Technology is transforming how, when and where children learn, as well as empowering them to take charge of their education.
The introduction of the library and the pencil in the mid-1600s marked the beginning of the use of technology in education – and it’s come a long way since then.
In the latter half of the 1970s, the very first computer was integrated into schools. Now the classroom is inundated with high tech gadgets that have taken learning to new heights.
From iPads to interactive voting and virtual reality – technological innovations have shaped not only how our children learn, but how their teachers educate them.
Only 20 years ago, a teacher was limited to providing class notes and writing equations on a blackboard. Using these limited tools they were expected to reach a variety of learning styles simultaneously – no small task for anyone.
Today, teachers have the internet at their fingertips to provide students with a variety of content and apps to suit their learning style.
They have now transformed into supporters and collaborators alongside students as they choose the way they wish to get to grips with lesson content.
Technology has revolutionized how a lesson can be delivered. Gone are the days of copying lines from the blackboard, now students can get hands-on with interactive games that promote memory retention.
They can even delve into the exciting world of virtual reality to experience historical events firsthand or even traverse the solar system.
Students learn by doing, researching, and receiving feedback, making technology and its interactive elements suited perfectly to the classroom.
Getting hands-on with a subject helps students become passionate about what they are learning as they get a ‘feel’ for every facet of the subject, and promotes higher memory retention.
Different apps allow students to see planetary movements, how a tornado develops, or how dinosaurs lived without ever having to leave the classroom.
DEVELOPING VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS
Technology-focused education doesn’t involve a class of students learning by themselves with their heads buried in books. It instead utilizes group activities, discussions, and debates, and encourages the establishment of democratic group dynamics – all vital skills for later life.
Using the Internet or specialized apps, students can create online groups, web pages, and virtual communities that connect them in real time with students and teachers anywhere around the world.
By listening to and reading about others’ opinions and feedback, students can refine their ideas when it comes to assessments, reaching higher levels of comprehension and deeper understanding of tasks.
Online communities also present the opportunity for students to interact with others around the world and learn about cultures they would not otherwise have access to.
Technology occupies an important place within students’ lives. When they are not in school, just about everything that they do is connected in some way to technology.
By integrating technology into the classroom, teachers are connecting with children via a medium they are familiar with and will continue to use outside of school.
Teaching is all about introducing students to a whole world they’re unfamiliar with, and technology introduces us to that world like nothing else.
Want to learn more about how you can use technology to educate others? Contact ITR today to learn about our vast array of technology to hire.