Technologies: Classroom Distraction to Learning Attraction
Do you embrace technology in your classroom? What benefits do you think technology brought for you? Is is a sort of distraction or an attraction?
In the field of Education, technology often aids in classroom discussions and helps for faster note-taking and more efficient flow of instruction. However, teachers nowadays are facing enormous challenges in terms of retaining, attracting and catching students’ attention because of these stuff. Based on my research, here are the reason why some teachers tend to prohibit technologies inside the classroom and sometimes reluctant to adapt the trends brought by these technologies to the MILLENNIALS- today’s young people dubbed as the “Digital Native” Generations.
1. TECHNOLOGY CAN FOSTER MORE CHEATING IN CLASS AND ON ASSIGNMENTS.
Most traditional teachers says, “its effectiveness often is diminished by the distractions it cause” . Instead of letting the students to use these stuff inside the classroom, they tend to banned and prohibited while the lectures and discussion is on-going. The worse thing is that, they confiscate during examinations for they noticed that it serves as a “tool for cheating”. It is very easy for students to browse and cheat for answers from the given questions out from the discussions saved and captured by their gadgets.
2.Takes Away Learning Time
In today's classroom, teachers are pressed to make every minute count. If the teacher and students are not exposed and well-experienced with technology in the classroom, valuable time is often wasted on technical troubles. In addition, the teacher faces the difficulty of having a class full of students who are all at different skill levels. In many schools, most students will have a computer and Internet access, but schools that are located in impoverished areas may have a large portion of their student body with little to no computer experience. While it is important to educate these children in technology, it must be done at a pace that meets every individual's needs or more learning time will be wasted.
3.Overuse
In some classroom, technology is overused. This can lead to a variety of problems. Many students learn best by physically and mentally interacting with what they are studying. If most of the teaching is done using a computer, these students' needs are not being met. Technology should be used to supplement the classroom curriculum, but should not be used as the sole source of learning.
4.Game Mentality
One problem that many classroom teachers face is that students often use computers primarily for games. Because of this, many students associate computers and technology with game playing. Though some teachers can use this to their advantage, if this issue is not addressed, some students may get distracted and off task quickly.
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However, there’s been a lot of talk about how technology in the classroom can enrich the learning experience, giving students multi-sensory, hands-on learning time. New tools such as iPads and tablets and even tools with fewer bells and whistles (such as cellphones) are becoming part of many schools’ classroom teaching and learning experience.The argument is that it just makes sense to teach using the tools and methods that students are already using to communicate and learn.
Today I would like to highlight some great ways (base on research) to best utilize technology in the classroom to enrich learning and to minimize distraction, instead it will become a learning attraction.
1) Video Streaming
Knowing that most of the students especially in elementary are audio-visual learners, this will really of help in catching their attention and to make the learning session memorable and enjoyable. YouTube is a great tool for this; chances are you can find a video clip to compliment any lesson there.
2) Play Games
I guess, all kids wants to play, no matter what game it will be as long as they will be enjoy and not get bored throughout the session.. You can use your mobile devices like iPads and tablets you can keep students involved with all sorts of educational games for just about any subject. Students can keep track of their progress and work to compete with other students to advance to the next level. It is the real manifestation that they are enjoying while learning.3) Social Media
discussion and get all students involved and interacting with one another.It's an easy way for them to share resources and help each other out.
4) Blogging
Having students post their work in blogs is a great way to allow student to showcase all their hard work or works-in-progress. Students can help each other out by posting comments and suggestions for each other. Because students work will be publicly posted you are likely to get higher quality work from them too.
5) Podcasts
Podcasts make great learning tools for students especially when it comes time for studying. You can easily create and post podcasts for students who want to review or were absent so every student has the opportunity to soak it all in.6) Video Conferencing
Using video conferencing technology can allow students to travel the world from their classroom, speak with virtual guest lecturers, and make friends and interact with others in different countries. It is very useful especially if the teacher is not inside the classroom, they can still have a communication through video conferencing.
7) Collaborative exercises
A great way to optimize collaboration is to use mobile devices in the classroom by letting students use them in group work. Students can get together in groups with their tablet and the teacher can select which ones she wants to show on the screen. This a great option for classes with only a select number of mobile devices for student use.
Utilizing technology in the classroom is a great way to bring your class to life. With classroom technology, educators can get more students involved, engaged, improve collaboration, and most importantly make learning fun! It just depends upon the teacher on how creative he/she is in integrating these technologies in the field of education.
Sources: https://centretechnologies.com/importance-of-technology-in-the-classroom/ https://www.boundless.com/education/textbooks/boundless-education-textbook/technology-in-the-classroom-6/edtech-25/advantages-of-using-technology-in-the-classroom-77-13007/
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