered one. Transno also supports collaboration by letting you invite others to edit and add to your notes. In this video I demonstrate how Transno works.

Canvas ( https://canvas.apps.chrome/) is a handy drawing tool from Google. Canvas is a great alternative to Google Drawings for iPad and Android tablet users. Canvas lets anyone create a drawing in his or her web browser by simply going to Canvas.apps.chrome. Once there you can start drawing on a blank canvas. There are four drawing tools that you can use to draw in a wide array of colors. Watch my video to see Canvas in action.

If your students have a computer in front of them, they probably have access to either Google Slides or PowerPoint or both. Google Slides and PowerPoint have built-in tools that students can use to create flowcharts. This video demonstrates how students can use Google Slides to create flowcharts. This video demonstrates how to use PowerPoint to create flowcharts. As you'll see in the videos, you can make the flowcharts interactive through the use of linking in PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Bubbl.us is a mind mapping and flowchart tool that I've been recommending for more than a decade. It has evolved overtime to keep up with the needs of students, teachers, and other users.Creating mind maps on Bubbl.us is an easy process of simply clicking on the center of your screen then entering the central topic of your mind map. The next step is to add "child" topics or bubbles that are connected to the central topic. Those are added by clicking the "+" that appears while holding your cursor over an existing bubble.

Padlet offers templates for creating flowcharts and know, want, learn charts. Unfortunately, you can only make three Padlet walls before you have to either delete one to make a new one or upgrade to a paid plan. The upside to using Padlet is that it's designed for collaboration. Here's my video on how to use Padlet to create flowcharts and mind maps.

Text2MindMap was a commercial project for a few years before going out of business then coming back as an open-source project supported by Tobias Løfgren. The way that it works is that you type a linear outline and Text2MindMap will automatically generate a corresponding mind map. To use it simply go to https://tobloef.com/text2mindmap/ then clear the existing text and replace it with your own text. Every line that you type in your outline becomes a node in the mind map. You can create a branch from a node by simply indenting a line in your outline.

The Post-it mobile apps for Android and iOS let you take a picture of physical sticky notes and then sort them on a digital canvas. This a great option for those who prefer to do their mind mapping and chart creation on paper but still need a way to digitize their work. Get the apps here.

MindMup is a free mind mapping tool that can be used online, with Google Drive, and on your desktop. MindMup works like most mind mapping tools in that you can create a central idea and add child and sibling nodes all over a blank canvas. MindMup nodes can contain text and links. When you're ready to save your MindMup mind map you can save it to Google Drive, save it to your desktop, or publish it online. If you publish it online, you can grab an embed code for it to post it in a blog post or webpage.

Coggle is a collaborative mind-mapping service that is very easy to use. To create a Coggle mind map just sign-in with your Google account and click the "+" icon to start your mind map. After entering the main idea of your mind map you can add branches by clicking the "+" icons that appear next to everything you type. To re-arrange elements just click on them and drag them around your screen. You can invite others to view and edit your mind maps.

Google Drawings and Google Jamboard be used to create mind maps and flowcharts. Drawings has more features than Jamboard. The upside of Jamboard is that it's probably a more intuitive tool for new users. Here's my video about using Google Drawings to create a mind map. Here's my video on using Jamboard.

Spider Scribe is an online mind map creation service. Spider Scribe can be used individually or be used collaboratively. What jumps out about Spider Scribe is that users can add images, maps, calendars, text notes, and uploaded text files to their mind maps. Users can connect the elements on their mind maps or let them each stand on their own. You can embed your interactive SpiderScribe mind map into your blog or website.

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Great Tools for Making Mind Maps and Flowcharts

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Years ago I was a contributing author to What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media. The section that I co-authored was all about mind mapping. Eight years later the concepts that we wrote about are still solid, but the tools have changed (mostly for the better).

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Below is a list of tools that can be used in the classroom to enhance learning for students.

-Apps that create videos
-Excel Spreadsheets
-Google (Spreadsheets, Docs, Classroom, Slides)
-Microsoft Word
-Microsoft PowerPoint
-HyperDocs
-MyVRSpot
-Interactive websites/apps

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This is an example of how Excel Spreadsheets can be used to integrate technology and enhance learning for students.

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Below is a link to my website.

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This is a link to Padlet Board 2 on Natural Disasters.