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Integrating technology into the classroom in an important part of student success. Technology helps students grow their knowledge and make new discoveries on their own. It allows them to be creative and show it in their work. Integrating technology means using technology to enhance a lesson. It is not to be the main focus. It will make the lesson stronger and help the students create deeper connections.

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Integrating technology into the classroom in an important part of student success. Technology helps students grow their knowledge and make new discoveries on their own. It allows them to be creative and show it in their work. Integrating technology means using technology to enhance a lesson. It is not to be the main focus. It will make the lesson stronger and help the students create deeper connections.

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Technology is at the center of our lives in most environments, and the classroom is no exception. Student in today's classrooms have grown up in a world surrounded by technology. They do not know what it is like to experience life without cell phones, computers, televisions and other common tech devices.

Despite this familiarity with technology, educational environments may be slow to integrate technology into the classroom. Many schools still use analog tools, such as books, notebooks, whiteboards and posters in instructional design. This could be attributed to lack of funding. However, some school districts have invested in instructional technology for the classroom by securing grant funding or donations from community and business partners. This includes smart boards to replace outdated projectors as well as personal digital devices such as iPads or Chromebooks.

Technology has the potential to make aspects of education easier and more equitable in many ways. Let's find out how teachers and students can benefit from additional technology in the classroom.
In This Article:
Embracing Technology in the Classroom

Are you ready to start using technology as a teaching tool? Increasingly, educators are recognizing the value of technology in K-12 education, according to an Education Week Special Report. ¹

As beneficial as using technology in the classroom can be, it's still important to remember the overall goals: to help students learn, succeed and prepare for life with confidence. With that in mind, teachers and administrators should carefully evaluate each new technology to determine whether it will indeed support intended learning outcomes and enable students to master the lesson plan. Furthermore, educators must collaborate with IT staff to thoroughly vet the privacy and safety standards of any new technology before it's brought into the classroom.

8 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

Using technology in your teaching can help many students succeed in their learning. Here are eight top benefits of using technology in the classroom:

1. Increased Student Engagement

Students who use technology in the classroom may be more engaged. When schools have a 1:1 initiative (one device for every student), students benefit because technology can be more smoothly integrated into the curriculum. Many teachers use interactive software and programs as learning technologies so that students can respond to questions and lectures digitally. In addition, gamified learning makes education fun and engaging as they earn badges and move through competencies.

2. Collaboration

Technology makes it easier for students to collaborate and save their work. Traditionally, when students collaborated, they may have created posters or notes of their work together. However, technology allows students to create digital collections of research and ideas. They can draw and write together in the same program, creating documents and projects that are fully collaborative.

3. Inclusion

Technology allows some students to be included in the classroom in ways they have never been before. Many students who receive special education can benefit from technology that helps them write, spell, read and do mathematical computation. Word processors can point out spelling mistakes to students. Adaptive readers highlight text or read aloud to students so they can research and use websites like their peers using technology. As technology becomes more prevalent in schools, students who receive special education and use a laptop for help will not stand out or seem out of place.

4. Differentiation

Technology gives students access to a variety of programs and information sources at the simple click of a button. Teachers can find leveled readers or allow students to choose research topics that fit their interests much more easily than by going to the library where resources may be limited. In addition, teachers can assign programs to help students remediate or expand their knowledge so that students can process or investigate topics further. This work can be done during centers or group work, freeing the teacher to attend to individual students or other small groups. Using technology in this way ensures that all the students get what they need.

5. Productivity

Analog tools need to be tended to, cared for and replaced. Using technology allows students to access what they need when they need it. They can keep calendars online, and teachers can push due date reminders in a learning management system (LMS). Word processors do not need to be sharpened and online books do not get lost. Technology allows students instant access to all the materials they need, saving time, space and mental effort.

6. Creativity

The content available online is endless. Students who are interested in learning about arts, music, videos - and virtually anything else - can find plenty of resources. Any creative endeavor that calls to a student can be supported by technology. Tablets have the capabilities to capture students' sketches. Editing software lets students bring photos to life and manipulate them in creative ways. Technology can enhance creativity rather than inhibit it if students are given choice about what they create.

7. Automation

A huge benefit of educational technology for teachers is automation. You can upload lessons into an LMS for students to access on their own time. Online assessments make grading easy and parents can automatically be messaged when students receive a failing grade. Teachers are always looking for ways to find more time in the day, and technology can assist in big ways.

8. Future Focus

We do not yet know what types of jobs will be around when many of our students are adults joining the workforce, but we do know that technology is not going anywhere. Students will need strong technology skills to be successful in whatever job or career they may go into after school. Simply having a mindset that embraces the process of learning and using new technology can make a difference in a student's future.

What Are Some Examples of Using Technology in the Classroom?

If you are interested in using online technology aids in the classroom, here are a couple popular methods to help you get started:

Virtual Textbooks

Among the many benefits of computers for students in the classroom is the potential to access virtual textbooks. Virtual textbooks connect students to a considerable volume of information in an engaging and accessible way. However, it's important for school administrators to ensure that students have the necessary digital resources to access these virtual textbooks at home.

Online Courses

Some K-12 schools are taught entirely online, while others have embraced a hybrid online/in-person model. Both can be helpful for supporting student success.

For example, some smaller school districts might not have the resources necessary to offer more than the standard core classes plus a few enrichment courses (art, physical education, etc.) Access to online classes opens the door to greater opportunities to students in these school districts. Whereas before, students might have only had the option of learning Spanish, for example, they may be able to access online courses for German, French or a variety of other languages.

Using Technology in Teaching: Classroom Technology Tools

Technology plays an important role in both virtual and classroom learning. FlipGrid and Zoom are a couple useful tools you can use in your classroom to help get both students and parents engaged.

FlipGrid

FlipGrid is a video discussion platform for students of all ages. It's much like an online discussion forum for a class, but in video format. The teacher posts a video topic pertaining to the lesson plan and the students record their own discussion videos and post them to the grid.

FlipGrid can offer greater accessibility and engagement for students than traditional text-based discussion platforms. It's also easy to learn how to use, and there is a free version.

Zoom

Zoom is the web-based videoconferencing platform that many people relied upon for meetings during the pandemic. It's also handy for teachers, and not only for those teaching online classes.

Consider implementing Zoom technology in other useful ways, such as virtually bringing a guest speaker to class. You might even suggest Zoom meetings for parent-teaching conferences as a way to boost parental involvement.

Earning a Teaching Degree and Learning More About the Benefits of Computers for Students

The benefits of technology in the classroom are undeniable. As you can see, a teaching career offers limitless potential for innovation. From using technology in teaching to boosting student engagement and parental involvement, you could make a considerable difference in your community as a teacher.

Your first step toward becoming a teacher is to earn a teaching degree. You have many options to choose from. Start by considering which age group you'd like to teach. For example, you could earn a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education or a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

If you decide you'd like to teach older kids, you'll need to specialize in a particular subject area, as well. For instance, if you are passionate about the power of language, you might pursue a Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education.

Be sure that the degree you select leads to teacher licensure for the state in which you plan to work. In addition to taking coursework in pedagogy and your subject area, you will gain practical experience with a student teaching rotation. You'll also need to meet other licensure requirements for your state, such as passing a background check.

If you are interested in learning how educational technology can benefit your classroom, join us at Grand Canyon University for any of our teaching degree programs. Many of them have a technology-focused approach that will help you learn to integrate new skills and new ways of using technology in your classroom. Fill out the form at the top of your screen to take the next step in your academic journey.

Approved by the associate dean for the College of Education on March 14, 2023. ¹EdWeek (n.d.) The Future Classroom: What Will It Look Like and How Will It Be Different? Education Week. Retrieved February 2023.

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How Using Technology in Teaching Affects Classrooms

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Technology is at the center of our lives in most environments, and the classroom is no exception. Student in today's classrooms have grown up in a world surrounded by technology. They do not know what it is like to experience life without cell phones, computers, televisions and other common tech devices.

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5 Reasons to Use Digital Technology in the Classroom

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Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun. Students are also able to collaborate with their own classmates through technological applications. By using technology in the classroom, both teachers and students can develop skills essential for the 21st century. These are very important skills that can be developed in the classroom. Benefits for teachers. When teachers effectively integrate technology into class learning becomes more meaningful and fun which motivates the pupils/student to collaborate with their own classmates and acquire knowledge faster and with ease.
This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jenny S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT.
Listen to this blog post:

Improve digital skills and retention

When your students are being taught with the aids of new technology they benefit digital skills, students are expected to be more interested in the lessons they are studying. New technology paves the way to different resources that makes learning more enjoyable and fun because you will have the opportunity to teach the same topic with multiples electronics gadgets like smartboard, through gamification, virtual field trip and beyond the text that is online images and videos related to the topic. New technology can motivate an introvert student to participate and be more active in class while learning.

Also Read: What is the difference between TESOL and TEFL?

Learners who learn with different sources like audios, videos and other online materials beyond the topic they are studying, are expected to have better knowledge retention. As mentioned before, technology can help to encourage active participation in the classroom which also is a very important factor for increased knowledge retention.

Encourage individual and collaborative learning

No one learns in the same way because of different learning styles and different abilities. Technology provides great opportunities for making learning more effective for everyone with different needs. students can learn at their own speed, review difficult concepts or skip ahead if they need to, technology in the classroom creates more options for a weak and slow learner. Also to online learning encourage pupil/student access to many resources available on the Internet that is an online educational environment like HTML documents, notes, similar assignments, interactive exercises, image, audio, and video lessons and much other useful stuff that will encourage learning. Also, teachers can use different online resources to engage students like virtual lesson plans, grading software, and online assessments can help teachers save a lot of time. This valuable time can be used to improve other struggling students.

For collaborative learning, students can practice their skills by getting involved in different online activities with others on forums or by sharing documents on their virtual learning environments with others. New technology can encourage collaboration with learners in the same classroom, same school and even with learners in different cities and countries.

Also Read: Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a non-Native TEFL Teacher

Improve student writing (through writing for peers, feedback)

New technology helps students and teacher improve writing skills, which make writing easy for everyone now our days most students and teachers have abandoned the old fashion of writing and now focus on the technology age.

With access to internet learners use online education tools to improve English writing skills in a classroom, such as WhatsApp, Google Docs, WeChat, Lex Tutor and many others to engage in writing and learning.

Google Docs lets students post their files where they can be read give feedback improved expression which encourages learners and classmates to write with clarity. Students build their thoughts and focus on topics far more in a collaborative by writing through peers and getting feedbacks.

Also Read: The Benefits of Teacher Career Development

Challenges of new technology

Even though new technology has made learning becomes much more it also has some critics. Most teachers and schools can't afford new technology because is expensive, Public schools useless technology in the classroom as compared to private schools. Due to many factors like electricity, internet, poverty developing countries use less technology in the classroom as compared to developing countries.

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The Benefit of New Technology in the Classroom

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Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun. Students are also able to collaborate with their own classmates through technological applications. By using technology in the classroom, both teachers and students can develop skills essential for the 21st century. These are very important skills that can be developed in the classroom.

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Drexel University School of Education
Technology provides instant accessibility to information, which is why its presence in the classroom is so vital. Smart phones, computers, and tablets are already an omnipresent element of everyday life for students and teachers alike. It's only natural that the use of technological devices in the classroom are explored to create meaningful learning experiences for students of all ages.

Utilizing different types of technology in the classroom, including a virtual classroom, creates learners who are actively engaged with learning objectives. The implementation of technology also creates pathways for differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of students as individual learners within a broader classroom climate.

What Does Technology Integration Mean in Education?

Integration of technology in education simply refers to the use of technology to enhance the student learning experience. Utilizing different types of technology in the classroom, including a virtual classroom, creates learners who are actively engaged with learning objectives. The implementation of technology also creates pathways for differentiated instruction to meet the unique needs of students as individual learners within a broader classroom climate.

How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom

There is a common misconception that the integration of technology in the classroom can be a financial burden for school districts, but students do not necessarily need their own tablets or laptops to succeed with technology. The use of technology during whole-class instruction can foster student engagement for auditory and visual learners. Integrating simple technologies Power Points, games, internet homework assignments, or online grading systems can be difference makers in students' growth in the classroom.

Power Points and Games

Powerpoint presentations can be used to introduce a classroom concept while providing the opportunity for engagement. Along with the use of graphics and bulleted information, links to videos that accompany the ideas presented in the Powerpoint can be embedded within the slides.

Educational apps in the classroom like Kahoot can be used to review information after a lesson or unit. Teachers can create and share Kahoots with one another while students can create anonymous user names to participate in the game. This allows for whole-class participation from students who may usually be reluctant to participate in class. Kahoot is accessible to play on phones or computers and teachers can determine if they want students to work independently or be assigned to teams.

Internet Homework Assignments

Posting homework assignments online (via learning platforms like Blackboard, Brightspace, and Moodle) is one way many teachers can begin to integrate technology in the classroom. Assignments are easily accessible, which can increase student engagement and help students become more organized.

Online grading Systems

Communication is a key element in education that helps teachers, administrators, parents, and students recognize a student's strengths and areas for improvement. Online grading systems such as PowerSchool open and facilitate lines of communication where teachers can post grades, analyze student attendance patterns, and manage transcript data.

Classroom Tablets

For classrooms that are fortunate enough to have tablets for students, technology can allow teachers to implement differentiation throughout instruction. Students can work at their own pace during assignments and teachers have the opportunity for one-on-one instruction.

Listserv

Software such as Listserv allows parents to manage and organize their emails. Parents can receive updates from teachers about important announcements, newsletters, and discussions that keep frequent lines of communication open.

Strategies of Implementation for Age Groups

The benefits of technology can enhance any contemporary classroom. However, the way technology is implemented and used in classrooms of various grade levels and content areas will differ.

Ways to Incorporate Technology in the Elementary Classroom

For younger students, technology can be used to build fundamental skills to prepare them for future independent learning. Students can use interactive games to reinforce math, spelling, phonetic, and reading skills. Sites like Spelling Training permit students or teachers to upload their own word lists to practice word pronunciation and create interactive games. Parents can also use these sites to exercise fundamental skills beyond the walls of the classroom.

Using Technology in the Middle School Classroom

As students begin to take steps to transform into independent thinkers, they can use technology to develop basic life skills. Students at the middle school level will gain independence by having different teachers for each subject. Using technology to acquire skills such as conducting research can be applied to any content area. Websites like Easy Bib guide students to find credible sources through a variety of search engines and teach students to correctly cite those sources to avoid plagiarism.

Technology in High School Classrooms

Once students reach their secondary education, they can discover ways to use technology that can be beneficial for college and career development. Familiarization with Microsoft Office and Google Drive teach students to make spreadsheets, slide show presentations, and share documents where they can receive fluid feedback on their work. Many careers use these elements of Microsoft and Google to organize information and collaborate between colleagues or clients.

Why is it Important to Integrate Technology in the Classroom

Teachers often find success when they present the opportunity to use technology in the classroom. There are various benefits and effects when technology is used for educational instruction and some may argue that not all of the effects are positive. Having an infinite flow of information and entertainment available at any given time could be seen as a distraction, but if technology is integrated into the classroom with routines in place that are monitored or assessed, the pros of using technology in the classroom outweigh the cons.

Keeping students engaged

Active engagement is a key part of any lesson plan. Whether students are working independently or collaboratively, technology engages students because it is interactive.

Helps students with different learning styles

Not all students learn and retain information in the same way or at the same speed. Technology is an opportunity for teachers to differentiate instruction to modify information for the appropriate learning capabilities of their students. The use of technology can also allow students to work at their own paces.

Prepare students with life skills

Technology has become its own form of literacy because of how often it is used in everyday life. Many careers use at least one aspect of Microsoft Office or Google Drive on a daily basis: balancing budgets on spreadsheets, creating decks or slide shows to be presented, or attaching documents to emails to communicate important information. Allowing students to learn and refine these skills prepares them for life beyond the classroom.

For additional information about programs or certifications associated with technology in the classroom, visit Drexel University's School of Education Instructional Technology Specialist Certification program.

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How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom - School of Education

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Check out our list of tips for the best ways on how to use technology in the classroom. Learn the benefits & effects of technology with Drexel University.

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Lumen Learning | Open for student success

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10 Benefits & Uses for Technology in the Classroom | Lumen Learning

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Learn more about the benefits of technology in the classroom and how it can be integrated in unique and effective ways.