Caffeinate then Educate

Welcome to a new world of education!
Thank you for stopping by to my very first “Research Response” post! As I was searching twitter using the hashtag #edtech I was intrigued to find an article by Matthew Miller titled “5 Ways Tech Can Truly Improve Learning”. As technology is on the rise today, especially amongst youth, I wanted to dive deeper into this article to understand how educators can begin to intergrade it into their classrooms.

Click here to read the article!

Moving forward, theres so much potential for technological resources to be incorporated into the “everyday” classroom setting. In the upcoming years, technology use will continue to increase so we should be allowing our children to benefit from these tools are much as possible. Here is the five ways in which the article believes we can move forward:

1. Technology Can Shorten the Feedback Loop

• With everything online being instant, it will no longer take multiple days for students to get their assignments back. Educators can provide quicker feedback to topics that children might not fully grasp, which in turn allows them to comprehend it and remember it easier.

• This is done by having educators tracking the progress of an assignment while it is still being worked on by using resources such as:

  • Google Classroom

  • Formative

  • Flipgrid

2. Technology Can Make Great Connections

• There are so many resources, both online and out in the world, that you can now virtually bring into your classroom. Example: Educators can Skype in guest speakers from all over the country, or even world, in order to help their students get a new perspective on the topics being discussed.

• Educators can also connect with their students using apps such as Remind. This allows open communication about assignments, due dates, homework questions, etc. which may allow the student to have a quicker understanding of the task at hand. For younger grades, this may also be used for the parents to directly be in connect with their child’s teacher.

3. Technology Can Help Kids Make a Difference

• The author explains explains examples in which technology has motivated students to make an impact worldwide. By introducing students to the lack of resources that others have may empower them to make a change!

  • The first story tells of a classroom who used Skype to connect with children just like them in Kenya. After seeing the lack of everyday needs some other countries face, the students raised money to purchase water filters for that very community.

  • The second story explains a program online called Free Rice, in which students can answer questions to earn rice for those in need of food around the world. It is run by the U.N. World Food Programme, yet children may view it as a fun game to play online if they have extra time throughout the day.

• It is heartwarming to see that there are so many opportunities for students to make a difference on an average school day. By allowing time to visit these websites after assignments are completed we are contributing to those in need without even realizing it.

4. Technology Can Take Students There

• Field trips can be expensive, chaotic or impossible if not near the school district. By having access to Google Maps Street View it allows the students to get a better understanding of a destination without having to physically go there. It has never been easier to see the world in a whole new light from the comfort of your classroom.

5. Technology Can Help Us Find Ideas 

• Educators can now connect on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, in order to obtain new ideas for teaching methods or lesson plans. Not only does this allow your own educator growth but your ideas may also assist other classroom educators worldwide with their curriculum.

Does tech actually improve learning?

I believe this article has validated many proper uses of technology in the classroom. Students are learning how to use devices at alarmingly younger rates. As educators, we have to use these resources and alter them to fit the students needs in curriculum. It is no longer beneficially for them to simply take notes with pencil and paper anymore but to instead be engaged in the material they are working on in order to better comprehend it. By using some of the resources discussed in the article, as well as the many others out there, we would increase the benefits our students are receiving.