As technology advances, it can be difficult to keep up and adapt to the progress in both our personal and professional lives. Teachers have a particularly important role to play in technological advancements, as incorporating technology in the classroom can be both a learning tool for students and a teaching tool for the instructor. Children seem to adapt to rapid technological advancements better than many adults, and they actually embrace it. For this reason, incorporating technology into teaching is a great way to increase a child’s interest in learning.
There are numerous ways teachers can use technology in the classroom, and many are already doing so. Some districts use interactive Smart Boards instead of traditional chalkboards or whiteboards in their classrooms. These flat-screen monitors are networked with the teacher’s classroom computer and the school’s internet connection. Interactive lessons in math, spelling, science, and other subjects can be displayed on the screen for student participation. The boards use touch screen technology and, in some cases, children are provided with remote “clickers” that act as controllers to answer questions presented on-screen.
Many school districts have made it easy for teachers to use technology in the classroom with supporting technology departments and funding, but others are still lagging behind due to budget reasons. In these cases, teachers can still use technology in more unconventional ways. Some teachers encourage middle and high school students to sign up for email updates or text message alerts to receive homework assignments and reminders for tests and projects. Many teenagers respond well to this type of communication and, therefore, respond better to the assignments themselves.
Educational book publishers have also jumped on the proverbial technology bandwagon by making online books and interactive activities available that integrate the taught curriculum. Many teachers take advantage of these supplemental activities by allowing children to go online during lessons to complete them or encouraging children to visit the publisher’s websites and complete the activities at home. Similarly, many of these auxiliary websites, as well as other computer software, allow teachers to monitor their students’ progress and understanding of the material.
Most classrooms today provide access to computers and other sources of technology. Incorporating that technology into the classroom and daily lesson plans can be a challenge for many teachers, as they must choose the most efficient means to deliver a lesson and the assignments that reinforce it while adhering to imposed standards. However, many teachers are finding that once they incorporate technology into the classroom, it benefits their students by engaging them in ways they know and appreciate, which ultimately makes their job easier.
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