In the last two decades, the use of technology has significantly changed the experience of learning, in a classroom or remotely, for students. Many adults remember reading from books and taking notes with pens and paper, but this is not what education looks like anymore — and it’s happened fast!
Today, most students have their laptops for academic tasks such as taking notes and keeping track of assignments. They also find that technology allows them to ask teachers questions more directly. On the other hand, teachers find technology convenient as it allows them to communicate with their students through email, text, IM, or even social media.
In a recent report by newschools.org and Gallup, researchers found that more than 65 percent of teachers use digital learning tools in the classroom every day. More than half of teachers reported that students use digital learning tools in the classroom daily, and 7 out of 10 students themselves report that they use digital tools outside of the classroom to enhance their education and complete their assignments.
According to the report, most teachers feel digital education tools are more effective than non-digital tools — especially because they help students prepare for future jobs, professions, and digital workplace environments. And even better, students reported that they feel like digital learning tools are more fun, and they help them learn things at their own pace, even outside the classroom.
But not all digital tools are created equal. So, are you wondering what types of technology can be used in the classroom and what might be most effective and versatile for your school district? Read on to find the answer.
There are many good reasons to use technology in a classroom – both for teachers and students. For teachers, the teaching experience can be much more seamless, customized, and effective; for students, the learning experience can be more fun, engaging, and interesting.
Using technology in classrooms can help incorporate different learning styles. For example, if one student learns better with visual aids, but another learns by hearing the concept, teachers can customize digital programs.
Digital infographics can make complex topics seem easy to digest and fun, and many teachers report that their students remain more engaged when learning digitally or from videos, visual aids, or audio clips.
Using technology in a classroom can also improve collaboration and teamwork since multiple people can access a digital file at once, irrespective of everyone’s location. Teachers can assign digital group projects for students to work on together, and the latter can access the digital resources simultaneously to collaborate on their assigned elements.
Many teachers who use technology in the classroom also find that students help and guide each other with new technology or platforms, creating a more collaborative, trusting environment.
Using technology in the classroom is also a way for teachers to simply engage with students effectively. Since most students have grown up in the digital age and are accustomed to using phones, tablets, laptops, and apps daily, coming to school and using these same platforms to learn with seems intuitive to them.
In Gallup’s report, teachers said they felt connected with their students on a more personal level once they started using digital tools. Students also reported that they felt like teachers were giving them more individual attention and felt cared for in the classroom.
Many in education wonder what types of technology can be used most effectively in the classroom, as finding the right tools and getting started is the hardest part. There are several ways to integrate technology into your current teaching strategy, including:
This can encourage a sense of community in the classroom, and it can also save teachers time because they can bring up lesson material immediately, from any screen in the room, without having to print out dozens of copies of assignments, quizzes, or tests to discuss with the whole class.
Screen mirroring can help get more students involved and stay engaged in their learning, as their work can be shown on the main classroom display as part of the lesson.
What types of technology can be used in the classroom? Teachers use a variety of platforms to engage and educate students – virtually, digitally, and remotely. Here are some common platforms.
We all remember giving PowerPoint presentations in school, and this app takes it a step further by allowing students to develop easily-narrated videos with ready-made templates, pictures, and audio. It’s never been easier to be an amateur video producer in or out of the classroom.
Teachers can assign students work in Seesaw, and parents can monitor and oversee what’s due and when. This app eliminates the need for phone calls, in-person meetings, and other types of communication with parents since they have visibility within the app. This helps teachers save time and educate many students effectively without feeling overwhelmed.
Google Classroom allows teachers to dole out assignments, quizzes, tests, surveys, provide grades, and communicate with classrooms — all on a digital platform. Instead of handing in a piece of paper, students click a button.
Teachers can plan lessons much more quickly, stay organized, and stay on top of their entire class from one central, digital location. Google Classroom is entirely free, enabling teachers everywhere to streamline their lesson planning and grading.
Platforms like YouTube have evolved in the last few decades, and YouTube has MUCH more than just entertainment. You can find creative, educational videos about almost any topic under the sun. YouTube is an excellent way for teachers to simplify a complex topic and deliver it to students in a way they’ll appreciate.
Most students love YouTube, browse it independently, and are likely to engage more with a YouTube video about the civil war than they would with a textbook.
Canva is also a particularly useful app to use in classrooms because it’s very common in “the real world.” Many professional creative departments utilize Canva for their digital design needs, so students who learn to use Canva early have a massive advantage when looking for a job.
The truth is, it’s not just younger generations and students who are increasingly more digital-facing: it’s everyone. As the world moves toward a fully digital-first mindset, professional workplaces and classrooms alike will adopt new cutting-edge technology to give employees and students advantages.
By educating students with technology, teachers are both helping them learn better and prepping them for the real world.
So, when researching what types of technology can be used in the classroom, the answer is vast and varied – there are many options for you and your classroom. Because of the wide range of tech options available, you can customize and personalize solutions for your specific teaching needs.
Resources and budgets for teachers are, at times, scarce – and many of these tech tools are free or very inexpensive. Since teachers may occasionally feel stretched too thin, digitally managing their classrooms can be a great way to keep track of grading, assignments, and lessons without drowning in a mountain of confusing paperwork.
Another interesting, newly-emerging type of technology that can be used in the classroom is screen mirroring, wherein a teacher can manage, share, and display any screen in the classroom at any time to the main classroom display. This allows the teacher to move freely around the classroom and discuss visuals, student work, or virtually anything that’s coming from a screen to the main display.
This offers transparency, collaboration, and sharing of ideas, which in turn offers a more effective and accommodating learning process for all students. The ability to do this inside a classroom is revolutionary for teachers who want to make sure students stay focused and engaged.
Many teachers who wonder what types of technology can be used in the classroom haven’t heard of screen mirroring, but it can be one of the most powerful teaching tools available.
An effective screen-mirroring app will work with all kinds of devices, any number of users, any media type, and with all displays. This means teachers can present anything to a classroom from their computer, phone, YouTube, or Google, bypassing any tricky technology issues and getting right to teaching.
In fact, according to a 2020 McKinsey report, the use of digital presentation tech like screen sharing led to better academic performance, as these solutions control student screens with dedicated education materials.
In addition, the right screen mirroring tech can be just what the doctor ordered for IT as well. While the teacher can control the technology in their room using screen mirroring tech, IT departments can virtually command all screens from a central location, broadcast emergency alerts, and communicate with all students quickly, with one click of a button.
Vivi is a wireless screen mirroring and digital signage solution designed for education, and it’s perfect for inside the classroom and for IT departments who want something effective that will help them utilize their current technology.Vivi gives both teachers and IT departments more control of a school’s technology and systems with a virtual, easy-to-use platform. To learn more about Vivi or get a free trial run for your school today, drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you.
