There are all kinds of opinions on technology in the classroom. And regardless of what our opinions are, technology in the classroom is here to stay.
Not only is it here to stay, it is also going to be completely changing life in our classrooms. And in spite of any drawbacks of problems that causes, it is actually a really good thing overall.
Technology today helps our students learn how to function in a highly technological world. And the sooner and better we teach it to them in the home and at school, the better they will function as adults in society worldwide.
I have compiled a list of 10 of the relevant articles regarding technology in the classroom. And I also included a little bit about each article so it will be easier for you to reference. Just click on the title of the articles to access the full article.
I hope that you find them all helpful as you try to implement them in your schools and your homes as well.
Table of Contents
1. Why Technology in the Classroom is Necessary
For many years, technology in the classroom was taboo. Teachers, parents, and administrators didn’t want technology to interfere with students’ learning. They felt that integrating technology into the classroom would be too distracting for the students to learn effectively.
But times have changed. Teachers, parents, and administrators now know that technology in the classroom is necessary. Not only is it not distracting–it is an incredible enhancement to education.
So why is technology in the classroom necessary? Because it is the way the world works and the main purpose of school is to teach students what they need to learn to be productive people once they get out of school and into the world.
I did some research into how this plays out in the classroom and came up with the following 12 ways that technology in the classroom has become necessary…
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
2. How Students Feel About Educational Technology
So how do students feel about educational technology? They love it! The vast majority of students have been using technology almost since birth and cannot imagine life, let alone education, without it. But they also talk about some drawbacks they have experienced with educational technology.
In this article, I will talk about what students love about educational technology as well as what they don’t love about it. And then I will finish by talking about what trends they think are on the horizon with educational technology and how they think it will affect their education personally.
I would like to emphasize before we begin, however, that this article is not going to cover the strengths and weaknesses of educational technology. (For some articles covering these topics, I have left some links at the bottom of this article.) It will just be covering how students feel about it and how they feel it affects their education.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
3. What Are Emerging Technologies in Education?
There are tons of emerging technologies in education and every other area of all of our lives. And some of it is absolutely incredible. But some of it is just “extra.”
As teachers, we need to be very discerning about what emerging technologies go into education. It is a wonderful time to be introducing our students to technology. They will be able to use it to navigate a very rich life outside of the classroom. And that makes it a wonderful time for us to help train them to discern what technology is beneficial to us and what we can and should do without.
But what are emerging technologies in education that will help us to teach our students better and more efficiently? In this article, I would like to share some of the best examples of emerging technologies in education. Then we can all use that knowledge to make our classrooms a better place. What a great accomplishment it will be to prepare all of our students to go live their best life!
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
4. Smartest Technology Finds You’ll Love For Your Classroom
Technology abounds all around us. While technology carries some clear disadvantages, it also comes with some amazing advantages. We live in a time that just about all of the world’s information is literally at our fingertips. And that is why technology in the classroom is such a great asset.
Teachers research and plan lessons in a fraction of the time it used to take. They don’t have to go to the library to do it. They usually get everything they need outside of the textbook material done online–even the shopping! Students get research projects done in class or at home without being limited by library hours or transportation. Well…when they are doing those assignments (insert cheeky grin here).
But unfortunately, it can also prove treacherous to wade through, especially when younger people are involved. For all of the great resources you can find online, there remain some scary places they can get to as well, often not even intentionally.
So I made this list to help you to implement some of the smartest technology finds in the safest ways for your best classroom results.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
5. Creative Ways to Integrate Technology into Lesson Plans
Sometimes it can feel difficult and frustrating to try to think about ways to integrate technology into lesson plans and every other aspect of school life.
Classroom life has certainly become more complicated than it was 50 years ago. Back then, the beginning of a class could be as simple as telling the students what page to turn to in their books. Or it could have been passing out the quiz or test they were taking. In the 70’s, technology consisted of overhead projectors, tape recorders, and the TI Graphing Calculator.
It is mind-boggling to see how much technology has changed since then. And sometimes, it is just as mind-boggling to figure out how to best integrate it into the classroom. On the one hand, you don’t want too much–kids are already tech-saturated in all areas of life. But on the other hand, you also don’t want too little–it’s a great way to acclimate your students to new and different forms of tech. Learning it by watching it work in the classroom is such a natural way to learn. So grab your cup of coffee and read on about some of the best creative ways to integrate technology into your lesson plans.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
6. The Impact of Technology on Literature
Recently, I was waiting for an appointment in a waiting room. I was reading a book–the paper kind. One of the men that worked in the office came out, turned towards me, and just stared for a bit before saying, “Wow, you are actually reading a physical book! I didn’t think people did that anymore.”
That sentiment rings true for a lot of our society today. Books have been replaced by tablets, phones, computers, and any other electronic device that you can put an app on.
But more than a few of us still exist that would rather hold a book than a tablet. We would rather turn a page than scroll through. And almost nothing beats the smell of a new book and the feeling of crisp, new, quality pages.
That being said, we can still find plenty of room to allow books and technology to share the stage. Reading a book in a classroom full of kids makes all sorts of magic happen. When you choose the books that kids love and tie in some of their favorite activities, you make history for them. They will remember those lessons and what they read in those books for years to come. And that is what makes technology in the literature world impactful and necessary.
So far, all of this has been written to say that there is an impact of technology on literature. But what we have discussed so far is how technology has not impacted the popularity of books and literature in general. What I would like to focus on now, is actually how technology has impacted and enhanced the world of books.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
7. How to Take Advantage of Tech in the Classroom, Part 1
Because I am historically a homeschool mom, our classroom usually had tons of technology in it, because it had whatever tech we were using at home. It definitely had its advantages. But it also came with some drawbacks. We learned very quickly how to take advantage of tech in the classroom. We also learned very quickly what things we would need to curb in order to keep our days productive.
That being said, regardless of what kind of classroom you are teaching in, there is some amazing tech that you could be using in your classroom to help bring even the most boring lessons to life.
But wait! Isn’t this a literature website? Don’t lovers of literature only read physical books and don’t play video games? Honestly, I do have to admit that I prefer to read actual books over my Kindle. In fact, I haven’t even touched my Kindle in months. But I also love technology when I’m not hating trying to make it work and it’s not sabotaging whatever project I am desperately trying to finish.
So what do we do to take advantage of tech in the classroom? In this first of two articles, I would like to go over eight of the best ways to take advantage of tech that we introduced into our classroom and how you can do the same for free or for a great price.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
8. How to Take Advantage of Tech in the Classroom, Part 2
In this second article addressing how to take advantage of tech in the classroom, I would like to focus on what I have learned about technology that assists teachers in working in the classroom more efficiently.
The first article addressed eight specific items that teachers could use with students. All of those devices were directed towards enriching the students’ experience with what they were learning. In this article, I will talk about eight more technological devices. But this time, my focus will be on helping the teacher gain more productivity and efficiency in the classroom.
There are so many great products out there, from free to affordable to outrageous in price. My list of eight things will barely scratch the surface. And I could have made each one of them into a stand-alone post had I chosen to elaborate further. So if you have something you are using in your classroom that has changed your world, please share with us!
But for now, let’s get to this list…
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
9. Best and Worst Reading Apps for Struggling Readers
Parents and teachers alike have been frustrated at times when every effort to help along a struggling reader has failed.
The student knows all of the rules, knows how to put a sentence together, and is generally good at all of the other points of grammar.
But they just can’t seem to put it all together fast enough when reading, especially orally.
So what is the disconnect? And how do we help them to fix it? There are tons of apps available that can help us to bridge that gap between educational tools and reading fluency. But how do we know which ones are the best and which ones to stay away from?
I did some research on this and found some of the best as well as worst reading apps for struggling readers to become more fluent. The standards I used were to find out which apps were the most fun for the students while still being the most educational in the fastest of methods. Read on to find out what they are.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
10. Perfect Virtual Field Trips
Right now pretty much the whole country is shut down because of Coronavirus. So finding the perfect virtual field trips from around the world is a great idea right now for lots of reasons. But when all of life gets somewhat back to normal, this list is just as effective.
We cannot just take field trips around the world with our students, even when all is right with the world. But we can still expose our students to some of the most amazing places in the world without having to leave the classroom.
So I researched what the top tourist areas are in the United States as well as their corresponding (when possible) top tourist areas in the world and came up with this list.
Following are the top 8 places to visit in America and in the world along with access to the best virtual field trips. Just click on the names of the Attractions to go straight to their official websites for more information.
(To read the rest of this article, click here.)
Conclusion
So this is my list of some of the most relevant articles regarding technology in the classroom. I hope they are able to help you as you navigate through all of the pros and cons of implementing technology in your classroom.
I would love to hear what has worked for you! And also what articles you found especially helpful. Please feel free to comment below.
As a substitute I have got to see all sorts of variation of technology in the classroom. Some teachers take full advantage of the newest programs to help grab at all levels of learning. However I have found that students, mainly middle schoolers do not understand the importance of handwriting essays at times. Or they want to design everything on their computers instead of doing them by hand. I love the use of technology but sometimes I wonder how much is too much.
There is definitely such thing as too much, Ashlyn. You are right. There has to be a balance since we are people and not machines ourselves. We have to be able to function well in the virtual as well as the real world.
Technology plays a big role in the modern world, and it’s so good to get kids educated while they’re young. What are emerging technologies in education is a really timely article and one that everyone should know.
I think technology can be SO GOOD for teaching when used for the right reasons. I can’t imagine all the fun tools that can be used when teaching!
It is definitely a different school world than even a few years ago. I love the way it is changing for the better in spite of some of the drawbacks. As long as we stay conscious of those drawbacks, we will all be good in the end. 🙂
Technology is great. Especially during this time being away from family. We have been able to still video chat without leaving our homes. When it comes to teaching, technology has become a huge thing. We have found some great apps to help our three year old to learn numbers and letters. I want to set him on the right track and be ready for school.
My eight-year-old son is flying through his time tables because of an app he loves. 🙂 I know your three-year-old will do the same! Keep up the good work, Mama!
I agree that technology is always changing and it is here to stay. We need to always search out the positive ways to use it. It is becoming very important now with everyone learning at home.
Technology at this time and age is the in thing. It is a good idea to teach children emerging technological trends in the classroom and at home when they are still young. I have bookmarked this post for future reference. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you for reading, Agnes!
I think it is essential to have technology in the classroom since the world out there is shaped by it. Once you are out of school, you will be exposed to technology so better know how to use it.
Exactly!
We are way behind in Japan with technology in the classroom. You’d think it would be different eh. We are feeling it now with COVID. My kid’s school aren’t offering any sort of online communication or classes because they can’t and the kids have been off since February 27th and will be until at least May 7th. Schools in neighboring cities are using online technology to teach and engage with the kids. I think this awful situation with COVID will be an impetus to many schools to improve their technological abilities. Great resources here, thanks a million. Best, Lynda
It is hard around the world. Even with technology in place in America, parents are burned out trying to keep up with the kids’ school and full time work. Many parents are just saying that they can’t do it all and something needs to give. And honestly, kids are resilient. They will catch up soon enough once things get back to “normal.” And if parents are teaching kids in a more relaxed way (reading to them, everyday discussion), they will learn way more than the textbooks are trying to teach them in dry facts.
I think this out brake showed us how much technology is involved in our daily life. Our kids are born into technology, and parents should understand the generation differences, and guide them to use it properly and safely.
I know my kids like using technology in classrooms. They say it makes work easier and more interesting. Heck, I know I got excited when the giant TV and VCR was wheeled in when I was in school.
Technology is coming into play with my boys. Some of their teachers are having a hard time with it though
I wish we had technology when I was at school, it definitely makes kids more interested into learning. Once people are out of school it becomes easier for them to learn more about technology. You have done a great research and article, thanks for sharing with us!
I can imagine that having supporting devices such as VR helmets can take teaching and learning to a totally different level. Visual is so important when it comes to learning faster.
Very true, Joanna.
using technology to enhance teaching and learning will definitely and prominently assist the educational system.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. My kids have adjusted great to working from home, better than I have! I have one freshman in college, an 8th grader and a 6th grader. They communicate with their teachers and classmates every day with technology. It is amazing.
It’s great to see that we are being encouraged to take advantage of the technology, because first of all, that is really what we should do! 🙂 Thanks for sharing these relevant articles.
Another excellent post! I think technology is vital to the classroom. Kids can learn so much from the use of technology.
Thanks, Nyxie! It’s good to see you around again!
I am also attending my PhD coursework classes virtually. While the initial shift online has created a flurry of chaos, there are benefits to a virtual classroom. However, the reality is that some subjects are much harder to transfer online. A biochemistry or introductory economics lecture is easier to teach virtually than a music or dance class. The creation of a film or theatrical production requires physical bodies in close proximity. The screen creates an emotional remove that makes it difficult to have back-and-forth dialogue between multiple people, and it’s almost impossible to provide thoughtful feedback without feeling like you’re speaking into a void.
You are so right about this, Monidipa! As much as we have seen technology explode, it can never replace humanity. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
This is SO important. We live in a tech-driven society where technology holds a spot front and center in nearly everything that we do. To deny this and fail to include tech in our classrooms would be to rob kids of the experience that they need to thrive in society. However, I firmly believe it’s about finding the right balance. It’s going to be interesting to see how this shifts moving forward after the current online learning requirements as a result of the lockdowns that we are all facing.
I agree with you 100%, Britt! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Technology saves so much time and energy in teaching… Plus, with kids being so different in how they learn, what their interests are, and the learning pace they are comfortable with, there’s so many ways technology can help create a customizable and truly enriching education for each individual! I imagine, if every classroom were technologically advanced, this would free teachers to be able to really focus on helping students that most need help, and no student would slip through the cracks…
It would certainly make great advances toward reaching all of the students. I totally agree with you, Alissa. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I grew up without technology in the classroom and I like that way better. I don’t like how young children are using iPads now.
I think it’s so cool how teachers are able to set up their online learning environments for their students!
Technology plays a big role in the modern world, and it’s so good to get kids educated while they’re young!
Thanks for the detailed article about technology for students in the class room..because it’s going to be necessary in future due to the pandemic.
Now that we cant go outside, technology can help in our education system during this pandemic
This a great resource and a very important one, as well. The landscape of learning is changing. We need to move with the times, and taking full advanatage of technology is a big part of that.
This is a thorough list with the detailed resources. Could be helpful to educators and parents alike.
Love this. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Technology will only get more complex and students need to be engaged with the here and now and prepared for the world that stands before them. We’re counting on these kids to advance it even further!
I honestly don’t understand people who will still say that technology is just not needed in the classroom in order for students to learn and succeed today. This is just burying their heads in the sand and just not getting that, for our kids to have a competitive edge, they need to embrace what the future will be. Technology will only continue to increase and the more we understand that, the more we should build education around that fact. What a great series of resources these articles are.
We’ve had technology in our classrooms since I was a kid (in the 80’s). I don’t see why it would benefit our children to take that away from them.
This is a treasure of helpful tips for teachers! My best friend teaches 2nd graders and would love to evolve her lessons plans to include more technology. Just sent her the link to this great article and some of the sub-articles.
This is such an amazing blog. Great tips for all the teacher5s
Technology is a must in education today. Not only does it facilitate the availability of learning materials, it will be the currency of tomorrows skilled workers and familiarity is essential for success.
true! kids really love technology. and it also shows in my workplace as well. those who are millennials are much work willing and able to adapt to new technology compared to the older ones. i love this post. very meaningful…
I think that the emergence of new technologies I classrooms is great because I think that children should be expose to technologies as it will be part of their life and on.
I think tech is very important for any person in any part of life to have tech included. Great post for any classroom
WOW what an amazing and jam packed guide for sure. so good of you to write this and I bet many people will find this really useful x
I find this very informational, I was watching a program for school children, where research was being carried on the effect of technology on children’s learning, they came up with the conclusion that not including technology into kids learning, is like depriving them the chance to learn effectively.
these all look very helpful and informative. worst reading apps is always a great title that catches the eye.
Technology really is necessary to schools nowadays. And in the internet, you can access almost every answer to your question in just a click.
What a timely piece about tech in the classroom. Children should benefit greatly!
Technology is the basic need of modern teaching, learning and exploring methodologies. Your article on technology in the classroom the guide for teachers and planners. The use of reading Apps, virtual field trips, integrate technology in lesson plans are amazing points, love read it.
There is no way around technology in today’s society and education, I think it is fabulous how teachers are expertly navigating classrooms, students, and technology.
In this digital age, technology really plays a big role in classrooms. Especially now that most are doing online schools, we need the internet and other technologies.
With an increasing emphasis on personalized learning and mobility, using technology in the classroom is a must for schools today!
I love how everything is being innovative. Life can be so easy using gadgets. And kids will love interactive activities at school.
This is super helpful. Especially since I think we’ll need technology even more for the upcoming school year.
Technology is vital to teaching learning process. Just like we nerd it to run most things this days even day to day communication; education needs it more.
Great post.
Technology in the classroom is absolutely imperative! I don’t even know what some of my classes in grade school without it would have looked like.
I agree, Hannah. Technology done right is absolutely necessary in today’s world.
True technology became necessary in school
It is incredible
The student leaves his phone or electronic board at home
He studies fluidity in school
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This is an awesome resource. Technology is moving forward faster and faster every day, and it’s important for schools and teachers to move with it.
With the speed of technology advancement, changing with the times is key. It makes teaching more effective and it keeps the kids engaged. Great post.
I belong to a generation (despite being “only” from 1988) in which technology was used very little and that little was really the minimum!
Great article ! However, I like the idea of teachers and technology rather than teachers or technology. This is because it is widely agreed that technology has revolutionized how teachers teach and how pupils learn.
Awesome article. Technology should be part of every classroom! I am a big fan of trying new ways to draw my students attention to new technologies.
This is such an important article. Technology is absolutely vital in the classroom, but a lot of schools aren’t embracing it as much as they should. I feel like some of that is probably due to budget issues, though.
Technology in the classroom is needed more now than ever. It is so great that we have advanced far enough to even have these types of capabilities.
One of my friends who is a teacher talks to me about this all the time. I definitely think its needed in the classroom.
technology has come a long way since i was a child. i remember we’d all rush for the 3 computers that we had in the computer lab w/ color monitors 😀 everything else had the green screens. and do kids even know what dial-up is anymore? LOL. the big technology when I was in school was the overhead projector.
You do have a points here. But there’s always a bad effects for technologies in school, they get destructed by it. But the point here is, technology is indeed very helpful in class, its makes the class more convenient. So yeah, good post.
With the right balance, technology in the classroom is beneficial. There are so many advancements in technology that we can take advantage of.
This is really helpful! Thank you! I totally agree that technology is now a need in the classroom. It also adds fun for kids while learning.
Very informative read. In fact due to technology my son has learnt bit of coding and usage of powerpoint a lot. But the only problem is he gets distracted often due to the online school sessions.
It is so important to mix the classroom with technology. This was extremely informative and it had points that I didn’t think about before.
Kileen
cute & little
I honestly envy kids these days because they can utilize a lot of technology in their education. It was only during college that laptops and the internet started gaining popularity here. So prior to that, research for us then means going to the library and actually browsing through catalogs to find for answers haha! But I’m glad to experience that! 🙂 It makes you appreciate technology even more.
I’ve found that technology for tertiary education has been a blessing. There was very minimal that needed to be done to adjust my classes to the online space. I do understand the challenges that come with remote learning though. I have some mature-aged students and colleagues who have really struggled. And students who had a hard time with time management are struggling even more now.
These articles are so helpful! My friend who is a teacher can benefit from this. I’ll share it to her.
Educational tech is a great way to get kids on board in a digital format that they understand for sure. x
This is definitely the future of learning. We are already virtual learning and they may not ever go away this might stay.
Yes, there will always be significant need. I do hope that we get back to learning in person soon. It is so much better for human interaction. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Lily!