# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Transforming Education Through Technology: EdTech Trends and Learning Experience

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teaching Strategies: Maximise Student Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 FREE Tools EVERY Online Teacher Should Be Using | Free Teach Online Setup Tools!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Digital Citzenship and Gaming | Coder Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Digital Citizenship and Gaming are hot topics for kids and parents today. We’ll talk about how to help kids navigate an ever-changing digital world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
ManagedMethods Cybersecurity, Safety & Compliance for K-12

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about the top 20 tools that are shaping both the role of teachers and the learning experiences of students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Digital citizenship is the ability to navigate our digital environments in a way that’s safe and responsible and to actively and respectfully engage in these spaces.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
36 Creative Ed Tech Posters ideas | educational technology, classroom, education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Apr 2, 2021 - Educational Technology For Classroom,Teacher and/or Trainer Use. See more ideas about educational technology, classroom, education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A free poster maker to create massive wall posters from your own images! Free!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Free Lessons for Digital Citizenship Week

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore free resources for Digital Citizenship Week and ideas for teaching students digital citizenship curriculum.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Technology Solutions That Drive Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If the idea of squeezing even one more thing into an already jam-packed curriculum - and teaching day - seems daunting, the prospect of having to integrate technology into lesson plans is enough to put some teachers over the edge.

But the need to make new technology as easy and familiar to students as pencils and calculators will only grow stronger. It's an important task that all educators must not merely accept, but embrace.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the International Society for Technology in Education recommends that integrating technology be made a focal point of preservice teacher preparation. According to ISTE's National Educational Technology Standards, "...candidates must continually observe and participate textcafe join-from 3 in the effective modeling of technology use for both their own learning and the teaching of their students."

By investing the time in creating that model, not only will educators infuse their lesson plans with technology, but they'll be creating a tool that they will use again and again.

As with any investment, you need to invest sweat equity. If you've never used technology in the classroom, it makes sense to take a workshop to familiarize yourself with IT tools and their use in education. Even without additional training, you can divide your project into manageable steps and develop the model for your new lesson plan before you know it. The process of creating models of

technology can be broken into six steps.

STEP 1: ANALYZE THE BENEFITS

You may be able to infuse one of your long-standing lessons with technology, but you must first determine whether doing so will benefit students' overall achievement. Schools have high standards that their technology curricula must meet, so familiarize yourself with those standards to ensure that your lesson plans meet them.

If, in your selected lesson plan, students will learn curricular objectives and achieve a new skill while meeting those objectives, you have a win-win situation, and you should go to the next step.

If you have difficulty determining whether this will be the outcome, sit down with a technology expert, who could be another teacher excited about using technology, a technology instructor or coordinator, a media specialist or even a highly skilled, technology-savvy student looking for a new challenge. The tech expert can help match a technology to your project needs and goals.

STEP 2: START BRAINSTORMING

Ideally, you won't be on your own in developing your project. A team approach (with teachers working either on individual lesson plans or on an integrated, multidiscipline lesson plan) can add megawatts to your collective brainpower, especially if some of those colleagues are experienced technology users.

Webbing is a useful tool at this stage: Beginning with a central topic, then brainstorm to build out subtopics and related ideas to create a visual map. Concept webbing software, such as Inspiration from Inspiration Software, can help get ideas flowing. A visual map of ideas lets you select lesson elements, such as related ideas or suggested activities, and ensure their integration in the lesson plan.

Check out resources available online, such as quality educator resource materials and software. Why reinvent the wheel? Useful materials, including software recommendations, may already be available.

STEP 3: MAP THE PROJECT

You and your team have selected the ideas, concepts and activities that you want to include in your lesson plan or plans, and you have the information needed to select the hardware, software and skills that will be used to complete the plan's tasks and produce the end product.

Next, create a rough sketch or a storyboard of how the project will flow. If your project entails making a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation or shooting a video, use a simple template that lets you lay out what you would like on each page.

The storyboarding process is equally important for your students to do when they're producing their projects. By plotting out the project step by step, you ensure the students have the content to do the project and don't get hung up on using the extraneous features of multimedia.

STEP 4: CREATE THE TEACHING TEMPLATE

One of the most difficult tasks in planning a new technology project is to accurately predict how much time it will take. The best way to do that is to create a sample project. This crucial point in the modeling process is not the time to skimp on your investment. In fact, it's probably the most important step toward ensuring the success of a new technology project.

You can select a basic project - for instance, how to prepare a five-minute speech. It's a wonderful way to introduce students to public speaking, as well as to teach them how to use informative writing skills to develop a process model for doing a particular task, such as baking chocolate chip cookies.

If you or your students are new to the technology, a good subject for your sample project is a step-by-step presentation on how to do the project - say, a PowerPoint presentation on how to do a PowerPoint presentation or a digital video on how to create a digital video.

By making a model project yourself, you gain the needed background knowledge for instructing your students and fine-tuning the project's parameters. You'll also gain a clear sense of the time, materials, preparation and personnel needed to make the project a success.

An instructor who is uncomfortable using the technology may be tempted to bypass this step. One word of caution: Don't! Asking students to create their projects without proper direction or modeling will cause frustration and outweigh any potentially positive results.

In the "see one, do one, teach one" model, you're at the do-one stage. So just do it!

STEP 5: DEVELOP ASSESSMENT TOOLS

With the process still fresh in your mind, it's time to reflect on the skills and information the students will be responsible for demonstrating in their project. Create a rubric to construct a means for performance-based assessment of the students' work. Identify how much weight you'll give to grammar, spelling, content, specific technology skills, layout and presentation.

By giving the rubric to the students before the project begins, you clearly lay out your expectations. Many resources are available online to help you create an ideal rubric.

STEP 6: EVALUATION MODE

Having finished your sample project, it's time to evaluate what worked and what didn't. What resources or technology were missing or unnecessary? What did you learn along the way that you would have liked to have known when you started? Is there any way to streamline the process of using the technology to achieve the lesson's goals or make the project more effective?

By reflecting on the process, answering these questions and incorporating their answers into the model for your new lesson plan, you'll find that you have the experience to work confidently with your students and cope with future glitches.

With each additional class, your experience will deepen, and your horizons will broaden. Think of it as a sort of unofficial Step 7, in which you and your future students get to collect the dividends of your investment.
Laura Stockslager is the technology coordinator of Old Trail School in Bath, Ohio.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Steps For Integrating Technology into Your Lesson Plan

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If the idea of squeezing even one more thing into an already jam-packed curriculum - and teaching day - seems daunting, the prospect of having to integrate technology into lesson plans is enough to put some teachers over the edge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have.

In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher:

"Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies or incorporating new technologies into lessons. "

Is that you?

There's more than one way to teach a diverse and dynamic classroom. In this post you'll find:

A comprehensive list of 36 teaching strategies to use in math class and beyond

A list of essential resources for using them effectively

Classroom teaching strategies and techniques

1. Classroom management strategies

Infographic: 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques. Click to expand!

According to research from 2006, teachers overwhelmingly reported a lack of professional development support when it came to improving their own classroom management strategies. This can lead to confusion for students and frustration for teachers.

When students clearly understand what's expected of them, they're more likely to be focused and engaged with their lessons. Some tips for building a positive environment include:

Model ideal behaviour: Clearly explain proper behaviour, and then follow it yourself.

Encourage initiative: Allow students to actively participate in the learning process with class discussions and exercises that support the initiative.

Avoid collective punishment: While it can be difficult, make a point of calling out disruptive behaviours on an individual, not collective, basis.

For more actionable classroom management teaching strategies, read 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques [+Downloadable List].

2. Flexible seating

Kristine Fourman, a teacher in the Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program, connects student seating and academics: "When students aren't trying to hold themselves still in their chairs, they can integrate auditory, visual and tactile systems of the body."

There are so many different ways to incorporate flexible seating into your classroom in a way that fits with your students' learning goals. For examples and best practices, read Flexible Seating: 21 Awesome Ideas for Your Classroom.

3. Webb's Depth of Knowledge

Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DoK) is familiar to many teachers from a theoretical perspective, but it can be incredibly difficult to apply practically and consistently in your teaching strategies.

There are four DoK levels:

Level one: Recollection and reproduction

Level two: Knowledge application

Level three: Strategic thinking

Level four: Extended critical thinking

There are a number of engaging activities that can promote different DoK levels: read more about them in Specific Ways to Use Webb's Depth of Knowledge in Class.

4. Summative assessment

Summative assessments are end-of-unit tests, final projects or standardized tests used to assess student understanding on a broad and absolute level.

Critics of summative assessments say they're inauthentic and don't accurately reflect the learning process. But there are important benefits to using summative assessments as a teaching strategy: they motivate students to pay attention and challenges them to apply their learning. They're also a valuable source of insight for teachers, especially for those with larger classes -- allowing them to easily identify and correct any wide gaps in understanding across the classroom.

Don't be afraid to get creative when making summative assessments! Read Summative Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for ideas on how to get students engaged with the testing process.

5. Formative assessment

Formative assessments are the opposite of summative assessments because they take place during the teaching process.
Formative Assessment Summative Assessment
Formative assessments can reduce student stress around testing. They give you the chance to course correct mid-unit if there are serious comprehension issues and to see which students might need a bit more one-on-one time.

Some examples of formative assessment techniques include:

For more examples and ideas, read 20 Formative Assessment Examples to Try [+Downloadable List].

Put students at the center of the classroom with active learning strategies - a teaching technique that increases student engagement in daily lessons. According to active learning advocate James Ballencia, the technique can also help teachers as much as it helps students:

"With the goal of teaching mindful learners who actively pursue knowledge, teachers become more actively engaged in how they teach the curriculum and how they develop each student's learning potential. They mix and match a variety of ... tactics to ensure that students not only learn more, better, and faster -- they also learn smarter."

7. Differentiated instruction

Differentiated instruction is a popular and effective teaching strategy that involves reacting to the diverse learning styles in every classroom with adjusted content and processes.

Carol Ann Tomlinson, a reputable thought leader on differentiated instruction, recommends analyzing teaching strategies on a constant basis to respond to needs:

"Frequently reflect on the match between your classroom and the philosophy of teaching and learning you want to practice. Look for matches and mismatches, and use both to guide you."

Strategies like learning stations and the think-pair-share method are small ways that you can bring unique learning experiences to your students.

For more differentiated instruction ideas, read 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List].

8. Personalized learning

No two students are exactly alike. That's why personalized learning builds a learning experience that addresses the unique abilities of each student.

According to a study by the Gates Foundation, personalized learning can improve test scores when used to supplement math class:

"Students attending [schools using personalized learning] made gains in math and reading over the last two years that are significantly greater than a virtual control group made up of similar students selected from comparable schools."

Personalized learning allows students to learn without stigma and gets students involved in what they're learning.

Explore different options for bringing personalized learning to your classroom, including Edtech teaching strategies and increased student involvement. For a full list of tips, read 7 Personalized Learning Strategies and Examples.

9. Universal design for learning

Universal design for learning (UDL) is an educational framework that ensures all students have equal access to education. Use it in your classroom to give unique students flexible ways to learn and become more goal-oriented.

Some best practices for UDL:

UDL gives all students an impactful learning experience and helps teachers focus their efforts on students who need it most. For more information on how to make sure all your students succeed, read Universal Design for Learning: Principles and Examples.

10. Response to intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance for students who have learning or behaviour needs. It's best used as part of a more general classroom management plan, and involves small-group or individual intervention that quickly addresses trouble spots.

The most effective RTI strategies are proactive. Start with everyday teaching and move to targeted intervention as soon as you spot a problem. When you're prepared to move quickly, you're more likely to be able to develop a tailored and effective learning plan.

For more information on RTI strategies and tips for bringing them to your classroom, read The Teacher's Response to Intervention (RTI) Guide: Tiers, Strategies and More.

11. Classroom technology

Technology is a great way to improve student engagement and get students excited for class, but it can be difficult to incorporate seamlessly into the classroom. There are an endless number of ways to make use technology to enhance lessons, including:

A virtual field trip: Use virtual reality apps to explore famous landmarks and natural phenomena. Take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef to study ecosystems, or tour Barcelona as part of a Spanish class.

Video mini-lessons: TeacherTube offers an education-only version of YouTube, with videos on a number of core subjects. This makes the learning process more engaging, especially for visual learners.

Podcasts: Give students relevant podcasts and engage auditory learners, or have older students create their own -- they'll develop research and technology skills at the same time.

For more ideas on how to use technology in the classroom, read 25 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom [+ Downloadable List].

Math teaching strategies and techniques

Similar to classroom gamification, math games can play an active role in getting students engaged in class and excited to learn. Offline or online, they're usually customizable and easy to incorporate into other teaching strategies.

Some examples of popular math games:

Bouncing Sums: Label a beach ball with integers, decimals and fractions. Each student must read the number on his or her label, adding or multiplying it by the sum from the previous student.

101 and out: Divide your class in half and give each group a die. Have groups roll the die and either keep it at face value or multiply it by 10. See which group can get closest to 101 without going over.

Math goodies: Math goodies is a free resource that provides puzzles and word problems. Students can either use this resource on their own or you can use it to create custom worksheets.

For more math games, read 20 Engaging, Skill-Building Math Games for Kids [1st to 8th Grade].

13. Math websites

There are thousands of math websites that can be used as part of a game-based learning approach or differentiation strategy. Online resources get students excited about learning math and can often be scaled based on knowledge and grade level.

Popular resources include:

TeacherVision: Looking for interdisciplinary activities? Look no further. TeacherVision gives teachers access to resources that connect math with subjects like art, history and geography.

SuperKids: SuperKids is a one-stop resource for building worksheets. Select a skill and number range, and generate a custom assignment.

Prodigy Math: Students go on adventures, collect pets and battle with friends, all while answering skill-building, targeted math questions.

Mental math is an important part of math fluency. When students have a quick recall for math facts and can do simple equations quickly, they have the confidence to attempt more difficult problems.

The Manitoba Association of Mathematics Teachers defines mental math as:

"A combination of cognitive strategies that enhances flexible thinking and number sense. It is calculating mentally without the use of external memory aids. It improves computational fluency by developing efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility." There are lots of resources available to boost mental math skills, including:

For more ways to practice mental math skills, read 12 Practices to Improve Students' Mental Math + Downloadable List.

Common Core math is a new framework that seeks to improve students' conceptual understanding of math by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and discussion skills.

Since it's so new, instructors have struggled to prepare materials that align with the standards. If that's you, here are some techniques to get you started:

For a detailed explanation of the eight standards and ways to teach them, read 8 Common Core Math Standards, Explained [+ Examples].

16. Solve math problems faster

Teaching students to solve math problems quickly and without help can improve confidence and math fluency.

Provided your students have a solid grasp on the concepts behind what they've already mastered, math "tricks" can give them more confidence and get them excited about trying new problems.There are tricks for just about every basic function, including:

For a full list of math tricks, read How to Solve Math Problems Faster: 15 Techniques to Show Students.

17. How to teach multiplication

Multiplication is a big and often daunting step for learners, who feel like they've just mastered addition and are suddenly being thrown something new. Teachers also often struggle to communicate new concepts to student effectively.

What if we told you that multiplication could be one of the most rewarding lessons you ever taught?

Our six-step guide to teaching multiplication is designed to engage students in the learning processes with a clear and logical progression of ideas. There are lot of fun ways to teach multiplication and reduce student anxiety, including:

Multiplication doesn't have to be stressful -- start with basic concepts and work your way up, and your students will be multiplication masters in no time at all!

18. Multiplication games

Multiplication is a difficult concept for many students to grasp. Memorizing and understanding core multiplication facts is a key element of math fluency, and provides an essential foundation for further study.

Game-based learning can be a successful way to help students develop this understanding and can engage students on stressful topic. Some multiplication games include:

True or false?: Write a multiplication sentence on the board that's either true or false. In teams, the class has a minute to discuss and respond with "true" or "false" cards.

Beach ball toss: Write multiplication questions on a beach ball and throw it. Have students answer the question that is closest to their pinky finger.

Jeopardy!: It's a classic for a reason -- find an interactive template and fill it with questions. The team with the most points at the end of the game, wins!

For more fun multiplication games, read 15 Multiplication Games to Make Math Lessons Fun.

19. Multiplying fractions

So your unit on fractions is finished, and it's time to move on -- to multiplying fractions.

For some students, this leap is even more daunting than the switch from addition to multiplication. But not to worry! There are teaching strategies that will have your students multiplying fractions in no time at all.Some best practices for teaching your class about multiplying fractions:

For a comprehensive overview on how to teach multiplying fractions, read How to Multiply Fractions (+ 7 Engaging Activities).

20. How to divide fractions

The only thing scarier for students than multiplying fractions? Dividing them.Lucky for them, we did the research. There are three simple steps to dividing a fraction:

The best way to make sure that students understand how to solve a problem is to make sure that they understand what, exactly, is happening. Instead of just teaching the answer, teach students what the answer means. For more details on dividing fractions, read How to Divide Fractions in 3 Easy Steps.

21. Math puzzles

Math puzzles have been around almost as long as math has - for a reason. One study found that math puzzles "develop logical thinking, combinatorial abilities, strengthen the capacity of abstract thinking and operating with spatial images, instill critical thinking and develop mathematical memory."Math puzzles build foundational skills and increase math fluency, while also connecting to existing curricula and promoting problem-solving skills. Some popular math puzzles include:

Make sure the puzzles are the right level for your students and that they're being used appropriately. For more ideas on how to use math puzzles in the classroom, read 20 Math Puzzles to Engage Your Students.

Student-focused teaching strategies

22. Gamification

Classroom gamification is an effective way to take a child's love for play and turn it into a love of learning. The benefits are huge: gamification can help students focus and build essential skills. A 2011 study from South Korea also found that gamification kept students motivated and engaged in the classroom.

In order to effectively use gamification techniques in your classroom, start with your students: What do they like? Where are their learning needs? Are there any notable behaviour issues? Other tips include:

If you want more examples and techniques for gamifying your classroom, read How to Gamify your Classroom in 5 Easy Steps.

23. Convergent and divergent thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second depth of knowledge (DOK) levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second DOK levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Divergent thinking requires students to start with one prompt, then think critically about it to diverge towards to distinct answers (think essay-writing, brainstorming and creative analyzing). This takes place at the third or fourth DOK level.

While convergent thinking is an important part of building math fluency, divergent thinking allows students to understand the base concepts underlying their work. Convergent and divergent thinking are essential skills in any subject. When you understand the difference, you're better equipped to incorporate both into your classroom.

For more examples of each and how to teach them, read How to Teach Convergent and Divergent Thinking: Definitions, Examples, Templates and More.

24. Project-based learning

Students have to take an active role in their own learning, but are often disengaged from the learning process. Project-based learning allows students to be fully immersed in an authentic and nuanced problem that has real-life implications.

Project-based learning is open-ended, and allows students engaged in group work to find their own way to the solution. It doesn't look the same in every classroom -- class size, student ability and learning styles play a large role in shaping the process.

While proponents point to increased engagement, knowledge retention and improved critical thinking, there are also significant criticisms: Project-based learning can be too focused on product creation instead of learning, and assessment is often subjective.

To learn how to effectively incorporate project-based learning techniques into your classroom, read The Definitive Guide to Project-Based Learning: Definition, Debates, Ideas and Examples.

25. Experiential learning

Every classroom has a wide range of levels and learning styles, which can be difficult for any teacher to effectively address. Use experiential learning activities to counter student disengagement and get them involved in the learning process.
Traditional learning activities

Teacher-centered/focused

Fixed rubric or scoring system

Explain knowledge or skills by transferring information

Fixed structure, high degree of facilitation

Experiential learning activities

Student-centered/focused

Flexible and open learning outcomes

Develop knowledge and skills through experience

Flexible structure, minimum facilitation

Provide students with new ways of learning to help them stay focused, learn dynamically and learn faster.

Engage students in the process of inquiry and reflection! Ask them to create three to five questions (with answers) on a recent lesson. In pairs, have students quiz their partners on the questions they wrote, and watch to see which concepts students consider to be the most important from their lesson.

For more experiential learning activities, read 7 Experiential Learning Activities to Engage Students.

26. Peer teaching

Proponents have been pointing to the advantages of peer teaching since the 18th century. It's one of many teaching strategies that helps develop reasoning and critical thinking skills, and a pioneering 1988 study found it improved self-esteem and interpersonal skills.

It can be difficult, however, to bring it to the classroom -- students might have different proficiency levels or be hesitant about teaching their peers, and it can lead to confidentiality issues about which students are struggling.

Some best practices for peer teaching include:

For more ideas on how to successfully bring peer teaching to your classroom, read 15 Easy Peer Teaching Strategies to Help Students.

27. Inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based learning has been around since the 1960s, but can still be a demanding teaching strategy to implement in the classroom.

In the inquiry-based learning classroom, teachers are responsible for guiding students through their questions - past curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding.

There are 4 main types of inquiry-based learning:

Confirmation inquiry: Students are given a question along with a way to answer it

Structured inquiry: Students are given an open question and investigation method

Guided inquiry: Students work from an open question to design investigation methods

Open inquiry: Students develop original questions that they answer through their own methods

A study from the Association for Psychological Science found that students who use inquiry-based learning are more likely to retain information from the activity and curriculum content in general.

For more benefits and examples of inquiry-based learning, as well as how to effectively use it in your classroom, read All About Inquiry-Based Learning: Definition, Benefits and Strategies.

28. Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning is a student-centred pedagogy that puts students in groups to solve open-ended problems together. This teaching strategy has its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages Disadvantages
Even taking into account the different opinions on problem-based learning, there is an undeniable value in giving students a degree of control over their own education.

For more ideas about problem-based learning and tips for designing projects, read 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Problem-Based Learning [+ Activity Design Steps].

30. Reciprocal teaching

Reading isn't every student's favorite subject. With reciprocal teaching techniques, you can turn even the most reluctant reader into a bookworm.

Reciprocal teaching involves students in reading and gets them excited to learn. Learners are asked to predict what a text is about, ask questions about what they don't understand, re-read for clarification, and summarize what the text is saying -- instead of just absorbing material as quickly as possible.

And the technique can even be adapted for math class: one study found that reciprocal teaching in math can improve understanding of word-based problems, and can help students understand questions better.

For more ideas about reciprocal teaching, read 4 Reciprocal Teaching Strategies to Use.

31. Blended learning

Blended learning combines online learning with traditional classroom instruction. It's a valuable tool to use in differentiation teaching strategies, and can help students learn tailored content at their own pace.

There are a number of different ways to bring blended learning to your classroom, but some common methods include implementing learning stations and putting certain lessons online in part or entirely.

With many classrooms supporting hybrid learning environments in the last two years, blended learning has become a more common teaching strategy across classrooms.

For more information on the six blended learning models and how to use them with your students, read How to Put the Six Blended Learning Models into Action [+ Examples & Download].

32. Culturally responsive teaching

Diverse classrooms are an amazing opportunity for teachers, but it can also be difficult to reach students with dramatically different backgrounds or learning styles.

Culturally responsive teaching aims to link content with students' contemporary and ancestral cultures.

Research by Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington-Seattle and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching, shows that when teaching is tied to lived experiences for students, those experiences are more personally meaningful, appealing and learned more easily and thoroughly.

Dr. Christy Byrd, psychologist and Associate Professor at NC State University, has also published research which found that "elements of culturally relevant teaching were significantly associated with academic outcomes and ethnic-racial identity development."

Start by getting to know your students - where do they come from? What do their parents or guardians do? What's their favorite after-school activity?

Then, take that information and connect it to your lessons. Explain how a topic relates to different cultures, and make sure the classroom is a place where all students feel empowered. Encourage students to ask questions and share unique answers.

Other options for culturally responsive teaching include:

For the full list, read 15 Culturally-Responsive Teaching Strategies and Examples + Downloadable List.

33. Interdisciplinary teaching

Use interdisciplinary teaching strategies to encourage students to develop creative and critical thinking skills - and draw information from a number of different academic disciplines - as they solve real-world problems.

In your classroom, interdisciplinary teaching could involve collaboration with other teachers, or asking your students to make connections between different subjects. Try these activities to get your class started:

For more interdisciplinary teaching activities and tips on how to get started, read 10 Interdisciplinary Teaching Activities and Examples [+ Unit Design Steps].

34. Service learning

According to the National Youth Leadership Council, service learning is "a philosophy, pedagogy and model for community development that is used as an instructional strategy to meet learning goals and/or content standards."

Service learning brings the classroom into the larger community and teaches students about the value of being an active citizen. Students get hands-on experience in interdisciplinary study, and often improve their academic outcomes and reduce behavioural problems.

Service learning contains five steps: Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration, Celebration

Pick an issue that your class is passionate about and get them brainstorming. For more service learning project ideas and how to get started, read The Teacher's Guide to Service Learning [+5 Examples].

35. Media literacy

Students are saturated with an endless number of different media influences, from TV to social media to comic books. Students need to be educated on how to interpret and understand what they're consuming.

Media literacy allows students to recognize bias and develop critical thinking skills within the context of their existing interests. Some activities you can try in your classroom include:

There are lots of other ways to teach valuable media literacy lessons to students -- check out our Teaching Media Literacy: Its Importance and 10 Engaging Activities [+ Downloadable List] blog post for more ideas.

36. Growth Mindset

Even though it sounds more like a corporate buzzword, the philosophy of growth mindset has infiltrated the classroom. It focuses on helping students see the value of effort, persistence and risk in their learning environment, and pushes them to try new things and learn new concepts.

Since growth mindset is a relatively new teaching strategy, some teachers might struggle to use it effectively. Here are some best practices:

Give positive feedback: Instead of rewarding intellect, praise students when they try new methods and make plans.

Promote a diverse classroom: When diversity is modelled for students, they're more likely to embrace different perspectives in their future learning goals.

Encourage goal-based journaling: Ask students set goals and reflect on their progress. Have goals follow the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based) for maximum effect.

For more ways to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom, read 10 Ways Teachers can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students. Your students will benefit for the rest of their lives.

37. Asynchronous Learning

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have had to deliver their usual content and teaching strategy in an entirely virtual environment. This abrupt transition was difficult for many, with challenges like technology issues and inability to support child in person.

However, while most schools are back in session and remote learning much less common, lessons learned from this experience can easily be applied to situations where students can't attend school in person.

Asynchronous learning is a good complement to your teaching strategy and can help support your students in many different ways. This includes short-term issues like student or teacher illness to longer-term ones like helping students catch up with an intervention program. Techniques for asynchronous learning include:

Resources for effectively using teaching strategies

Google

Books, scholarly articles, maps, news coverage - if there's something you need to do, there's probably a Google application for it. Use Google Forms to collect student feedback on new teaching strategies, Google Drive to store and coordinate student papers, and Google Arts & Culture to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - without ever leaving the classroom.

With two games - Prodigy Math and Prodigy English - the applications are endless!

Use Assignments and Plans to differentiate learning, track student growth through comprehensive reporting tools, engage students through game-based learning, or use it as part of a blended learning approach.

Students will love practising their math and English skills with these free games.

In Prodigy Math, they'll go on adventures, collect pets and earn rewards; in Prodigy English, they'll gather supplies, gain energy and create their personal village - all while answering curriculum-aligned questions tailored to their individual skill levels.

In order to know which teaching strategies will be the most effective, ask your students to provide you with some feedback: What do they like? How do they think they learn best? What do they want to learn more about? Students are more likely to be engaged in the learning process when they have a voice.

There are a couple of ways to gather feedback:

Professional development

In order to be an effective teacher, you need to have access to resources that allow you to continuously grow your skills. According to a study with teachers from eight different countries, teachers who had access to professional development were more likely to effectively use different teaching strategies in their classrooms:

"This suggests that the exchanging of ideas and experience about teaching with other teachers in the school, observing each other's classrooms and providing mutual support increases the likelihood of implementing good teaching strategies."

Teacher journal

After gathering all this amazing information from student feedback and professional development efforts, you're going to need somewhere to keep track of it all.

Consider keeping a teaching journal to track student progress, new insights, areas you think your class might need extra help in and successes you've had. Build it up as a reference for that year's class, and keep it as a reminder of everything you've accomplished. Bonus: you'll have a ready-made resource for writing stellar report card comments.

Parents

Parent involvement in student learning is a key indicator of student success and performance. Keep parents informed with a quick paper or email newsletter every month, and let them know about new things happening in the classroom. Communicate individual issues quickly and effectively to avoid any report card surprises, but don't just mention the problems -- make time to give praise or share news of an achievement.

Final thoughts on teaching practices and techniques

There are so many different types of teaching strategies available for your classroom that the options can be overwhelming.

But that's good news! Your teaching style, students and classroom are all unique - why shouldn't your teaching strategies be too?

Start small, and work your way up. Don't be afraid to try new strategies and see what works best in your classroom. Not everything's going to be a good fit, and that's OK -- keep engaging with your students and you'll build up lifelong learners with a passion for knowledge.

Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy - a free, curriculum-aligned game-based learning platform for math and English that's easy to use for educators and students alike.

Create your free account!

A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have.

In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher:

"Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies or incorporating new technologies into lessons. "

Is that you?

There's more than one way to teach a diverse and dynamic classroom. In this post you'll find:

A comprehensive list of 36 teaching strategies to use in math class and beyond

A list of essential resources for using them effectively

Classroom teaching strategies and techniques

1. Classroom management strategies

Infographic: 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques. Click to expand!

According to research from 2006, teachers overwhelmingly reported a lack of professional development support when it came to improving their own classroom management strategies. This can lead to confusion for students and frustration for teachers.

When students clearly understand what's expected of them, they're more likely to be focused and engaged with their lessons. Some tips for building a positive environment include:

Model ideal behaviour: Clearly explain proper behaviour, and then follow it yourself.

Encourage initiative: Allow students to actively participate in the learning process with class discussions and exercises that support the initiative.

Avoid collective punishment: While it can be difficult, make a point of calling out disruptive behaviours on an individual, not collective, basis.

For more actionable classroom management teaching strategies, read 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques [+Downloadable List].

2. Flexible seating

Kristine Fourman, a teacher in the Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program, connects student seating and academics: "When students aren't trying to hold themselves still in their chairs, they can integrate auditory, visual and tactile systems of the body."

There are so many different ways to incorporate flexible seating into your classroom in a way that fits with your students' learning goals. For examples and best practices, read Flexible Seating: 21 Awesome Ideas for Your Classroom.

3. Webb's Depth of Knowledge

Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DoK) is familiar to many teachers from a theoretical perspective, but it can be incredibly difficult to apply practically and consistently in your teaching strategies.

There are four DoK levels:

Level one: Recollection and reproduction

Level two: Knowledge application

Level three: Strategic thinking

Level four: Extended critical thinking

There are a number of engaging activities that can promote different DoK levels: read more about them in Specific Ways to Use Webb's Depth of Knowledge in Class.

4. Summative assessment

Summative assessments are end-of-unit tests, final projects or standardized tests used to assess student understanding on a broad and absolute level.

Critics of summative assessments say they're inauthentic and don't accurately reflect the learning process. But there are important benefits to using summative assessments as a teaching strategy: they motivate students to pay attention and challenges them to apply their learning. They're also a valuable source of insight for teachers, especially for those with larger classes -- allowing them to easily identify and correct any wide gaps in understanding across the classroom.

Don't be afraid to get creative when making summative assessments! Read Summative Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for ideas on how to get students engaged with the testing process.

5. Formative assessment

Formative assessments are the opposite of summative assessments because they take place during the teaching process.
Formative Assessment Summative Assessment
Formative assessments can reduce student stress around testing. They give you the chance to course correct mid-unit if there are serious comprehension issues and to see which students might need a bit more one-on-one time.

Some examples of formative assessment techniques include:

For more examples and ideas, read 20 Formative Assessment Examples to Try [+Downloadable List].

Put students at the center of the classroom with active learning strategies - a teaching technique that increases student engagement in daily lessons. According to active learning advocate James Ballencia, the technique can also help teachers as much as it helps students:

"With the goal of teaching mindful learners who actively pursue knowledge, teachers become more actively engaged in how they teach the curriculum and how they develop each student's learning potential. They mix and match a variety of ... tactics to ensure that students not only learn more, better, and faster -- they also learn smarter."

7. Differentiated instruction

Differentiated instruction is a popular and effective teaching strategy that involves reacting to the diverse learning styles in every classroom with adjusted content and processes.

Carol Ann Tomlinson, a reputable thought leader on differentiated instruction, recommends analyzing teaching strategies on a constant basis to respond to needs:

"Frequently reflect on the match between your classroom and the philosophy of teaching and learning you want to practice. Look for matches and mismatches, and use both to guide you."

Strategies like learning stations and the think-pair-share method are small ways that you can bring unique learning experiences to your students.

For more differentiated instruction ideas, read 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List].

8. Personalized learning

No two students are exactly alike. That's why personalized learning builds a learning experience that addresses the unique abilities of each student.

According to a study by the Gates Foundation, personalized learning can improve test scores when used to supplement math class:

"Students attending [schools using personalized learning] made gains in math and reading over the last two years that are significantly greater than a virtual control group made up of similar students selected from comparable schools."

Personalized learning allows students to learn without stigma and gets students involved in what they're learning.

Explore different options for bringing personalized learning to your classroom, including Edtech teaching strategies and increased student involvement. For a full list of tips, read 7 Personalized Learning Strategies and Examples.

9. Universal design for learning

Universal design for learning (UDL) is an educational framework that ensures all students have equal access to education. Use it in your classroom to give unique students flexible ways to learn and become more goal-oriented.

Some best practices for UDL:

UDL gives all students an impactful learning experience and helps teachers focus their efforts on students who need it most. For more information on how to make sure all your students succeed, read Universal Design for Learning: Principles and Examples.

10. Response to intervention

Response to intervention (RTI) focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance for students who have learning or behaviour needs. It's best used as part of a more general classroom management plan, and involves small-group or individual intervention that quickly addresses trouble spots.

The most effective RTI strategies are proactive. Start with everyday teaching and move to targeted intervention as soon as you spot a problem. When you're prepared to move quickly, you're more likely to be able to develop a tailored and effective learning plan.

For more information on RTI strategies and tips for bringing them to your classroom, read The Teacher's Response to Intervention (RTI) Guide: Tiers, Strategies and More.

11. Classroom technology

Technology is a great way to improve student engagement and get students excited for class, but it can be difficult to incorporate seamlessly into the classroom. There are an endless number of ways to make use technology to enhance lessons, including:

A virtual field trip: Use virtual reality apps to explore famous landmarks and natural phenomena. Take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef to study ecosystems, or tour Barcelona as part of a Spanish class.

Video mini-lessons: TeacherTube offers an education-only version of YouTube, with videos on a number of core subjects. This makes the learning process more engaging, especially for visual learners.

Podcasts: Give students relevant podcasts and engage auditory learners, or have older students create their own -- they'll develop research and technology skills at the same time.

For more ideas on how to use technology in the classroom, read 25 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom [+ Downloadable List].

Math teaching strategies and techniques

Similar to classroom gamification, math games can play an active role in getting students engaged in class and excited to learn. Offline or online, they're usually customizable and easy to incorporate into other teaching strategies.

Some examples of popular math games:

Bouncing Sums: Label a beach ball with integers, decimals and fractions. Each student must read the number on his or her label, adding or multiplying it by the sum from the previous student.

101 and out: Divide your class in half and give each group a die. Have groups roll the die and either keep it at face value or multiply it by 10. See which group can get closest to 101 without going over.

Math goodies: Math goodies is a free resource that provides puzzles and word problems. Students can either use this resource on their own or you can use it to create custom worksheets.

For more math games, read 20 Engaging, Skill-Building Math Games for Kids [1st to 8th Grade].

13. Math websites

There are thousands of math websites that can be used as part of a game-based learning approach or differentiation strategy. Online resources get students excited about learning math and can often be scaled based on knowledge and grade level.

Popular resources include:

TeacherVision: Looking for interdisciplinary activities? Look no further. TeacherVision gives teachers access to resources that connect math with subjects like art, history and geography.

SuperKids: SuperKids is a one-stop resource for building worksheets. Select a skill and number range, and generate a custom assignment.

Prodigy Math: Students go on adventures, collect pets and battle with friends, all while answering skill-building, targeted math questions.

Mental math is an important part of math fluency. When students have a quick recall for math facts and can do simple equations quickly, they have the confidence to attempt more difficult problems.

The Manitoba Association of Mathematics Teachers defines mental math as:

"A combination of cognitive strategies that enhances flexible thinking and number sense. It is calculating mentally without the use of external memory aids. It improves computational fluency by developing efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility." There are lots of resources available to boost mental math skills, including:

For more ways to practice mental math skills, read 12 Practices to Improve Students' Mental Math + Downloadable List.

Common Core math is a new framework that seeks to improve students' conceptual understanding of math by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and discussion skills.

Since it's so new, instructors have struggled to prepare materials that align with the standards. If that's you, here are some techniques to get you started:

For a detailed explanation of the eight standards and ways to teach them, read 8 Common Core Math Standards, Explained [+ Examples].

16. Solve math problems faster

Teaching students to solve math problems quickly and without help can improve confidence and math fluency.

Provided your students have a solid grasp on the concepts behind what they've already mastered, math "tricks" can give them more confidence and get them excited about trying new problems.There are tricks for just about every basic function, including:

For a full list of math tricks, read How to Solve Math Problems Faster: 15 Techniques to Show Students.

17. How to teach multiplication

Multiplication is a big and often daunting step for learners, who feel like they've just mastered addition and are suddenly being thrown something new. Teachers also often struggle to communicate new concepts to student effectively.

What if we told you that multiplication could be one of the most rewarding lessons you ever taught?

Our six-step guide to teaching multiplication is designed to engage students in the learning processes with a clear and logical progression of ideas. There are lot of fun ways to teach multiplication and reduce student anxiety, including:

Multiplication doesn't have to be stressful -- start with basic concepts and work your way up, and your students will be multiplication masters in no time at all!

18. Multiplication games

Multiplication is a difficult concept for many students to grasp. Memorizing and understanding core multiplication facts is a key element of math fluency, and provides an essential foundation for further study.

Game-based learning can be a successful way to help students develop this understanding and can engage students on stressful topic. Some multiplication games include:

True or false?: Write a multiplication sentence on the board that's either true or false. In teams, the class has a minute to discuss and respond with "true" or "false" cards.

Beach ball toss: Write multiplication questions on a beach ball and throw it. Have students answer the question that is closest to their pinky finger.

Jeopardy!: It's a classic for a reason -- find an interactive template and fill it with questions. The team with the most points at the end of the game, wins!

For more fun multiplication games, read 15 Multiplication Games to Make Math Lessons Fun.

19. Multiplying fractions

So your unit on fractions is finished, and it's time to move on -- to multiplying fractions.

For some students, this leap is even more daunting than the switch from addition to multiplication. But not to worry! There are teaching strategies that will have your students multiplying fractions in no time at all.Some best practices for teaching your class about multiplying fractions:

For a comprehensive overview on how to teach multiplying fractions, read How to Multiply Fractions (+ 7 Engaging Activities).

20. How to divide fractions

The only thing scarier for students than multiplying fractions? Dividing them.Lucky for them, we did the research. There are three simple steps to dividing a fraction:

The best way to make sure that students understand how to solve a problem is to make sure that they understand what, exactly, is happening. Instead of just teaching the answer, teach students what the answer means. For more details on dividing fractions, read How to Divide Fractions in 3 Easy Steps.

21. Math puzzles

Math puzzles have been around almost as long as math has - for a reason. One study found that math puzzles "develop logical thinking, combinatorial abilities, strengthen the capacity of abstract thinking and operating with spatial images, instill critical thinking and develop mathematical memory."Math puzzles build foundational skills and increase math fluency, while also connecting to existing curricula and promoting problem-solving skills. Some popular math puzzles include:

Make sure the puzzles are the right level for your students and that they're being used appropriately. For more ideas on how to use math puzzles in the classroom, read 20 Math Puzzles to Engage Your Students.

Student-focused teaching strategies

22. Gamification

Classroom gamification is an effective way to take a child's love for play and turn it into a love of learning. The benefits are huge: gamification can help students focus and build essential skills. A 2011 study from South Korea also found that gamification kept students motivated and engaged in the classroom.

In order to effectively use gamification techniques in your classroom, start with your students: What do they like? Where are their learning needs? Are there any notable behaviour issues? Other tips include:

If you want more examples and techniques for gamifying your classroom, read How to Gamify your Classroom in 5 Easy Steps.

23. Convergent and divergent thinking

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second depth of knowledge (DOK) levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s.

Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It's usually reserved for first or second DOK levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions).

Divergent thinking requires students to start with one prompt, then think critically about it to diverge towards to distinct answers (think essay-writing, brainstorming and creative analyzing). This takes place at the third or fourth DOK level.

While convergent thinking is an important part of building math fluency, divergent thinking allows students to understand the base concepts underlying their work. Convergent and divergent thinking are essential skills in any subject. When you understand the difference, you're better equipped to incorporate both into your classroom.

For more examples of each and how to teach them, read How to Teach Convergent and Divergent Thinking: Definitions, Examples, Templates and More.

24. Project-based learning

Students have to take an active role in their own learning, but are often disengaged from the learning process. Project-based learning allows students to be fully immersed in an authentic and nuanced problem that has real-life implications.

Project-based learning is open-ended, and allows students engaged in group work to find their own way to the solution. It doesn't look the same in every classroom -- class size, student ability and learning styles play a large role in shaping the process.

While proponents point to increased engagement, knowledge retention and improved critical thinking, there are also significant criticisms: Project-based learning can be too focused on product creation instead of learning, and assessment is often subjective.

To learn how to effectively incorporate project-based learning techniques into your classroom, read The Definitive Guide to Project-Based Learning: Definition, Debates, Ideas and Examples.

25. Experiential learning

Every classroom has a wide range of levels and learning styles, which can be difficult for any teacher to effectively address. Use experiential learning activities to counter student disengagement and get them involved in the learning process.
Traditional learning activities

Teacher-centered/focused

Fixed rubric or scoring system

Explain knowledge or skills by transferring information

Fixed structure, high degree of facilitation

Experiential learning activities

Student-centered/focused

Flexible and open learning outcomes

Develop knowledge and skills through experience

Flexible structure, minimum facilitation

Provide students with new ways of learning to help them stay focused, learn dynamically and learn faster.

Engage students in the process of inquiry and reflection! Ask them to create three to five questions (with answers) on a recent lesson. In pairs, have students quiz their partners on the questions they wrote, and watch to see which concepts students consider to be the most important from their lesson.

For more experiential learning activities, read 7 Experiential Learning Activities to Engage Students.

26. Peer teaching

Proponents have been pointing to the advantages of peer teaching since the 18th century. It's one of many teaching strategies that helps develop reasoning and critical thinking skills, and a pioneering 1988 study found it improved self-esteem and interpersonal skills.

It can be difficult, however, to bring it to the classroom -- students might have different proficiency levels or be hesitant about teaching their peers, and it can lead to confidentiality issues about which students are struggling.

Some best practices for peer teaching include:

For more ideas on how to successfully bring peer teaching to your classroom, read 15 Easy Peer Teaching Strategies to Help Students.

27. Inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based learning has been around since the 1960s, but can still be a demanding teaching strategy to implement in the classroom.

In the inquiry-based learning classroom, teachers are responsible for guiding students through their questions - past curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding.

There are 4 main types of inquiry-based learning:

Confirmation inquiry: Students are given a question along with a way to answer it

Structured inquiry: Students are given an open question and investigation method

Guided inquiry: Students work from an open question to design investigation methods

Open inquiry: Students develop original questions that they answer through their own methods

A study from the Association for Psychological Science found that students who use inquiry-based learning are more likely to retain information from the activity and curriculum content in general.

For more benefits and examples of inquiry-based learning, as well as how to effectively use it in your classroom, read All About Inquiry-Based Learning: Definition, Benefits and Strategies.

28. Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning is a student-centred pedagogy that puts students in groups to solve open-ended problems together. This teaching strategy has its advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages Disadvantages
Even taking into account the different opinions on problem-based learning, there is an undeniable value in giving students a degree of control over their own education.

For more ideas about problem-based learning and tips for designing projects, read 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Problem-Based Learning [+ Activity Design Steps].

30. Reciprocal teaching

Reading isn't every student's favorite subject. With reciprocal teaching techniques, you can turn even the most reluctant reader into a bookworm.

Reciprocal teaching involves students in reading and gets them excited to learn. Learners are asked to predict what a text is about, ask questions about what they don't understand, re-read for clarification, and summarize what the text is saying -- instead of just absorbing material as quickly as possible.

And the technique can even be adapted for math class: one study found that reciprocal teaching in math can improve understanding of word-based problems, and can help students understand questions better.

For more ideas about reciprocal teaching, read 4 Reciprocal Teaching Strategies to Use.

31. Blended learning

Blended learning combines online learning with traditional classroom instruction. It's a valuable tool to use in differentiation teaching strategies, and can help students learn tailored content at their own pace.

There are a number of different ways to bring blended learning to your classroom, but some common methods include implementing learning stations and putting certain lessons online in part or entirely.

With many classrooms supporting hybrid learning environments in the last two years, blended learning has become a more common teaching strategy across classrooms.

For more information on the six blended learning models and how to use them with your students, read How to Put the Six Blended Learning Models into Action [+ Examples & Download].

32. Culturally responsive teaching

Diverse classrooms are an amazing opportunity for teachers, but it can also be difficult to reach students with dramatically different backgrounds or learning styles.

Culturally responsive teaching aims to link content with students' contemporary and ancestral cultures.

Research by Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington-Seattle and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching, shows that when teaching is tied to lived experiences for students, those experiences are more personally meaningful, appealing and learned more easily and thoroughly.

Dr. Christy Byrd, psychologist and Associate Professor at NC State University, has also published research which found that "elements of culturally relevant teaching were significantly associated with academic outcomes and ethnic-racial identity development."

Start by getting to know your students - where do they come from? What do their parents or guardians do? What's their favorite after-school activity?

Then, take that information and connect it to your lessons. Explain how a topic relates to different cultures, and make sure the classroom is a place where all students feel empowered. Encourage students to ask questions and share unique answers.

Other options for culturally responsive teaching include:

For the full list, read 15 Culturally-Responsive Teaching Strategies and Examples + Downloadable List.

33. Interdisciplinary teaching

Use interdisciplinary teaching strategies to encourage students to develop creative and critical thinking skills - and draw information from a number of different academic disciplines - as they solve real-world problems.

In your classroom, interdisciplinary teaching could involve collaboration with other teachers, or asking your students to make connections between different subjects. Try these activities to get your class started:

For more interdisciplinary teaching activities and tips on how to get started, read 10 Interdisciplinary Teaching Activities and Examples [+ Unit Design Steps].

34. Service learning

According to the National Youth Leadership Council, service learning is "a philosophy, pedagogy and model for community development that is used as an instructional strategy to meet learning goals and/or content standards."

Service learning brings the classroom into the larger community and teaches students about the value of being an active citizen. Students get hands-on experience in interdisciplinary study, and often improve their academic outcomes and reduce behavioural problems.

Service learning contains five steps: Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration, Celebration

Pick an issue that your class is passionate about and get them brainstorming. For more service learning project ideas and how to get started, read The Teacher's Guide to Service Learning [+5 Examples].

35. Media literacy

Students are saturated with an endless number of different media influences, from TV to social media to comic books. Students need to be educated on how to interpret and understand what they're consuming.

Media literacy allows students to recognize bias and develop critical thinking skills within the context of their existing interests. Some activities you can try in your classroom include:

There are lots of other ways to teach valuable media literacy lessons to students -- check out our Teaching Media Literacy: Its Importance and 10 Engaging Activities [+ Downloadable List] blog post for more ideas.

36. Growth Mindset

Even though it sounds more like a corporate buzzword, the philosophy of growth mindset has infiltrated the classroom. It focuses on helping students see the value of effort, persistence and risk in their learning environment, and pushes them to try new things and learn new concepts.

Since growth mindset is a relatively new teaching strategy, some teachers might struggle to use it effectively. Here are some best practices:

Give positive feedback: Instead of rewarding intellect, praise students when they try new methods and make plans.

Promote a diverse classroom: When diversity is modelled for students, they're more likely to embrace different perspectives in their future learning goals.

Encourage goal-based journaling: Ask students set goals and reflect on their progress. Have goals follow the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based) for maximum effect.

For more ways to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom, read 10 Ways Teachers can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students. Your students will benefit for the rest of their lives.

37. Asynchronous Learning

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have had to deliver their usual content and teaching strategy in an entirely virtual environment. This abrupt transition was difficult for many, with challenges like technology issues and inability to support child in person.

However, while most schools are back in session and remote learning much less common, lessons learned from this experience can easily be applied to situations where students can't attend school in person.

Asynchronous learning is a good complement to your teaching strategy and can help support your students in many different ways. This includes short-term issues like student or teacher illness to longer-term ones like helping students catch up with an intervention program. Techniques for asynchronous learning include:

Resources for effectively using teaching strategies

Google

Books, scholarly articles, maps, news coverage - if there's something you need to do, there's probably a Google application for it. Use Google Forms to collect student feedback on new teaching strategies, Google Drive to store and coordinate student papers, and Google Arts & Culture to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - without ever leaving the classroom.

With two games - Prodigy Math and Prodigy English - the applications are endless!

Use Assignments and Plans to differentiate learning, track student growth through comprehensive reporting tools, engage students through game-based learning, or use it as part of a blended learning approach.

Students will love practising their math and English skills with these free games.

In Prodigy Math, they'll go on adventures, collect pets and earn rewards; in Prodigy English, they'll gather supplies, gain energy and create their personal village - all while answering curriculum-aligned questions tailored to their individual skill levels.

In order to know which teaching strategies will be the most effective, ask your students to provide you with some feedback: What do they like? How do they think they learn best? What do they want to learn more about? Students are more likely to be engaged in the learning process when they have a voice.

There are a couple of ways to gather feedback:

Professional development

In order to be an effective teacher, you need to have access to resources that allow you to continuously grow your skills. According to a study with teachers from eight different countries, teachers who had access to professional development were more likely to effectively use different teaching strategies in their classrooms:

"This suggests that the exchanging of ideas and experience about teaching with other teachers in the school, observing each other's classrooms and providing mutual support increases the likelihood of implementing good teaching strategies."

Teacher journal

After gathering all this amazing information from student feedback and professional development efforts, you're going to need somewhere to keep track of it all.

Consider keeping a teaching journal to track student progress, new insights, areas you think your class might need extra help in and successes you've had. Build it up as a reference for that year's class, and keep it as a reminder of everything you've accomplished. Bonus: you'll have a ready-made resource for writing stellar report card comments.

Parents

Parent involvement in student learning is a key indicator of student success and performance. Keep parents informed with a quick paper or email newsletter every month, and let them know about new things happening in the classroom. Communicate individual issues quickly and effectively to avoid any report card surprises, but don't just mention the problems -- make time to give praise or share news of an achievement.

Final thoughts on teaching practices and techniques

There are so many different types of teaching strategies available for your classroom that the options can be overwhelming.

But that's good news! Your teaching style, students and classroom are all unique - why shouldn't your teaching strategies be too?

Start small, and work your way up. Don't be afraid to try new strategies and see what works best in your classroom. Not everything's going to be a good fit, and that's OK -- keep engaging with your students and you'll build up lifelong learners with a passion for knowledge.

Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy - a free, curriculum-aligned game-based learning platform for math and English that's easy to use for educators and students alike.

Create your free account!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
37 Powerful Teaching Strategies to Level Up Learning in 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have. In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher: "Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We've compiled an extensive list of free teaching tools that will take your classroom to the next level and transform passive learning into active exploration. For the sake of convenience, we have grouped the tools carefully. Check out this listicle and experiment with the tools to find out which ones work best in your local context.

Tools for Building Interactive Lessons

This is a category of dynamic and interactive educational tools that make learning engaging for the students. They give life to your lessons with sound, videos, infographics, assessments, quizzes, and animation.

1. iSpring Free

iSpring Free is an eLearning authoring tool that allows you to turn boring PowerPoint presentations into mobile-compatible online courses with quizzes. The main advantage of the tool is its simplicity. Its intuitive interface enables any novice course developer to create an unlimited number of courses quickly and easily.

2. Kahoot

Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that lets you create fun learning games. You can make quizzes on any topic and in any language, and customize those quizzes with videos, diagrams, and images. Students participate in "kahoots" (games) by logging the game codes on their device or application.

3. Edpuzzle

With Edpuzzle, you can create interactive video lessons with embedded audio notes, assessments, and quizzes. Its analytics tool enables you to track how students are watching your videos and if they understand the content.

4. Starfall

Starfall is an online service that was initially designed to teach children to read. Its phonics-based learning model supports online games and print series, which can be downloaded for use at home and in the classroom. Now, it also features animated songs, movies, and mathematics activities for Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Grades 1 to 3.

5. SpellQuiz

SpellQuiz is another online service that is mainly focused on helping kids and adults to learn phonics. The platform contains English spelling lessons for individuals from Grade 1 to Adult, as well as fun quizzes and word games.

6. Quizzizz

Quizzizz is a web-based assessment tool that allows you to present quizzes on science, social sciences, computer science, technical education, and art to students as a timed test or homework with a specified deadline.

7. CommonLit

CommonLit is a database of literary instructional materials that you can use to develop lessons. You can choose a lesson from the digital library, share it with your students, assign them text-based questions, and analyze their performance.

8. Quill

Quill is a platform that has a set of tools for teaching writing, vocabulary, and grammar and includes over 400 exercises. You can guide your students to learn by reconstructing sentences, proofreading passages, writing new passages, and more.

9. Plickers

Plickers is a card activity that lets you poll your class, without the need for student devices. You just need to give each student a card (a "paper clicker") and use your Android smartphone or tablet to scan them to do instant checks for understanding, exit tickets, and impromptu polls.

10. Powertalk

Powertalk is a presentation enhancement tool that automatically speaks your PowerPoint slides. When compared to other common 'text-to-speech' programs, Powertalk can speak text as it appears and can also speak hidden text attached to images.

11. FreeOnlineSurveys

FreeOnlineSurveys is a tool for building online tests, surveys, and forms. You can create quizzes using the drag-and-drop builder and 22 question types and fields, share them with your students and staff members, and analyze responses with its data reporting tool right from your mobile devices.

12. JeopardyLabs

JeopardyLabs is an online service that enables you to build Jeopardy games without PowerPoint, by using a simple editor. You can also choose from ready-made games created by the platform users on such subjects as foods, cities, countries, books, and hygiene.

13. Edgames

Edgames is an edutainment tool that provides educational activities, including board games, scrambled word games, sports-based games, and cards. You can help your students learn and understand personal hygiene, nutrition, current affairs, and many other things through playing games.

Teaching Tools for Classroom Management

A teacher's tasks include planning lessons, marking attendance, assigning homework, and grading. This is where you can benefit from classroom management tools - they can help you streamline all these processes and improve communication and the learning process.

14. Edmodo

Edmodo is software that enables you to bring your classroom online. It provides a number of online tools for teachers that allow the sharing of class materials, assigning homework, and displaying students' grades. You can also join students into learning groups, exchange messages with students and parents, and manage calendar events.

15. ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a classroom management tool that enables schools to bring parents, teachers, school administrators, and students into classroom communities so they can track and enhance classroom behavior in real-time.

16. Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a free educational technology tool that allows you to create an online classroom, invite your students, and assign homework. You can also discuss assignments with your students online and track their progress.

17. Class123

Class123 is a classroom management platform that contains a chalkboard, seating chart, timer, random name picker, and many other tools necessary for efficient class management. You can also keep track of students' attendance and behavior, share stories and photos on boards, and communicate via private messages.

18. Flubaroo

Flubaroo is a Google Spreadsheets Add-on designed for you to quickly create multiple-choice and fill-in assignments, grade and analyze online student performance, share scores with students, and assign stickers and badges on completed tasks.

19. Show My Homework

Show My Homework is free technology software for teachers that helps them make the setting, administering, and monitoring of homework much easier. Teachers can quickly assign homework and record student submissions and grades on the go with its mobile app.

Content Sources for Teachers

With the enormous amount of educational digital content on the web, teachers can make their lessons even more useful and engaging. However, it is crucial to find trustworthy websites that provide valuable content. Here are a few sources of digital content you might find helpful in your teaching practice.

20. Ted-Ed

Ted-Ed is a platform that enables you to create educational lessons. You can build a lesson around video content and create assignments to assess how well students understand the material. You can also use ready-made videos from the specially curated "TED-Ed Originals" section that features lessons made by educators around the world.

21. YouTube Teachers

YouTube Teachers is a YouTube channel that allows you to leverage educational videos to inspire and engage your students. It contains over 400 video playlists created by leading organizations and industry experts such as the Khan Academy, Ted-Ed, and PBS.

22. YouTube Edu

YouTube Edu is another educational YouTube channel that provides extensive playlists on various subjects, from physics and chemistry to filmmaking and public speaking.

23. Ted Talks

Ted Talks are videos from industry experts and innovators on science, tech, business, and education subtitled in over 100 languages. You can integrate Ted Talks into your lessons to spark creativity and innovation in the minds of your students.

24. TeacherTube

TeacherTube is a free resource for teachers where they can share instructional videos and materials. You can upload your video tutorials and attach learning activities, assessments, and lesson notes to your videos. You can also browse other teachers' content and connect with educators with similar interests.

25. SchoolTube

SchoolTube is a K-12 free video hosting platform that helps you integrate video content relating to subjects or concepts into your lessons without YouTube. The Free plan provides you with unlimited video hosting, video and audio creation apps, unlimited shareable playlists, automatic closed captioning, and a video quiz app.

26. Google Books

Google Books is a service from Google Inc. that provides access to unlimited books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text, and stored in its digital database. You can save, bookmark, or download books relating to the concepts you want to teach in class.

27. Readworks

Readworks helps students from elementary school to high school build their background knowledge and enhance their literacy skills. As a teacher, you can create reading groups based on their abilities and interests, monitor reading comprehension, and assign extra-credit tasks for students as they complete reading assignments.

28. Bibsonomy

Bibsonomy is an easy-to-use tool that helps you manage your publications and bookmarks, collaborate with your colleagues, and find new interesting materials for your research. You can tag publication entries and bookmarks to facilitate information searches.

29. Project Gutenberg

Gutenberg is a digital library with over 60,000 free e-books that you can download or read online. Here you'll find the world's great literature, with a focus on older works in the public domain.

30. Gapminder

Gapminder is a fact tank of animated statistics. The platform provides posters, interactive presentations, graphs, and handouts on global facts that can supplement instructional classroom materials.

Audio-Visual Design Tools

Audio-visual content is an effective asset for achieving your teaching-learning objectives. If you want to save time creating graphics, animation, or videos, or don't have the requisite skills to work on advanced photo and video editing platforms like CorelDRAW and Photoshop, leverage easy-to-use tools from the list. The exciting thing is you can access them all for free.

31. Pixlr

Pixlr is a browser photo-editing tool that provides you with full control over your images. You can add filters, borders, and perform basic image editing by using over 3000 overlays, 5,000 decorative texts, and 7,000 icons.

32. Animoto

Animoto is an online video editor that enables you to convert photos and videos into slideshows. You just need to drag and drop your images and video clips into pre-built templates to create stunning slideshows that can be used as visual aids for classroom learning.

33. Pic-Lits

Pic-Lits is an eLearning literacy website that uses writing and photography to inspire and spark creative writing. You can create so-called "pic-lits" that are combinations of words placed on a photograph to render some story or the meaning of the picture and share them on your interactive whiteboard during a grammar or writing lesson.

34. Gickr

Gickr is a free online tool that lets you instantly create animated GIFs. You just need to upload your pictures or grab images from Flickr to make flashy slideshows, cartoons, or banners.

35. Smilebox

Smilebox is a web app that enables you to create slideshows, collages, greetings, invitations, photo albums, and scrapbooks. For example, as a teacher, you can make newsletters for your students, parent letters, certificates, and school photo albums and share them online.

36. Pixton

Pixton is a cartoon creation platform that can help you guide your students on creating comic strips to represent their understanding of concepts. It has numerous characters, different sets of comic strip layouts, and background options your students can use to design comics and storyboards.

37. Chartsbin

Chartsbin is a data visualization app used by teachers to introduce various topics with infographics. You can also leverage the tool to guide your students on creating infographics from the materials they have learned to show their mastery of the subject.

38. Tableau Public

Tableau Public is a free data visualization platform that enables you to create interactive graphs, stunning maps, and live dashboards in minutes. You can use it to manage in-class exercises and homework assignments and connect with a vibrant community of data enthusiasts.

39. Roxio Photoshow Maker

Roxio Photoshow Maker is an online tool that allows you to combine images, video clips, and soundtracks to create slideshow stories. You can make them look even more professional and engaging by adding captions, effects, and transitions.

40. Ezvid Wikimaker

Ezvid Wikimaker is a free video creator powered by voice synthesis. It was initially designed to allow researchers and journalists to turn text into video wikis. But you can create video tutorials with images and video clips. You don't even need to record a voiceover - when you add text, it will be automatically transformed into narration.

41. Free Cam

Free Cam provides a full set of features for creating professional video lessons and eLearning presentations. You can easily record screencasts, edit recorded videos, and upload to YouTube or email them to your students.

42. MakeBeliefsComix

MakeBeliefsComix is an in-browser comic creator that provides you with multiple ways to use it in a classroom environment. For example, you can have your students create comic strips to practice new vocabulary, develop conversation skills, or inspire creative writing.

43. Vocaroo

Vocaroo is an online tool that helps record, send, and download your voice notes. You can use it for podcasting, broadcasting, digital storytelling, or giving feedback. Recordings are available for a few months (usually three months).

Communication and Collaboration Tools

Communication and collaboration are important aspects of both teaching and learning. We've compiled a list of tools that will help you make these processes even easier and more efficient. Here you'll find teaching communities, tools for sharing educational resources and tips, and apps for conducting online discussions.

44. Flipgrid

Flipgrid is an online service that provides a simple, free, and accessible video discussion experience for Pre-K to PhD educators, learners, and families. You can create a discussion topic and share it with your learning community. In response, learners will record and share their videos with you and your team.

45. Goboard

Goboard is an online collaborative tool that combines video conferencing with an interactive canvas. It is designed to help students collaborate one-on-one on virtually any topic. Goboard features a digital blackboard, so users can share their notes, pictures, and calculations.

46. Teacheroo

Teacheroo is the only global social network designed specifically for teachers. You can post your resources and educational tips, comment, like, repost other teachers' materials, and build professional connections.

47. Loop

Loop enables you to gather feedback from your students in real-time. You can type in your questions or pick ones from a library of best practice questions. Students will receive notifications and can reply instantly.

48. Teach Learn Lead

Teach Learn Lead is a community dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and connecting new teachers as they navigate their early careers in the classroom. It includes the global education library that is a curated epicenter of K-20 research and professional development resources.

49. Google Docs

Google Docs is a free word processor included as part of a Google Docs suite within the Google Drive service. It enables you to create and edit your own documents, check your students' writings, and add comments to provide them with feedback.

50. Bloomz

Bloomz is an interactive app that enables teachers and schools to share classroom updates, events, and photos with parents securely. You can send an alert notification of the next parent-teacher meeting to emails and smartphones with a single click.

Conclusion

We hope you found this helpful. If you can think of other free teaching tools that can help improve the learning experience in the classroom, please leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

iSpring Suite

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
50 Free Teaching Tools for a Great Learning Experience

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We've compiled an extensive list of free teaching tools that will take your classroom to the next level and transform passive learning into active exploration. For the sake of convenience, we have grouped the tools carefully. Check out this listicle and experiment with the tools to find out which ones work best in your local context.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Awesome Resources for Learning About Digital Citizenship | ISTE

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Digital Citizenship Week is the perfect time to celebrate the components of digital citizenship at our schools by learning, practicing and polishing up...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 9 Trends in Educational Technology to Watch in 2025

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore the top educational technology trends shaping 2025! Discover how AI, XR, microlearning & more will revolutionize learning. Stay ahead with EdTech insights.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do you ever notice students zoning out, getting distracted, or acting antsy in the middle of a lesson? Add some spark to your lesson plans with interactive learning structures! These fun, hands-on activities get kids out of their seats and interacting with peers. Structures like Snowball and Graffiti make learning active and collaborative. Learn how to implement these purposeful structures to engage students and motivate learning.

What Are Interactive Learning Structures?

Interactive learning structures are easy-to-use, purposeful activities that promote maximum learning by being active (hands-on) and interactive (involving collaboration amongst students). By giving students opportunities to move around a bit, positively interact with peers, and stretch their thinking, these interactive learning structures motivate students to engage more deeply with their learning. These structures enable you to provide varied opportunities for lively learning while maintaining order and purposefulness in your classroom. Each structure helps you quickly organize students into pairs or small groups and provides a format that helps students work together on a specific learning goal, assignment, or project.

Interactive learning structures are fun, but they're much more than that. They are also ignitors of learning. By piquing students' interest in the material, these structures encourage maximum
effort and strengthen students' academic and social-emotional skills. By letting students interact in positive ways with classmates, these structures help build a positive classroom community. And by giving you quick and easy ways to organize students' learning, they help you make the most of your most valuable and limited resource-time. The result: improved motivation and learning outcomes for every student you teach.

Using Interactive Learning Structures Effectively

The following tips will help you get the most out of the interactive learning structures you decide to use in your classroom:

1. Take time to plan and reflect. To help students be successful, it's important to give yourself time to plan how you'll use each structure. Think about the learning goal, whether your classroom allows enough space for the structure you have in mind, and if students are developmentally ready to do it-for example, can they exercise self-control when everyone's moving around the room at the same time? Then after students have used the structure, take some time to reflect on what went well and what didn't, and adjust as needed next time.

2. Make sure students have the skills they need. You'll want to make sure that any structure you choose is relatively easy for all students to use successfully so it supports rather than interferes with learning goals. For example, Maître d' requires students to move around the classroom to form small groups with different classmates and share a wide range of ideas, so you'd want to be sure they can do both of those things successfully. One quick, effective way to teach skills like these is by using a Responsive Classroom practice called Interactive Modeling.

3. Use pairs as the starting point. Working with just one person can feel safer for students as they develop their academic conversation skills, so have students start working in pairs rather than small groups or as a whole class.

4. Form pairs and groups purposefully. Most of interactive learning structures call for putting students in pairs or small groups of three or four. Think about the learning goal, as well as students' abilities and interests, when assigning them to pairs or groups. Some ways to form groups are mixed abilities, mixed interests, similar abilities, similar interests, or randomly. When you think students are ready to be respectful and inclusive, give them some autonomy in choosing their own partners or groupmates.

5. Speak briefly, directly, and genuinely. Because a teacher's language-words, tone, and pace-is one of the most powerful teaching tools available, how you speak to the
class while using these structures helps ensure their success. Effective teacher language helps students learn by conveying faith in their abilities and intentions, and by focusing on their actions rather than their character or personality. This includes teacher language such as open-ended questions, reinforcing language, and reminding language.

6. State the expectations for small group learning. It's important to emphasize that you expect everyone to make a contribution and that both individual and group effort determine success. Regularly remind students of these expectations whenever they're about to begin working with partners or in small groups.

7. Clarify roles and responsibilities. To ensure true collaboration, teach students how to carry out their individual roles and responsibilities as members of a group or team. Often you'll want to assign specific roles within each group, such as a facilitator, recorder, reporter, or presenter. Be specific when teaching each of these roles: name exactly what to do and model as needed. Post anchor charts that list roles and responsibilities to support students in being successful.

Popular Interactive Learning Structures

Four Corners

1. Pose a question (academic or social) that has four possible responses. For example: "If you could choose one favorite weekend activity, what would it be?"

2. Designate one corner of the room for each response, for example: Corner one-Listening to music Corner two-Reading Corner three-Spending time outdoors Corner four-Sleeping

3. Give students a minute to reflect on their choice. When time is up, they move to the corresponding corner.

4. In their corners, students discuss in small groups (or pairs) why they made their choice.

5. Allow about 1-2 minutes for the discussion. Provide a 10-second warning before time is up.

6. Repeat, with a new question and responses, as time allows.

Snowball

1. Give each student a strip of blank white paper.

2. Students write a statement on the paper in response to a question or topic you pose (they do not put their names on the paper).

3. Students gather in a circle, crumple up their piece of paper, and toss their "snowball" into the center of the circle.

4. Everyone picks up a snowball and, going around the circle, takes turns reading it aloud.

Graffiti

1. Post charts around the room with different questions or ideas that relate to one content area being studied.

2. Invite students to write their ideas on the charts. They can start at any chart, go in any order, and write in any style anywhere on the chart.

3. Working in small groups, students find common themes among the ideas on each chart.

4. Have each group share their findings with the whole class.

Further Resources

For a more comprehensive look at interactive learning structures, including ideas and tips, check out the following resources:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about dynamic teaching strategies for interactive and cooperative learning in modern educational settings.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
These apps and websites can help teachers boost their productivity, personalize learning, and create lesson content.

Over the past five years, I've explored ways to integrate AI into my teaching practice-even before ChatGPT and other generative AI became some of the most talked-about topics in education. Every educator needs to learn about AI and how we can leverage this technology to benefit our students and enhance our own work. To best provide for our students, we need to understand how this technology will impact them and us. What better way than to explore new tools via AI in our teaching practice?

Why Educators Need to Understand AI Tools

Our roles as educators have continued to change over the years. With technology comes a bit of hesitancy, especially with something as powerful as AI. In our schools, we have to provide opportunities for students to learn about changing technology because of the impact it may have on their future. Not only can AI tools enhance creativity and productivity, but also they can provide educators with valuable insights into student learning and assist with some of the time-consuming tasks that educators have.

Even with all of the promises of AI, it is important that we take time to talk about artificial intelligence in our classrooms. Not only do we teach the content, but we serve as mentors, facilitators of learning and co-learners with our students, especially as we embrace these emerging powerful technologies. It's important that we help our students learn about the benefits of them and also show how to use these tools properly, responsibly, and ethically.

How AI Can Improve A Teacher's Job

Personalized learning: Educators can provide tailored learning experiences based on AI-driven analytics that provide valuable insights into student performance and learning trends. Using this data, AI can instantly adapt student learning materials. Teachers can then use this information to provide personalized learning experiences, adapting to each student's strengths, weaknesses, and learning pace.

Productivity and efficiency: Greater efficiency comes with AI as well. Educators are responsible for a variety of clerical tasks, such as communicating with students and their families, grading assessments, and providing feedback. Educators may find they spend more time on these clerical tasks rather than on teaching and working directly with students. The right AI tools can help to automate or streamline these tasks, which allows teachers to have additional time with their students.

Creating and supplementing content: Through AI-powered platforms, teachers can curate a range of educational resources. With generative AI in particular, teachers are able to create lessons, activities, assessments, prompts for discussion, and presentations simply by providing a short prompt with keywords.

7 education Tools that work

Here are seven AI-powered tools that will help teachers with personalized learning that enables them to become more efficient and save time that can then be spent with students. I have used each of these for my own personal writing and creating of presentations, and the amount of time they save by generating the slides alone helps me to focus more closely on the content. I also appreciate that the tools offer translation options and a variety of templates and other resources that are commonly used by educators.

The recently released Teaching with AI guide for teachers was created to help educators use ChatGPT in their classroom. The guide comes with several suggested prompts and includes explanations that clarify exactly how ChatGPT works and what its limitations are, and it provides reminders of the importance of verifying information and checking for bias. With ChatGPT 4, which is a paid version, there is greater accuracy and reliability of information than with the original version.

Creating and sharing these resources with our students leads to rich conversations about the benefits of AI and proper use of this technology for creating and learning. There are many more tools available for teachers to explore that can help with each of the key areas that I mentioned. Most important is selecting a tool to start with and reflecting on how it impacted your practice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 AI Tools That Help Teachers Work More Efficiently

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
These apps and websites can help teachers boost their productivity, personalize learning, and create lesson content.