Instructional Strategies and Technology

What is one of the most important tools used in classrooms across America? In one word, Technology. When I think of how teachers shared information during my elementary, middle, and high school years, I remember using a  textbook and quite a bit of workbooks as well as handouts. Today, these same tools are still used, but do they gain the interest of students and guarantee that the students of the 21^st century are learning quality and meaningful information that they can used in the today’s technological world? This blog will be a means of sharing how technology plays a significant role in the classroom based on research and collaboration with like-minded educators in my graduate studies class.

Today, the students of the 21^st century are being introduced to a wealth of information at the click of button. They are being taught and entertained in ways that my parents and even my siblings could have never imagined. As educators, we must be able to reach our students and create life long learners by preparing interesting, meaningful, and thought-provoking lessons that they can use in the future. Using one strategy will not produce great minds like Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, or Marie Curie. We must realize that in today’s society, we have various types of learners and the strategies and methods we use must vary as well. Although lecturing is a common way to share information, many students need more hands-on and critical thinking activities in order to gain knowledge.

Direct Instruction, like lecturing or drill and practice activities, is great for introducing a new topic or skill. But how can today’s teacher ensure that the students have actually grasped the information without simply memorizing the information? Whether the experience is independent or working with a partner or group, we must ensure that students understand what is being taught and why it is important in the real world. Using strategies like portfolios, collaborative learning groups, debating, problem solving activities, and even reflective journal writings could be used to ensure that the students are actively participating and critically thinking.  Incorporating technology in these types of lessons would utilize various types of media, such as text, audio, visuals, video, manipulatives (objects), and people, which would help to facilitate communication and learning.

Technology and media can help teachers become creative managers of the learning experience instead of merely dispensers of information. With the use of tablets, such as the I-pad, notebooks, and desktop computers, students can learn, be assessed, and given feedback in a matter of minutes. This allows the teacher to better prepare lessons and activities that are truly meaningful and helpful by going at the student’s pace.