My Best Discussion

A modern world of technology in the classroom.
How can technology enhance teaching and learning in the classroom?
The olden days when classroom teaching only meant blackboards, chalks, diagrams, maps and so on are gone. But now the modern classroom is very much different than those, now classrooms have adapted to the modern world of digital technology.
Educators are taking resort to the modern technology to enhance the interest of the students and to engage them in educational activities that will interest them to learn more, by doing this they have incorporated the technology of mobile devices and SMART classroom designs to engage the tech savvy generation of today.
Technology provides tools for active learning, among others—it is a means, not an end. Integrating technology into our pedagogy conjures reflection on our part as educators about moving away from the ways things have been done, to imagining the ways things ought to be done. How to make lessons more relevant, applied, practical, collaborative, connected, multidisciplinary, etc.
Technology can support and enhance your teaching and student learning in three central ways:

1. It can expand the scope of classroom learning beyond the physical boundaries of the classroom (and also beyond inclusion of only teacher and learners)
2. It can expand accessibility of, and engagement with, content and information
3. It can expand the ways learners can demonstrate what they have learned

Suggest ways in which technology can be used to improve reading and writing in the classroom.

There are a few techniques incorporated into the teaching process which support this venture:

• The Audio- Visual Media: Visual representation is always more appealing, especially with kids. With the boring black and white typography replaced or better complemented with the moving colourful objects and audio to make a learner listen, they will remember it better than just merely reading the text. Modern educators are using this audio-visual media instead of just text book learning. This helps learners learn faster and remember more than they used to with just reading a textbook. In addition, YouTube, the streaming media platform is providing a specialized channel designed for education where one can find the learning materials as well, this is also helpful as it incorporates a learner’s normal internet streaming to their learning area.
• Use of Mobile Devices: Now in many schools, learners are provided with mobile devices like laptops, tablets and iPads which enhance the experience of education. Students can access net, read online materials and e-books, this helps the learner in faster learning process. Learners can access Educational applications through these devices which provides video lessons as well as a public directory of lessons to browse through.
• Online Conversation with Experts from Outside: by having access to outside the classroom material learners are able to engage in conversations about their learning subject which is a great boost as it enhances also in understanding as there are able to gain more details on how to work out a subject without only relying on the teacher. Through online virtual platform and video chats learners can converse with the experts of the field, no matter in which part of the world they are. As all educator will agree that the interactive education helps a student more than the teaching. And if learners get the opportunity to take part in active interaction with the experts that will be extremely beneficial for them.
• SMART Classroom Technology: SMART classroom technology means the collaboration of SMART board and the other devices and workstations that will help to boost the classroom activities. Learners will be able to work individually as well as by forming separate groups. The technology not only will contribute to the advancement of the learning process but to engage learners in group activities and educational activities as well.
• Classroom Management: While investing on the modern technology to enhance learning experience, the authority of the institution should also take a note of the classroom management. When SMART classroom and mobile devices are used in the classroom, the authority needs to make sure the proper software of effective classroom management is at place. It will guarantee that the devices and technology are being used to enhance the learning in the classroom.

• Technology Empowers the Teacher in Actuality: Before shunning the use of technology, teachers needs to realize that the technology actually does empower them. The vast platform of social media like Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler enable teachers to have better interaction with learners, both online and offline format. Educator can use the mobile apps to grade, evaluate the performance of the learners. It can also provide the database tom plan the lesson for the session.
• Passive education can't help anyone, it is already proven. And in the digital era that we are living in, the younger generation is becoming more and more tech savvy. For their betterment we can always fuse learning with technology. It will not only help the students but will be beneficial for teachers as well.