Summary:
There are many effective ways to use technology to enhance students' education and engagement.
A few examples of audio/video feedback are Google Docs, screen-casts, Evernote, Livescribe pens and many more. They provide timely feedback from teachers to students and most students say that they found it to be more, "personal and informative and it keeps them engaged." This type of feedback is especially beneficial to students who are visual and auditory learners.
When students create digital portfolios with the intention of sharing for comments and critics by peers, teachers and parents. The blended model combines technology and the direct instruction method, it has increased engagement and, "extended the learning beyond the formal learning setting." Ms Gupta had her students watch video lectures at home then when they come to class they have collaborative group discussion and problem solving. She also videotaped her lectures for students to re-watch as many times as they need to. Some might be concerned that students would become disengaged as they do when the direct instruction method, which usually has poor results. Gupta said, "while it is easy for students to zone out our gets disengaged during the lectures, it is hard to do so when students are working in small collaborative groups with teacher floating around to address their misconceptions."
It has been found that using blogs and Facebook groups as learning tool helps to enhance students' engagement on and off the school's campus. Judy Willis states that, "In humans, the dopamine reward response that promotes pleasure and motivation requires that they are aware they they solved a problem, figured out a puzzle, etc." This method is very beneficial to young children, but it still applies to older children and even teenagers.
If students have the option to choose their issues and select their own partners they are more likely to drive the conversation resulting in stronger projects. The article states that, "the best projects are student driven and student led. If students are given mini designs projects, it not only keeps their attention and interest but also teaches art and tech skills. Technology allows classes to do projects that involve the entire class with more ease than if it is done with paper. For example Kerry Gallagher had her students study a topic, put digital copies of drawings in an online folder. They then proceeded to create a QR code for their peers to scan to access images on their devices; they were then projected onto a screen for the entire class to be discussed.
Instead of teachers collecting all of the tracking data, ask the students to start tracking their own progress that includes, "informal conversations about their leaning, feedback on papers, feedback and progress notes from prior assignments, a list of strengths students feel they are developing based on standards, a list of challenges students feel they need help with based on the standards, 3 goals the student would like to accomplish by the end of the 2nd marking period, and any questions students may have about the course."
My Opinion:
While new technology is being created, the old technology is being improved. It is inevitable to not use some kind of technology in the present day classroom. After reading this article I am realizing how important and beneficial it is to not only students, but also to teachers. There are so many more outlets and resources for students now and most include some type of technology. I do not think that everything on this list would be ideal for the type of classroom I will be teaching, but most of it will. I am learning to embrace technology as it is being improved and I have some experience with most of the items on the list and I can say that I personally had a good experience and it was beneficial.
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