How to Use More Technology in the Classroom

Social media and other forms of technology have changed the way that many students learn and also how educators teach. In some ways, these new forms of technology act as a hindrance to the education system as a whole, but in other ways they are huge positives. This article will explore how to incorporate more technology into classrooms so that teachers' jobs are easier and they reach and engage more students. 

Consider incorporating any of the following forms of technology:

Lesson Plan Sharing Websites – There are more and more lesson plan sharing websites popping up on the Internet. These sites give teachers the opportunity share, discuss, and organize ideas with other teachers throughout the world. Many schools offer professional development opportunities for teachers to gain more insight on specific strategies and ideas; however, they don't always meet the needs of everyone. Lesson plan sharing websites give teachers the power to find other people who are teaching the same concepts in innovative ways. These websites are helping teachers discover exciting lessons to deliver to their students. 

Attendance Trackers – Ask any teacher and they will tell you about the massive amounts of paperwork they are responsible for. Often, all this paperwork takes them away from teaching. Two of the most daunting and overwhelming tasks that teachers are responsible for are their students' attendance records and grades. Teachers now have access to various websites that help organize this information so that the process is quick and easy. These types of programs are also making records more accurate because they're quicker and less complicated. 

Classroom Management Software – One of the hardest parts of teaching is finding a classroom management style that works for both teachers and students. There are various paper and pencil systems out there that teachers use successfully; however, they are often daunting because they require a lot of record keeping. Many teachers are using these new management programs to keep their classes on target in terms of tasks, behavior, and attitude. Students also enjoy these programs because they offer rewards, which are important when reinforcing positive behaviors.

In order to keep teaching fun and exciting, teachers need to be willing to explore new tools. Technology is a great way to gain new perspectives, make the job easier, and motivate students to do the right thing.

2014 Teaching Trends

As schools continue to fail to make the mark on statewide assessments, teaching trends will continue to change. A new year is upon us, which brings with it new ideas and strategies that will be introduced to classrooms throughout the United States. Below is a sneak peek into two major new styles of learning that will be popular this coming year. Be on the lookout for more information on differentiated instruction and performance learning systems.

Differentiated Instruction

 

This style of teaching suggests that there are ways that educators can reach every student in their class -- regardless of the learning style or ability -- by giving kids flexibility in how they present what they learned. Educators must realize, however, that this style of teaching and learning can't be implemented overnight; it should be slowly introduced to the classroom. 

One way to start the process is to offer students the opportunity to make choices in their reading and writing assignments. For example, if one is teaching persuasive writing, they shouldn't demand that students write a speech. Give them the opportunity to choose how they want to demonstrate their understanding of persuasion. Students can opt to draw a comic strip, create a commercial, or argue a point. These choices set all students up for success, since they can decide how they want to present their knowledge of the concept. 

With differentiated instruction, teachers can also use the thumbs up/thumbs down to check for understanding, or graphic organizers like the ever-popular KWL chart to assess progress. More and more strategies will become available as people experiment with this style of teaching.

Performance Based Learning

 

This style of learning is new and exciting because it involves taking new skills and applying them to real-world situations. Many educational theorists believe that students don't fully understand something until they can apply it. Once students can see it functioning in the real world, the idea or concept is given relevancy. 

Traditional teaching was more fact and skill based, and students were often left wondering "when am I going to need to know this?" With performance based learning, students are shown why the information is important. Since these real-life interaction isn't always possible (daily field trips just aren't a reality), there are performance learning systems available that replicate many experiences. When children are able to interact with these systems, meaning is given to lessons.

As an educator, be prepared to hear more about these exciting learning trends.

2014 Education Buzzword: Differentiation

According to Scholastic.com, differentiated instruction is "a way to reach students with different learning styles, different abilities to absorb information and different ways of expressing what they have learned." 

Educators have already been introduced to this new style of teaching in previous years, but it will be further stressed and emphasized throughout 2014 and probably beyond. This method allows educators to teach concepts to students at various levels and reinforce and assess them afterwards. School districts, teachers, and education product manufacturers are catching on and creating a variety of unique learning systems to address this effective style of teaching. Below are different ways you can incorporate this into your classroom.

Learning Centers – Previously, learning centers were built based on whole-class instruction. Differentiated learning centers are focused on student assessment data and allow students to work with multilevel resources. With older versions of learning centers, students who didn't grasp or understand a concept became easily frustrated and those who mastered the concept were quickly bored. A differentiated learning center uses a tiered system to keep students engaged with activities and assignments at their level. 

Choice Boards – Choice boards or menus are a great way to assess everyone, regardless of level, on a concept or lesson. Choice boards give students the opportunity to select how they want to demonstrate their knowledge of something. Choice boards can even include creative presentations for visual learners.

Learning Systems - Unique learning systems that address differentiation are also hitting the market. Learning projects like Heux.com give students different ways of understanding, reinforcing, and viewing information that has been presented to them by their teacher. Students with different learning styles can also be addressed through various presentations and features of these programs. 

Think-Pair-Share – This teaching strategy works by first giving students the opportunity to think about a particular concept on their own. They are then paired with another student so they can further discuss and think about the topic. After the students converse with their partners, the class comes back together and everyone reveals what they talked about. This strategy is excellent because it gives every student a voice, which is always helpful in engagement and learning.

More ways to implement this style of instruction will be introduced as more people see the benefits of differentiated learning.

2014: New Year's Resolutions for Teachers

When the New Year rolls around, some of us resolve to finally shed those extra pounds, to travel somewhere new, or to save more money. For teachers, though, New Year's resolutions take on a whole new meaning. Resolutions for teachers often involve the well-being of their students as much as their own, because good teachers are always trying to better themselves and help their students get the most of the year spent together. That being said, it can be difficult to self-critique and decide just what you need to improve upon. If you're an instructor, here are a few resolutions you consider attempting to keep in 2014.

Find Ways to Help Students Enjoy Learning

If a student doesn't enjoy the subject matter you're teaching, it's easy for you to become the "bad guy" in their eyes. It's important to find ways of teaching a subject that will make them excited to come to class – though, admittedly, in the midst of a busy school year, switching up a lesson plan based on student feedback isn't at the top of everyone's to-do list. Whether it's picking a fun-to-read book that shows your students that learning is fun or applying algebra to everyday circumstances, it's all about responding to student feedback and getting creative.

Use New Technology

There are fresh and exciting ways to introduce technology into the classroom that are becoming available every day. Take some time out of your day to educate yourself about what's available and see if it could be used in your classroom. Make it a big project, like starting a petition to get performance learning systems for your district, or do something small, like letting students make a movie on a smartphone app as a project. Today's students and technology go hand-in-hand, and introducing new technology will lower them into their element, making learning enjoyable and easy to absorb.

Start Fresh

When students come back from their winter break, make it a point to have cleaned up the classroom and redecorated the billboards. Start a new journal for yourself so you remain organized and maybe incorporate a new rewards system for the students. The second half of the year always goes by quickly – why not make it fun, too?

Make Time for Yourself

Homework for students is homework for teachers. Are you making too much take-home work for yourself by grading papers and drawing up lesson plans? Make the most of your time in the school building, whether it's during class time or prep periods, to plan for the next day. Not getting enough "you" time will wear on you, causing you to get upset with your students more easily. Having enough time for yourself will help you to enjoy time spent with your students and let you look forward to the end of the day!