3 Thriving Education Tech Trends
It’s no secret that technology has changed the way we communicate – and education is no exception. In fact, many schools and educators are embracing e-learning techniques to engage students and bring more innovative teaching styles to the classroom.
Here are a few thriving technology trends happening in today’s classrooms and some benefits you may want to consider.
Interactive Surveys for Better In-Class Engagement
Show of hands, how many people would like students to be more engaged in the classroom? Investing in a classroom response system makes for easier, more accurate audience feedback.
Since these systems are perfectly crafted for all sorts of questions – multiple choice, open ended, ranking, Q&A – it can be an easy way to quiz students on what you are covering each day.
Looking to take roll call? Just check on the answers submitted in class to see who was either present or absent. This is especially helpful for large classes.
Classroom response systems could be used for:
- Asking icebreaker questions on the first day of class
- Automatic grading for pop quizzes through the classroom response system
- Collecting feedback on sensitive topics that people may not want to raise their hand for
Gamification Makes Learning Fun
If you are looking to boost engagement in the classroom, look no further than gamification. Gamification is an approach to learning that combines the appeal of video gaming to lesson plans in an attempt to captures students’ interests and maximize their enjoyment of learning.
Low-tech gamification has been around for years. Earning stickers for class participation is a prime example. And the trend is continuing to evolve as many schools are stressing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as their core curriculum; especially as they train students for the next generation of tech careers.
While still in its experimental stage, the benefits of gamification include:
- Increase d collaboration as student teams learn to solve problems together.
- Instant feedback as students complete assignments. This may also help students assess possible improvements in real time, rather than waiting for a graded paper, and focusing only on the score at the top of the page.
- Real-time progress reports as students set goals and work to reach them.
- Greater autonomy as students are given new opportunities to showcase their knowledge.
- Second chances. When pupils get a bad grade, it’s hard to impress on them that it is not game over. Video games allow players to try again until the puzzle is solved.
Bring Your Own Device
Millennials are often referred to as digital natives. This is doubly true for members of Generation Z who have never lived in a world without the Internet or smartphone technologies. In short, students are comfortable using these technologies to research and communicate, and it’s time to welcome these devices into the classroom.
The benefits of implementing a BYOD policy into the classroom include:
- Increased participation as students feel complacent joining in online discussions, performing research or completing homework on their favorite devices.
- Personalized instruction from teachers and tutors as pupils reach out for homework help via text messages, video calls or social media.
- Cost savings as schools no longer have to invest in a computer for every student, but rather base their spending on need.
- Individualized learning as pupils are encouraged to do their own research and learn at their own pace.
- Compatibility with classroom response systems from mobile phones, customized URLs or even social media.
From Chalkboards to Touchscreens
Obviously technology has made great strides in the past few decades. Isn’t it time for education to catch up? Continue to inform yourself on the hottest tech trends in teaching and see what works best for your students.
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