Technology in the classroom is both the present and future of education. Incredible new learning tools, especially iPads are exploding into schools. Now a days kids are growing with technology. My two and a half year old niece loves to play on her mommy’s iPad and watch Dora the Explorer and Elmo on YouTube. Since technological learning tools are what kids are used to and have many proven benefits, the demand for technology in the classroom is high. But before your school dives right into implementing some of the amazing classroom technology that’s out there, there are a few things you should consider first. Show
It’s not as easy as installing a really expensive projector and loud speakers, and hoping that this solution will be beneficial to students and teachers. You’ll have many different classroom presentation solutions to choose from, some you may have already considered, such as interactive white boards, and others you may not even be aware of, such as collaboration rooms and distance learning classrooms Classroom size and teaching styles can be a deciding factor in how the room is designed and what technology is right for you. To determine the current classroom technology needs you should start out considering the basics: Who will be using the classroom? K-12? Higher Education? Obviously the types of displays and learning tools will be different here.What is the physical size of the classroom and how many students will it seat ? For example, you may need multiple displays installed to ensure every student has adequate view of what the instructor is teaching. Every instructor has their own teaching style. Some instructors have embraced the use of today’s teaching tools, such as the iPad, while others aren’t ready to dive into the pool of technology just quite yet, which is just fine. We embrace the needs of the teachers, and address them in our classroom technology solutions. This allows teachers to gradually blend their teaching styles with the advances in technology, for the best possible learning environment. Interaction among students has proven to be hugely beneficial. Classroom technology can now be designed to allow student groups to share their solutions to the problems they have worked out with the class. The way this works is each student group can be equiped qith a laptop or tablet to do thier work. Each of the student groups can be given a particular display in which to show their content and when they have it all worked out on their device, with the push of a button their work is on displa on thier particular assigned display. Another way the room can be designed to allow students to interact with each other with classroom technology is through the use of a Video Teleconferencing system. By installing particular cameras, microphones, and monitors, students at your local school or university, to interact with other schools located around the globe. These are just a few of the many important things to consider before installing classroom technology. Implementing technology into the classroom can be very exciting and beneficial to both teachers and students, but to those in charge of deciding what to install and how to do it, it can be a daunting task. We can help make this scary task seem a lot easier for you. SecurEdge Networks provides planning, deployment, and design for school wireless networks as well as installing types of audio and video technology in the classroom. For help with deciding what classroom technology to install and how to begin contact us with any questions or for a Free Consultation! We are happy to help! You can also download our free school wireless design guide too. Good luck!
Why have smartwatches and fitness trackers become so popular? And more importantly, why have they become so valuable in encouraging physical activity? Portable and intuitive technology saves us time. Immediate personalized data feedback keeps us in check in a meaningful way. New educational technology has transformed learning similarly, providing customized functionality that saves educators and students time while increasing efficacy. When choosing an online platform or other technology for your courses, the selection process doesn’t have to be complicated. The same positive traits for fitness trackers can be reimagined for education. Consider the following six technology necessities during the decision-making process. 1. It Needs To Be Accessible AnywhereOnline textbooks have increasingly become the standard from secondary to higher education. School districts and universities alike provide students with tablets, laptops, and a capable wi-fi network. (Many students also have their own personal electronic device.) Logging into class online is quick and easy. Completing assignments or catching up on reading can be done on the go. Such functionality matches today’s students' lifestyle which is essential to student success. 2. It Offers a Consistent Look and FeelThe look and feel of the online platform should be consistent across the board, no matter the electronic device. With the proper technology solution, students can access more than just pages of the text. The student experience becomes dynamic when homework assignments, study guides, concept summaries, reading quizzes, video tutorials, etc. are easy to find. 3. It’s Easy to UseOnce students log in to your online course, how do they access the resources? The course dashboard should be intuitive once students have logged on. Users should seamlessly move between assignments, course materials, and grade book hubs. Chances are if the online platform is cluttered, students will become discouraged, get frustrated, and log off. The most frequently used hubs must be easily identified from the jump. This speeds up the learning curve for students. Informative, but straightforward assignment details should appear wherever a homework, quiz, or reading assignment is accessible to students. Gradebook features should include at-a-glance summaries. Students will properly budget their time once they identify the due date, point value, and topic of study for their assignments. 4. It Offers Data FeedbackData feedback allows us to adjust in real-time. For student success, it’s essential to keep the feedback loop open whether inside or outside of the classroom. With the proper course management platform, this can be accomplished. Settings such as multiple attempts on problems, hints, links to the text, and right/wrong indicators can be manipulated by the instructor. Student time spent on a homework problem, the number of tries attempted, and access date for the assignment are all valuable metrics. Are these statistics available to the educator with the least amount of effort? A teacher needs to view these figures for their students, especially struggling ones, for intervention and remediation. Feedback to the student verifies their level of understanding. It also redirects them to the proper path as they work through an assignment. Struggling students especially appreciate these features, in addition to having access to the answers and solutions at the teacher’s discretion. 5. It Saves Instructors TimeCreating online assignments should be quick and easy. Can you filter by chapter, section, and type of assignment with a few clicks? Students need access to course materials with the fewest number of steps. Can you rapidly distribute these items to your classes? Mind-numbing tasks like homework grading can be performed by your technology choice. These simple changes undoubtedly lighten your workload. 6. It’s Customizable“One size fits all” typically devolves into one size fits none. Technology needs to have the capacity for customization by the instructor. He/She can then utilize the online platform to best suit the needs of the students- given the specifics of their own classes. Instructors need autonomy to guide decision making. Which sections in the textbook need to be covered in detail, and which parts necessitate a quick run through? How are late policies treated? Should points be deducted across the board for overdue items? Are decisions made across the board, or do they vary section to section within the course? Each class section has individual demands that need to be addressed by the educator. Customization is key. When you select technology for your classroom, how do you sift through your options? How do you identify the best choice for your students? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment in the space below, and I will be sure to reply. Doug Petrick holds an Architectural Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from California University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a high school Physics teacher at Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh. Doug regularly contributes to a series for educators on The Wiley Network offering practical advice and instructional strategies.
By: Catelyn Cantrell Engaging study materials—whether print or digital—seem to be geared mostly toward students who are struggling. This is without a doubt a positive and necessary trend, but there is no reason to support one group and not the other. In fact, some tools work for a variety of student populations. What I want to talk about is how to recognize and select tools for the students who are working beyond their grade level. Digital tools enable strong students to direct their learning to places outside the restrictions of the conventional classroom setting. 1. Purpose of the Tool. Before considering anything else, each digital tool selection should be made with a clear purpose in mind. Is the tool meant to prepare the student for standardized tests or is it meant to help students explore their more creative side? Although some tools may end up being used for multiple tasks, a specific goal is key to maximizing the tool’s value. It all begins with a single, simple question—What can the student do with the digital tool? 2. Context: Classroom, Home or Something New? Consider where the tool will be used. The context in which the tool is used will shape how the student uses the tool. 3. Is the tool required or just something extra? Once you know the purpose and type of tool you’re looking for, determine how the tool will figure into the student’s existing inventory of tools. Is this tool going to be required for a class or other academic program? Is it just an extra way for the student to explore topic not covered during class? Figuring out these questions also help inform cost and time considerations. 4. Individual or Collaborative? Is this tool meant to give students a sense of community or is it meant for individual work? Some digital tools might provide those students at the top of the class a chance to connect with similar students. Educational technology affords them the chance to build not only academic abilities, but also the social skills at the heart of the learning process. 5. Costs and Savings. The cost of the tool is (of course) another factor to consider. Free and cheaper software is easier to access and may have a larger user community. Also, a digital tool may actually end up saving money for schools, teachers and students. So the question may actually be about how much money the tool will save you, rather than cost you. If money is really tight, frame it as a learning experience and bring students into the conversation. Advanced students are often inclined to help solve problems! 6. Saving Time for Busy Students. Digital tools often save students and teachers more than just cash. Another thing to consider when comparing tools is whether or not they can make studying more efficient. Technology can help students learn smarter, not harder. Try to find tools that follow this idea. Advanced students often already have intense schedules, so why not find ways to make use of usually wasted time? 7. Familiarity with Technology. There should be a consideration about how comfortable the student is with digital tools. Think about tools they have used previously and how they compare to the potential selection. Even if the student lacks experience with digital tools, a new tool could be a valuable learning experience. 8. Personal and Academic Interests. It is important to think about the student’s strengths and interests. A tool can either allow a student to push their already strong skills to the next level or let the student work on an interesting, but unfamiliar subject. Technology is all about removing limitations and building connections. A quality digital tool should connect the advance student with new, useful content and experiences. 9. Chances to Explore and Create. Many digital tools also equip students with the freedom to explore their own ideas. As project-based learning becomes increasingly popular, these tools will be useful to advanced students as they embark on projects for class and those emerging from their own unique interests. 10. Feedback and Practice Opportunities. Digital tools can provide students with the chance to take risks with the material they are learning. Some can also provide educators and parents with insight about the real capabilities of their students. Some digital tools also provide a more comfortable environment for practicing material. Often, more advanced students are reticent to practice material if they are unsure about it. A tool which provides useful feedback without any potential for low grades may be an appropriate choice for students to practice while also not worrying about test scores or embarrassment. Some digital tools also help students grow familiar with environments in addition to content. This works well for those bright students who are entering test preparation time later this spring. Education technology crosses over barriers between learners and content. With this in mind, digital tools and advanced students seem meant for each other. A well-chosen digital tool will connect the advanced student with materials once outside the limits of their existing classwork. Always keep in mind that these students will often come up with their own ways to incorporate technology in their education. In fact, it’s second nature to most of them. So, be sure to include students in the conversation. Make choosing the tool a learning experience in addition to the technology itself! Catelyn Cantrell is a soon-to-be graduate from the University of Florida and an intern with Omninox Publishing in Gainesville, Florida, a developer of interactive guides for Advanced Placement® Courses. After graduation, she will begin a master’s degree in English Education and continue taking steps toward a teaching career. Follow Catelyn on Twitter at @cantrell_cj.
Getting Smart loves its varied and ranging staff of guest contributors. From edleaders, educators and students to business leaders, tech experts and researchers we are committed to finding diverse voices that highlight the cutting edge of learning.
|