The first part of this blog, (posted last week), showed how digital tools are being introduced into the classroom by combining technology and digital resources.
These tools have not been developed to drastically change the way teachers teach, but rather, to help streamline some of the time-consuming processes they face by giving teachers more time to experiment with new and innovative teaching practices.
Previously, collaborating with fellow teachers was nigh impossible. Aside from the typical ‘workshop’ or ‘professional Development’ sessions, there was no instrumental or direct collaborative efforts made to improve curriculums and teaching practices.
Now however, teachers can work together more effectively with cloud-based tools, whether they are on-campus or off-campus. This is made possible with document creation tools such as Google Drive, SmartBinder as well as Twitter and other teacher/educational complementary digital tools.
Instructional but innovative practices can only flourish when teachers have an accurate understanding of student progress and engagement, as well as essential support from fellow teachers. It is therefore, not a surprise that more and more institutions, are adopting and progressing to new but innovative classroom approaches. The ‘Flipped-Classroom’ movement, (delivering lessons to students at home), has enabled educators to create and put into effect, challenging and exciting activities in the classroom, some of which include;
Student Centred Learning: this approach encourages students to find answers and achieve goals successfully in their own way. It also helps them build self-confidence and boost their interactive abilities too.
Project Based Learning: helps students to practice living and working in the real world post learning/classroom years. Project based learning can involve activities such as, task delegation, team work and collaboration skills. Essential tools for surviving in the real world.
It is worth appreciating that one of the most influential developments that has come about as a result of digital instruction in educational establishments, is that it provides teachers with an accurate understanding of students learning needs and progress.
Being able to manage student engagement and tracking progress standards in real-time, help teachers make prompt and targeted decisions to help improve individual students’ learning. Teachers do sometimes have insight into student progress, but only good data can make them better by allowing them the opportunity to bridge all critical gaps in a students learning before assessments. Digital instruction is therefore, definitely a huge enhancement tool in today’s education systems.
NOW is the time to ADOPT.
We appreciate that teachers/educators may have had negative experiences in the past, due to slow, dull and sometimes, very difficult to work software systems. However, the new digital instruction movement is nevertheless, here to stay and it should be embraced by all teachers, regardless of their past experiences. Digital instructions movement most central aim is to bring educators efficient and time saving tools, giving freedom of time and movement to help good teachers do better by educating their students in more creative, balanced and innovative ways.
Written by Gayle Thomson @SwoopStudios
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