Technology has been used in education for several years now, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to use it more wisely and explore its use in various ways. Although dedicated teachers provide care, guidance, and expertise that technology cannot replace, technology can still offer powerful tools to aid children in learning through online platforms. Technology and online learning also create many opportunities for teachers to provide innovative learning experiences to students.
Technology has reshaped education by making it easier to access education from anywhere in the world. Anyone can learn anything online without any geographical limitations. In online education, the classroom’s size is limitless, and a vast amount of knowledge is available at little to no cost, making it economically viable. Educators can leverage amazing technology in various ways. Here are a few ways to leverage technology in 2024:
1. Improving communication
One of the most significant impacts of technology in school is improved communication among all stakeholders. During school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a disconnect between parents and students could be observed. However, various school and messaging apps have made it easy for many schools to stay connected. School leaders can use these apps to send reminders, answer students’ questions, and provide feedback whenever students need it.
School leaders can also use these apps to strengthen communication with parents. They can use them for fee collection, to share students’ progress, and to share and track every academic and non-academic school process. Technology makes school management easy and helps it function smoothly.
2. Enhancing collaboration
The ability to collaborate with peers and solve problems is a crucial capability for students both in school and in the future. Providing students with a specific platform where they can access class resources, find assignments, ask questions, and provide support to other students makes learning more collaborative and meaningful.
Software like Edmodo and Google Classroom can be used for such purposes, creating collaborative learning spaces where students can interact with their peers or connect globally using additional digital tools kept within one learning space. These technologies help students connect with their peers across geographies, allowing them to share knowledge and culture and learn together. Teachers can utilize cloud-based systems like Google Docs or Dropbox to assign group activities, even if students are not physically present in the same classroom or city.
Also Read: How teachers can use the best tools and resources available to create a modern classroom?
3. Gamification of learning
Gamification of learning is a new trend in the education sector that incorporates play elements into the learning experience to make it more engaging and interactive. This trend is expected to continue growing in 2024 as technology advances and integrates into the education sector. Gamification uses virtual reality, simulations, and mobile games to augment the learning experience, student engagement, and motivation.
This technology trend helps students build, explore, and collaborate in a virtual world, promoting creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Educators can also use these learning games to have students create their own stories for creative writing projects and teach math concepts like shape, volume, area, and more to make their learning experience come alive. Companies like Kahoot and Archy Learning assist in teaching methods in the digital world with gamification, making the students’ learning experience more enjoyable.
4. Boosting visualization and presentation
Many students are visual learners, and visual presentations of lessons can impact students’ retention of information in a more authentic and meaningful way. Infographics can make content and presentation more catchy, which can help teachers to engage students in learning. It also helps to present complex data in a simple way. Websites like Canva, Piktochart, and Visme provide vibrant templates and slides to make presentations more attractive. Students can also use technology and such platforms to present their assignments. They can use tools like Padlet to post images, record audio, upload videos, create multimedia presentations, or present project-based learning.
5. Leveraging educational apps and online learning platforms
The pandemic interrupted education and school processes due to a lack of technology use in education. Now, in 2024, educators are well aware of how to utilize technology and online platforms to keep students in the flow of education and enhance their learning experience. Teachers can use various online platforms like Google Meet and Zoom to conduct sessions online and connect students from anywhere. Students and teachers can utilize platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Edx, LinkedIn, and Skillshare to learn various skills and upgrade themselves according to educational and professional trends. Additionally, apps like My CBSCGuide, Machinations, Byju’s, Vedantu, and Topper can provide students with video lectures, live classes, and mock exams, providing them with more exposure to knowledge.
There are many ways to leverage technology for educational purposes. Sometimes teachers need to brainstorm about how they can use digital tools in their classrooms. Students are more connected to this digital world. By involving them in some of the classroom decisions and asking for their insights regarding technology in education, educators can make students feel valued, and they may come up with creative ideas that can enhance the learning experience.
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