David Goodrum, director of academic technology and information services, Oregon State University, in Campus Technology


The pros:

1. Using technology in the classroom allows you to experiment more in pedagogy and get instant feedback.

2. Technology in the classroom helps ensure full participation.

3. There are countless resources for enhancing education and making learning more fun and effective.

4. Technology can automate a lot of your tedious tasks.

5. With technology in the classroom, your students have instant access to fresh information that can supplement their learning experience.

6. We live in a digital world, and technology is a life skill.

The cons

1. Technology in the classroom can be a distraction.

2. Technology can disconnect students from social interactions.

3. Technology can foster cheating in class and on assignments.

4. Students don’t have equal access to technological resources.

5. The quality of research and sources they find may not be top-notch.

6. Lesson planning might become more labor-intensive with technology.


 ***Our current students are digital natives. They have grown up with tablets and tech of all kinds in their hands. They have had immediate access to information since they were toddlers. We need to instruct them using those same tools, take our learning to them. By Teresa Brown, Instructional Technology Specialist, San Antonio, Texas

 ***Starting small and being patient helped me to see places where technology could enhance or deepen student learning. Once I experienced success, I was more willing to try other new things. Technology is the future and as an educator, I want my students to be technologically creative, willing to take risks, and be active users rather than just passive consumers. By Ramona M. Dowling, 1st grade teacher in Bear, Delaware
*** My advice… don’t let technology in the classroom intimidate you. Honestly, it will make your life easier. By Jennifer Thornsberry, Technology Integration Specialist in Columbia, South Carolina 


GIVE MIDDLE-OF-THE-PACK LEARNERS FREEDOM

When working in leveled groups, give your low or middle group teaching websites like Moby Max, Khan Academy, IXL or Starfall. These types of websites give the group you are not with an additional “teacher.” I work with my lowest group myself and let my middle group use a teaching website while the higher groups work together independently.
 

When working in leveled groups, allow higher-level students to use presentation websites like Prezi, Powtoon and EduGlogs to create projects or videos to “teach” the other students while you personally work with lower-level students.

At the end of the lesson, review the projects or videos as a whole group to see if the highest group can add anything new to what you have reviewed with the low and/or middle groups.

One Computer Classroom Suggestion: Set up classroom accounts on Prezi, PowToonor EduGlogs so that the students can work together within one account. Have planning sheets available for students so they can plan collaboratively before they get onto the computer. 

Breakout spaces are shared spaces between learning spaces that encourage:

In existing buildings, breakout spaces are often created in spaces that in the past were used as resource rooms or cloakrooms.

Breakout spaces can be built in with walls and glazing, or can be defined by using furniture. When breakout spaces are built in with walls and glazing, they should be: