Preparing your students for their work and the next world may be one of your goals as a teacher. In this modern world, it means giving your students a better understanding of different types of technology. If you are looking for new ways to bring technology into your classroom, here are five ways you can go about it.
Replace your whiteboard with a smartboard.
The main thing in most classrooms is the whiteboard. As a teacher, you can use the board to show examples of problems, to introduce new concepts, or to encourage student participation. Smartboard allows you to keep up with all these features by adding new features. Smart boards allow students who use laptops to engage in problem solving from their desk (or allow existing students to engage with their classmates). The boards can even increase the content you are creating, for example by converting a simple salary list with a one-click average CFA salary to a visible graph graph.
Use e-Textbooks over print
As the students grow older, the textbooks become more and more popular. At the end of the day, middle and high school students may find it difficult to get all their books in their pockets. Not only that, but outdated textbooks can fall off quickly and become very expensive to replace with newer editions. You can help your students ease the burden by using e-books instead of printing. This allows your students to get their textbooks from school or home and eliminates the possibility of forgetting an important textbook in their locker. E-books are easier to update than their published counterparts, so it makes your room content more relevant.
Explore computer maintenance and repair
Increasingly, school systems are equipping their students with laptops, some up to third grade. It is important to teach your students how to use their laptops properly. Going upstairs and teaching them how to take care of their laptops will not only make their devices last longer at school but also more important for their future careers.
Start by teaching your students good computer hygiene, such as not eating or drinking anywhere near your laptop. You can also show them how to clean their keyboards and screens with a soft cloth. If you are teaching older students, you can discuss the importance of testing and installing system upgrades and fixes. You can enter a discussion on how to identify and avoid phishing scams and viruses. Even some adults struggle with these concepts, so teaching them early on will benefit your students as they grow and become more active.
Show troubleshooting with multiple tools
Laptops are useful learning tools, but they are not the only option teachers have to bring technology into the classroom. Scientific devices such as thermal cameras, night vision specialists, radio telemetry, microscopes and more help integrate technology with STEM education. Getting acquainted with these tools will help your students who choose to pursue careers in these fields. It can also help them to explore the world around them and gain a deeper understanding of their place in it.
Here are some ways in which you can use these tools.
- Measure the room temperature every morning and record it on a table.
- Use a temperature camera to measure the ambient temperature of electrical items such as laptops and light bulbs
- Use data to test the quality of drinking water sources
Don’t be afraid to be creative with the tools you choose to use in your classroom. The goal is for your students to learn how to use problem-solving tools.
Connect with parents and students online portal
There are already opportunities to communicate with your student’s parents in a variety of ways, such as emails, report cards, and text notes. An online portal can give you a place to streamline communication and post results, ads and reminders. This allows parents to monitor their student’s progress at all times and to keep up with their student’s activities. For your own benefit, it may help to reduce the number of parent emails you receive.
The more technology you can bring into the classroom, the more potential benefits you are giving your students. Helping them become familiar with many technologies now prepares them for future success.
Featured image CDC, Unsplash.