Technology has made its way into nearly every aspect of people’s lives. Today's students are using technology for an improved learning experience and a better understanding. Most of them are fully proficient in using their laptops and phones.
The real issue comes with incorporating the right technology into a classroom using a proper strategy. It can be overwhelming for teachers to select and incorporate the right type of technology in the classroom all on their own. So, we have compiled 5 effective tips that will make the task easier and more fun. Here’s how you can use technology in your classroom efficiently!
5 Tips to Use Technology in Your Classroom
Check out this list of tips we have compiled for you below! Here’s the first tip to start the list:
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Talk Content, Not Tech Tools
Avoid stressing yourself out and try not to take up all the responsibility at once. Of course, being a teacher requires finding innovative and efficient learning methods. But, that doesn't mean you have to focus on the wide array of technologies in the market. Instead, search for tech-specific to your subject.
When you find a tech that can help your students and improves their understanding of your subject, you’ve succeeded at using technology in your classroom.
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Set and Share Ground Rules
You can’t just bring in new technology without setting some rules for how to use it. Therefore, you must discuss a few ground rules with your class, and if you haven’t set them already, it’s time to do so now. Make sure your students understand that the technology used in class is for academic purposes only.
Keep parental or admin controls under your domain to ensure no student deviates or misuses the technology. It will also keep your students safe and secure when browsing the internet.
This step is more important when using technology that requires students to get their hands ‘dirty’. For instance, if you use a sublimation printer in the classroom, you need to supervise the students when they use it. They can make the most of the printer if you teach them how it works with a hands-on approach.
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Monitor Students’ Usage Regularly
Keeping tabs on your students’ activity when using tech in the classroom is extremely important for their safety. As a teacher, you must know what your students are doing and what they’re not doing in your classroom. If a student is deviating from the academic purpose of using technology in the classroom, you can monitor their activities by looking at how they use it.
This will help you take corrective measures and inform the respective student(s) about how they are working. The amazing perks of monitoring the regular use of your students is that you can help them avoid distractions in class, especially during lectures, exams, and quizzes. Games, videos, and music distract students during lectures.
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Build Break-Times
One of the most important parts of using technology in the classroom can be too engaging sometimes. Your students can lose focus, and their attention can wander off, especially if you’re using the internet. However, you can help them stick to the task at hand and gain their focus by building break times in the learning schedule.
When using technology, you can set break times to help students take their eyes and attention off their gadgets or another type of technology. After a refreshing break, they can focus better and avoid distractions effectively. But for that, make sure you find the right time management and planning software to incorporate with your technology.
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Get Tech Updates and Communicate with Parents
While it’s highly valuable to get opinions and feedback from your students, make sure you’re communicating your students’ progress with their parents. It will help their parents and you (as a teacher) to create the perfect learning environment.
Furthermore, the world of technology is ever-expanding, and even the existing tech can see a complete transformation sometimes. So, it's best to keep your head up for the latest tech updates and news, especially those related to students and classrooms.
The Bottom Line
We agree that it can be extremely challenging to deal with student-related issues. However, you can use certain tech in classrooms more efficiently and conveniently with the help of the five tips above. Being a teacher, you always have to sacrifice your time and energy to ensure your students reach the goals designed for them. While individual attention and care are the teacher's primary responsibility, incorporating technology into the classroom in the right way can make learning more fun and engaging.
