What Are the Best Uses of Technology in School?

What Are the Best Uses of Technology in School? Today, technology is at the center of both our lives and our classrooms. From kindergarten to high school, children have grown up immersed in technology and often don’t remember what life was like before these common devices were introduced. However, these days, the use of technology in school is changing, and teachers and students should consider how to best harness the benefits of the latest technology. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to integrate technology into the classroom.

Improves student learning

Research has shown that students who use laptop computers in class perform worse on tests than those who do not. Depending on the subject, the effects of technology on student learning differ. On the PISA math assessment, students who use laptops perform five points lower than those who do not. However, the impact is less apparent for science and reading scores. Tablet computers, on the other hand, are more effective in improving student performance.

In addition to providing students with more resources, technology in school improves communication between teachers and students. It facilitates communication and helps analyze student attendance patterns and manage transcript data. Tablets are useful for differentiation throughout the course, as students can work at their own pace and complete assignments. Online activities also help teachers see what students struggle with. This makes it easier for them to provide individualized instruction. The use of tablets can also help teachers organize email and communicate important information with parents.

In addition to being a useful tool for improving student performance,

the technology can also help learners who live in rural areas receive an education. For example, Johnston and Ksoll (2017) evaluated a program that broadcast live instruction through satellite and connected classrooms with a studio in Accra, Ghana. Students enrolled in the program showed marked improvements in their foundational literacy tasks and numeracy tests. In addition, the study also examined the impact of technology on students’ attendance and classroom time.

Another way in which technology can help improve student learning is through the improvement of communication. Using technology in school improves the quality of class discussions and allows students to engage more deeply in their education. The use of these technologies in schools can help students master basic skills and get more out of school. It can also help teachers in their job as they can assign exercises to different learning styles. And students will benefit by having the resources to practice new skills in their spare time.

Lastly, technology improves student collaboration. Traditionally, students may have needed to work individually to produce a poster or a paper note. Now, with technology, students can collaborate on a digital collection of their research. They can write and draw together in the same program, creating a fully collaborative document. These tools help students make better decisions while working on projects. Further, they help students collaborate on group projects.

Facilitates collaboration

Collaborative learning is essential to excellence in education. In addition to the traditional methods of teacher-led instruction, educators can leverage digital content to encourage student collaboration. Many digital content providers to replicate the traditional classroom architecture and allow only a single teacher to teach a course. In contrast, many online social tools and virtual forums can foster collaboration. Teachers can harness these tools to create distinct learning experiences for students. Let’s look at some examples of how technology can be used to encourage student collaboration.

Collaborative learning is not new. Research shows that working together to solve problems and share ideas increases student engagement and achievement. According to Samantha Becker, lead researcher at the Horizon Project, a nonprofit that studies emerging technology, collaboration has become more common, seamless, and ubiquitous. A 2016 Horizon Report concluded that collaborative learning would become the driving force behind the adoption of new educational technologies. While some educators worry about the negative impact of collaboration, many advocate its advantages.

Developing new learning and teaching strategies based

on technology infrastructure is necessary for driving excellence. While deploying technology to improve teaching and learning is important, it is not enough. Investment in teacher capacity building and infrastructure is essential for enabling a high-quality learning environment. It is also essential to invest in robust infrastructure, including internet, power backups, and inking devices. Education policy makers must consider the use-case scenarios and consider their impact on school communities.

Collaborative learning is crucial for student growth. Technology can improve collaboration both inside and outside of the classroom. While it can be difficult for students to work together outside the classroom, it can make the process easier and boost student engagement. And for teachers, technology provides a convenient way to engage and encourage student collaboration. By leveraging technology to enhance collaboration, students can learn valuable skills and increase their engagement. So, let’s take a closer look at how technology can improve collaboration.What Are the Best Uses of Technology in School?

Promotes problem-solving

Using problem-solving with technology in the classroom can be a great way to promote creativity in a child. In one experiment, teachers and pupils worked together to build a cantilever bridge that would enhance their ability to cross the terrain. This particular solution was designed to maximize span rigidity and minimize deflection, while maintaining a safe distance from the edge of the terrain. While working in teams, pupils were provided with the same materials and base boards with a map of the water.

The students in Group 3 and Group 5 were given a task that they needed to solve. The problem statement contained many parameters and conditions that the children must consider. Students were asked to think about their decision-making process using this knowledge. Group 5 spent more time on discussing the task prior to construction, and the students questioned their knowledge more often during the construction process. Pupils in Group 5 were also required to apply prior technological knowledge, which included structural corestructural principles and concepts.

The research also revealed that pupils who were able

to solve a well-defined technological problem were more likely to demonstrate proactive management, contextual connections, and procedural knowledge. Unlike traditional ‘applied science’ views of technology, the study found that these attributes are essential for effective problem-solving. While not directly related to the development of technological knowledge, these findings can help teachers and educational researchers apply these principles in the classroom.

The study found that pupils in Group 5 verbally expressed more knowledge about their task than students in Group 7. This was evident both during and outside of formative discussions with the class teacher. In Group 5, there were fewer instances of incorrect technological knowledge than in Group 7. For example, the pupil in Group 7 tabled nine of the eleven suggestions made by other group members before working with the materials. This led to a fragmented vision and growing disenfranchisement of group members.What Are the Best Uses of Technology in School?

Research also indicates that these programs may improve learning outcomes despite their low-tech nature. However, these studies have limitations, particularly in developing countries. The research is limited in scope, but it does offer promise. In one study, Lai et al. (2013) examined remedial math programs in Shaanxi, China. During four months, students who had previously struggled with mathematics achieved 0.12 SD higher math scores compared to those who did not.

Empowers students to become critical thinkers

The ability to question, think critically, and be engaged in their world are critical skills. Students who learn to become critical thinkers tend to spread that ability quickly among their peers. Once mastered, critical thinking prepares students for a life of purposeful thought and independence. Critical thinking is one of the four C’s of 21st century skills, and while it can work well on its own, it is most powerful when combined with the next skill.

As educators, we must teach our students how to become critical thinkers and problem-solvers. By engaging them in a continuous learning process, we can empower them to apply their knowledge to novel, complex, or open-ended challenges. Then, they can move confidently into new horizons. We must encourage our students to take ownership of their education and provide them with a space to think, question, and explore.

The study objective was to create a web-based program for developing critical thinking skills among students, while recognizing the relevance of 21st century social changes. As part of this study, we conducted a knowledge-based analysis of relevant knowledge from high-quality resources pertaining to 21st century skills development. The findings of this study have significant implications for the development of critical thinking skills among students, as well as for educators.What Are the Best Uses of Technology in School?