Devices such as tablets and laptops are an everyday part of classrooms. Teachers are working with a generation that lives and breathes technology and many are using technology to enhance learning.

Not only are students using these items to stay connected socially, but the world around them is consistently connected to the Internet of things. So teachers have to begin to prepare students for a world where becoming comfortable with technology is not an option but a necessity.

Here are five ways teachers can align technology with their curriculum requirements.

1. See Where Current Pedagogy is Coming Up Short

The first step for teachers is to assess where technology makes sense in their curriculum. Can utilizing a specific app help students better understand mathematical concepts, or can devices such as tablets help visual learners better understand literacy? These are ideas teachers should examine when assessing how their lessons can use technology.

2. Use Technology to Track Progress and Differentiate Learning

As a teacher, it can be challenging to decipher whether or not each student is understanding concepts. Apps can be used for things like polling and quizzing, to gauge where students are at as they move forward with lessons. In addition, classroom workflow apps can be used to easily deliver differentiated learning to students based on their individual needs. This combination of technology can help shape curriculums in real-time.

3. Incorporate Real-World Problem Solving

Technology allows teachers the opportunity to give students experience with real-world scenarios. Whether it be connecting with others across the globe, starting a business, digital collaboration, or coding, technology can add a more interactive edge to any curriculum plan, and create more globally-minded and socially aware citizens. The classroom becomes a place where students become learners and experimenters.

4. See How Others Have Done It

Teachers across the country are figuring out ways to appropriately incorporate technology into curriculum plans that maximize student participation and understanding. A quick search of the web and Pinterest (a popular hub for teachers) gives educators a treasure trove of information regarding the utilization of technology in the classroom. There are likely even sample lesson plans teachers can adapt to their own use.

5. Create Student Portals

Students are used to using technology to access various types of information. Teachers can use this to their advantage by creating student portals that house information such as grades, feedback from teachers, study guides, and even extra resources to help with research and understanding. Not only does this get students used to associating technology with education, but it puts all resources students need at their fingertips to further support the curriculum. Adding digital student portfolios showcasing a student’s best work makes it easy to share progress with parents, and creates a sense of pride and accomplishment for the student.

Final Thoughts

Teachers are in a unique place to be one of the first individuals to show students how technology shapes the world around them, and how it can be used for educational purposes. Teachers can enhance learning by making technology a regular part of the instructional day. Balance is the key to everything, and technology will not solve all problems, but it can be a key to reaching students where they are, while reinforcing skills that will help them keep up in our tech world.

Sources

Chanell currently resides in Atlanta, GA. When she’s not traveling and trying new restaurants in the Metro Atlanta area, she writes about the latest technology and tools.

  • Share this post