For many of today’s students, life without electronics and technology is unimaginable. And while as teachers we may be less accustomed to putting this technology to use in the classroom, it is important that as students, and their lifestyles, change, the classroom and our style of teaching changes with them.
Here are a few simple ways to incorporate technology in your classroom, and get today’s tech-savvy students more excited about learning:
- Create an online homework bulletin board. Most students who have internet access at home will be online after school to check their e-mail, Facebook, or other favorite websites, and if a list of their homework assignments were only a click away, chances are they would check that too. This resource is great for students who forget what the assignment is and also for students who missed school because of illness.
- Invest in portable text editors. While there are many text editors on the market, most are compatible with any computer or printer and enable the user to type, edit, and electronically store text (for essays, book reports, notes, etc.) and practice typing without needing a computer. The portable size is great because students can use these at their desks, at home, or even while on field trips.
- Use video clips to supplement teaching material. Interweave your lessons with video clips that provide meaning and background for the topic being taught. Be sure to limit the video clips to 3-6 minutes. A few good online resources for educational video clips are:
- www.teachertube.com
- www.unitedstreaming.com
- www.brainpop.com