Technology has penetrated nearly all aspects of modern life. Banking can be done online; the majority of the population uses cell phones; and a photograph can be altered to show something that was never there. The generation of young adults growing up today are much more tech-savvy than past generations. To retain the attention of this high-tech generation of students, teachers are increasingly being pressured to utilize various forms of technology in the classroom. The opportunities for learning with these new technologies are vast.
Step One
Digitize grades, assignments and resources. Upload each assignment worksheet and handout onto a classroom website so the students can access them any time. Create a personalized page for individual students to access their grades and view their progress. Provide website links to helpful resources for a particular assignment.
Step Two
Perform online research. Construct an assignment that requires multiple sources, such as a research paper. Allow time in class for students to browse the web in search of relevant online sources.
Step Three
Incorporate online videos in classroom lectures. Visit various video streaming websites for additional insight on a subject. For example, searching “Abraham Lincoln” into a video site might generate both informational and entertaining material to shed light on an aspect of the lesson. Incorporating various media into class lectures breaks up the time into manageable chunks for students to grasp concepts.
Step Four
Use email in a language class to communicate with students from different countries. Set up a pen-pal system with a classroom from across the world. This can make studying a foreign language seem applicable to students as well as give them a chance to employ what they’ve learned in a real-life situation.
Step Five
Assign a project that includes making a short video. Allow students to recreate a scene from a Shakespeare play or produce their own newscast on a topic from the current unit. Screen the videos in class using audio-visual equipment.
Step Six
Blend PowerPoint slides in with traditional board writing. Connect your computer to an overhead projector to display prepared slides pertaining to your lecture. Use the slides for supplemental information, for displaying images or simply for showing a large amount of text all at once for students to take notes quickly.
Step Seven
Take a virtual class trip. Visit historical sites around the world on the Internet. For example, for an art history class you might consider the online walk through of The Louvre in Paris. Tour other museums by typing in “virtual museum tour” in a search engine and browsing for relevant subjects. This type of activity can be performed in front of the classroom or in a computer lab as part of an individual discovery lesson.