Technology in Schools

First Posted: Sep 28, 2020 11:45 AM EDT
Close
Technology in Schools

(Photo : pixabay)

Technology in classrooms creates opportunities for even more meaningful work, increased student engagement, and helps foster skills that students will need in the 21st century. There are currently countless tech resources available that make learning more fun, engaging, and productive. Classroom technology changes rapidly and significantly, so staying up to date on how to incorporate technology in the classroom is crucial.

Technology can excite students and open doors to new learning opportunities in the 21st century. At the Western International School of Shanghai (WISS), an international school in Shanghai, China, technology is used in incredible ways. Students have access to a 3D printing lab in their graphic design courses, state-of-the-art video shooting and editing technology for their film courses, virtual reality in some classrooms, and robotics afterschool activities.

Technology in the classroom can bring students' ideas and learning to life. It also helps make the learning environment meaningful and fun. Students can interact using tech with their classmates and teachers, strengthening their relationships

"In MYP Design, students consider design situations that encourage new solutions to real-life problems.  For example, our Grade 7 students are contemplating how travel may need to change during a global pandemic. They are narrowing this topic to focus on a particular time, place, and audience, and then will use CAD (Computer Assisted Design) to create a new solution. For example, one student may create a new and improved mask for the Shanghai Metro, while another may redesign an economy class airplane cabin seat to maximize safety," said Mr. Paul Mattheson, Secondary Design Teacher.

After school programs centered around technology, such as the WISS Primary and Secondary after school robotics clubs, give students the tools and skills that transfer into the classroom environment. Robotics at WISS teaches children as young as age 7 (Grade 2) the basics of coding, robotics, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Teaching through robotics platforms such as VEX, Arduino, and Lego allow computer programming to come to life - students can see their instructions translate to movement, and their sensor data be deciphered and acted upon. WISS uses 3D modeling applications, including TinkerCAD, Google Sketchup, and Fusion 360, to allow our students to 3D print prototypes of products related to sustainability, accessibility, and business.

"Technology brings many benefits to the classroom. It has the power to bring collaboration to life and allows students to reach out beyond the walls of their classroom. It allows students to engage with adaptive learning environments that let them progress at their own pace. It drives student engagement through interactive content and simulations. It helps prepare students for a world ever more dependent on technology-related skills and the digitization of many jobs." shared Phil Smith, Head of Design at WISS.

In the Design Department, students have access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and industry-standard applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Autodesk Fusion 360. They use these tools to engage in the design cycle, ultimately creating products that solve problems and learn to think like designers.

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, there are also opportunities to use standard technologies in the classroom to make ordinary tasks novel and more exciting. Educators are tasked with the critical job of showing students that technology - in the broad view - is a set of tools that can make tasks more manageable and can be used to make mundane and daily classroom routines and assignments more interesting. For example, cloud technologies allow us to collaborate in exciting ways, accessing files synchronously, and from any internet connection in the world.

Nadya Faqir, a Primary teacher at WISS, recognizes the value of technology in the classroom and how it can aid in different learning situations. "It helps motivate, differentiate instruction, and support students with different learning needs. For instance, E-books such as the ones available in Raz-Kids and Tumblebooks that have voice output and highlight the word for the child can improve receptive language. Math apps such as Mathletics, Prodigy Math, and others increase student motivation and, consequently, enhance learning." said Faqir.

The role COVID-19 has played in education has made technology in classrooms even more relevant. During COVID-19, technology became more important and was used in powerful ways. Schools worldwide, including WISS, quickly had to adapt to provide instruction online. Tech allowed schools to create virtual classroom environments.

Although the students at WISS have returned to their physical classrooms, technology still plays a vital role in overcoming the challenges of living in a COVID world. Faqir is using virtual reality with her young students. Faqir said, "Due to the COVID pandemic, this academic year, we might not be allowed to go on field trips. VR can help us solve this problem. With VR, our students will explore the world beyond the classroom walls."

There are countless reasons why technology is not only beneficial but also essential in the classroom setting. From integrating technology for daily assignments to finding cutting-edge, creative application, teachers can indeed find a way tech can work for them and their students.

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

©2017 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of scienceworldreport.com

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics