How can technology be used in the classroom? How do I use Google Classroom, or how do I use document cameras? What are the best strategies to use when using iPads with students? All of these questions and more are answered in this guide to using technology in the classroom.
Whether you’re teaching English to English language learners, science to high schoolers, or geography to pre-schoolers, there’s no reason why you should limit yourself because of outdated thinking about what teaching means in the 21st century.
Google Classroom
Create a class roster and assign tasks and projects to individual students or groups.
Use the Classwork component of Google Classroom to set due dates for assignments and track progress on work handed in by your students. Share files, images, videos, spreadsheets, and presentations with your entire class or with individuals as needed. With Google Classroom, you can easily assess student understanding by providing feedback on their submissions with comments and grades.
You can also collaborate with others on shared documents through the Shared Docs component of Google Class light. Files that have been shared are labelled shared and you will be notified when any changes are made to them by other members of your class.
Tech Classroom Management
Teachers are always looking for new and innovative ways to engage their students. One of the most popular methods is incorporating technology into the lesson plan. Technology doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does require some planning on the teacher’s part. To start using technology in your classroom, think about how you want to integrate it into your lesson plan and what kind of technology you need. After that, here are a few ways teachers can utilize technology:
-Project the PowerPoint slides or PDFs onto the Smart Board -Use interactive websites like Khan Academy or YouTube videos -Post questions or activities on discussion forums -Use an online textbook if available
Technology Resource Ideas
Ideas for using technology in the classroom:
– Handheld devices. These are great for teaching a lesson on a topic that is more hands-on, like math or science. Students can work with classmates and teachers to solve problems. They can also be used as a substitute for textbooks or handouts.
– Interactive whiteboards. They come with all sorts of tools that allow you to project, write, draw, annotate and more from anywhere within the classroom. You can also set up virtual classrooms if you want students from different locations to participate in discussions and activities together as though they were sitting next to each other.
– Connected classrooms. If your school has upgraded its wireless system, you might already have an interactive TV or video projector that connects your classroom to others around the world. With this setup, kids will be able to share their ideas and learn about new cultures in real time.
– Virtual field trips. Take your kids out of the classroom and explore distant places without ever leaving home by visiting online exhibits at museums and galleries, exploring nature trails through Google Street View images, or even conducting experiments while virtually touring a nuclear power plant!
– Educational software programs.
How To Use Technology in Math
To help students develop their computational skills, it is important for teachers to have a strong understanding of how students learn math. This means that teachers need to be aware of how they teach math problems, how long they spend on them and what types of mistakes the student is making. This can be done by using quizzes and tests as well as running daily math activities or lessons that focus on particular skills.
Students can also create digital versions of their work if they are working on something like a story problem or a multi-step word problem. Teachers will also want to make sure that they are modelling good behaviour when it comes to math – such as checking your own work before you turn it in and not taking shortcuts when solving problems.
How To Use Technology in Science
Technology can be a valuable resource in the science classroom. Here are some ways you can integrate it into your lessons:
-Enable students to explore the cell by using the app Cell Lab
-Use the app Carbon Dioxide for a lesson on photosynthesis
-Show videos on YouTube for lectures about natural disasters, and let them watch how people around the world react to these events
-Encourage students to research scientists who have made important discoveries, such as Marie Curie, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Albert Einstein. Then, ask them to answer questions like What did they do? What was their goal?, How did they make their discovery? or What is their legacy?
How To Use Technology With ELA/Reading
Educators are always looking for ways to make the classroom a more engaging and interactive environment. One of the most popular ways to do this is by using technology. There are many great tools out there that can be used as a supplement or even as an alternative instruction method. Below are some of my favourite tools that I think would work well with ELA/Reading classes:
*Google Drive- Google Drive is a great place to create presentations, collaborate with students on projects, or just store your files. It’s also free! You can log into it from anywhere, so you don’t have to worry about losing your work if your computer crashes.
How To Use Technology with Social Studies
It is important that all teachers find a way to incorporate technology into their classrooms. Technology can be used for a variety of purposes, including creating interactive lessons and presentations, allowing students remote access to resources, and giving students the opportunity to work individually or collaboratively on projects. Below are some ideas for how you can integrate digital tools into your social studies classes.
-Use Google Earth or other mapping software as part of an assignment about the past or present the software allows students to explore different regions by zooming in and out, searching for specific locations, and providing information about each location such as population density and climate data.
Other Tips and Tricks
The first step is to find apps that are engaging for your students. After you have found the right app, introduce it to the class and give them a few minutes for exploration. Then, ask students what they liked about it and what they didn’t like about it. Lastly, have them share with the class their thoughts on how this application could be used in their particular subject area.
For example, if you are teaching math, talk about how an app such as Dot Dots can be used in algebra or geometry; or if you’re teaching language arts, talk about how Duolingo can help teach spelling or grammar. Your goal is not only to teach the content from your curriculum but also show them how these new tools will enhance what they already know.
Conclusion
Technology is a valuable tool that educators can use for teaching, learning, and communication. It should not be seen as an obstacle or a distraction but rather an opportunity for students to learn and grow. Educators need to encourage the students’ exploration of this new world and guide them through their journeys. Educators are responsible for protecting their student’s privacy and teach them how to be safe online.
With all this responsibility, educators need the support from administration, school board members, parents, and colleagues. It takes time for a teacher to become comfortable with using technology in the classroom, but it will make teaching easier. Teachers who are not comfortable with technology should take classes or do research on how they can best incorporate it into their classrooms.
