Ways to Incorporate Technology into the Classroom

It’s hard to imagine education without technology these days. Between computers and calculators, we’ve come a long way from the abacus.

The progression of classroom technology has accelerated since the turn of the century. In the early 2000s, the overhead projector was a popular way for teachers to project their notes onto a whiteboard. Now, technology is finding all sorts of ways to help assist kids in the quest for knowledge. Here are a few popular ways teachers are using technology.

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Microsoft PowerPoint
Although it’s a relatively old software, Microsoft PowerPoint is an extremely effective way to present a creative and fun lesson. While some teachers use it just to display text in black and white font, other teachers are utilizing its animations and pictures to help make learning fun. From Kindergarten to grad school, teachers and professors love using PowerPoint to assist their lessons and lectures.

Electronic Whiteboard
An electronic whiteboard (or interactive whiteboard) is an interactive computer display that allows people to control its functions using a finger, stylus, or marker. On some models, there are different markers that correspond with different colors, and you can use these to write notes or draw pictures. Plus, you can run software such as Microsoft Powerpoint and display websites on the electronic whiteboard.

Keyboarding
Keyboarding is a skill that is extremely marketable. Good typing skills are an important way to ensure you are completing assignments at maximum efficiency. This skill translates well to higher education, especially in fast pace lectures. Effective note taking is imperative to excelling in the collegiate and post-graduate learning environments.

Educational Podcasts
Podcasts provide an excellent way for teachers to present educational material. Simply googling “educational podcasts” will reveal a plethora of useful material that can be implemented in the classroom. NPR and TED Talks are two popular educational podcasts that can provide a lot of good insight on certain disciplines. The list doesn’t stop there; several other podcasts exist that can help assist nearly any curriculum.

Webquest
Sending students on webquests involves them searching the web for certain materials. This will help build the foundation for their researching and Internet skills. For example, you could assign the students as museum curators, and have them research information on dinosaurs. This will give them a brief taste of Internet research.