The world does not stop changing. As a result, technology is developed and integrated into different parts of our lives. And the education system is not an exception.
On the one hand, all those smartphones and apps distract students from learning. But there are also many positive aspects related to them. One just needs to learn how to use these tools the right way.
Many online resources are available in open access – from tools to create presentations to essay help platforms if you need professional assistance. They are just several clicks away.
With the increasing popularity of remote learning, teachers face obstacles on the way to reaching their objectives. In particular, it is difficult to receive feedback on whether students are following lesson material well, and engaging in various activities with them becomes complicated as well.
On their part, educators can use modern technology tools to engage students and make the learning experience more fascinating. But with so many resources, one may spend a lot of time trying to find the needed ones. Here are some suggestions.
Google Forms
This tool is widely used by teachers all over the world. It helps create interactive questionnaires and get feedback. Those could be even anonymous to make students more comfortable and open for communication.
Background Noise
The ability to focus is something all teachers want from their students. And it’s not always easy to do in classrooms. So, background noise comes to the rescue.
It allows students to concentrate on their tasks to finish them within the given deadline. Plus, it facilitates a quiet atmosphere and a favorable classroom environment.
Prezi
Presentations are an essential part of the education process. PowerPoint is nice but sometimes not enough. Prezi can help your students be more creative and engage their peers.
Thanks to this tool’s features, doing homework is more interesting. Teachers can diversify study materials and make a new topic easier for visual learners. Moreover, the presentations are available for class online, so students can revisit what they’ve learned later, for instance, when preparing for an exam.
WeVideo
This one is for even more creative assignments. It allows editing videos, creating podcasts, and making GIFs. Imagine the opportunities it opens for studying!
The more tools you provide to your students, the more they will enjoy it. But except for using the mentioned options, what else can one do?
What About Activities?
The way one organizes a lesson is also important. For instance, one helpful tool for geography or history teachers is Google Earth. For now, traveling around the world is problematic. But this online resource allows students to get the feeling of adventure. A scavenger hunt can be a nice activity to boost learners’ interest.
Another thing you can do is to connect with classrooms from other parts of the world. Although, this is possible only if you have international connections. It’s always interesting to meet people from other countries, especially same-age students with similar study tasks.
Also, the usage of infographics in teaching makes a huge difference. We always remember better the things we see. Thanks to imagery and clear, structured information, the material carves deep into our minds.
There are many different online tools that can help you with infographics. The simplest way would be using Canva. But for more elaborate infographics, one can use Piktochart.
Though they are mostly used to compare some data, that is not everything they can do. One can make infographics to compare cultures or highlight some learning habits. The possibilities are endless.
A Creative Approach to Homework
Of course, depending on the subject, different assignments are given. For example, for language learning or literature, a teacher can ask students to submit their homework as blogs.
Posting blogs will motivate students and give them a sense of responsibility. Moreover, the fact that those blogs are available online will prompt them to do their best. Who knows, maybe later this will be the way they earn money or just their favorite hobby.
As an alternative to this assignment, you can assign learners to create short comic strips on different topics. Obviously, it’s a great task for art students, but it might also be beneficial for language learning and history. As the learners make those comics, they can share them with their classmates, having a lot of fun.
To Sum Up
There are drawbacks associated with using technology, but one shouldn’t underestimate the advantages it offers in an educational setting. Recent technological breakthroughs have offered new approaches to teaching and studying everywhere. Classes do not have to be boring anymore, as there are options to make learning activities exciting regardless of the subject.
Overall, educators can benefit greatly from the variety of online resources. It is true that technology may distract from what is really important. But in the right hands and with good guidance, it can help learners improve their performance and keep up with the world.
