5 Reasons Technology Should be in your Classroom
Gone are the days when technology was dreaded; when the computer science laboratory was feared. Today, children encounter technology at a young age—many taking their first selfies at two; others handling the remote control at three; some more handling a tablet at four. So, why not use this “nativity” into technology to your advantage?
Let us tell you five reasons why technology should be in your classroom.
Technology is Changing Education
Move over black board, welcome smart boards. Move over dictating, welcome soft copies of notes. Move away description of processes like digestion, welcome display of a video. Technology is no longer restricted to Computer Science classes.
Case in point, the Skool Media Personal Educational Tablets comes with a wealth of textbooks, videos and illustrations that make topics easier to understand. These educational materials can be taken beyond the classroom; thus, learning can now take place outside the four walls of a classroom. It can take place anywhere, anytime, even when you are in the toilet.
The Rise of the “New Teacher”
Beyond your degree in education, it is now more and more important to be technology savvy. Why? That is the world trend in education now. If learning is about acquiring new knowledge, it is no longer sufficient to use lesson notes that were used to teach you in secondary school to teach students today. The world has changed since then. It is still changing.
The new teacher can plan his classes ahead of time. His lesson notes are in soft copy. He is not the Alpha and Omega of knowledge but one who is also willing to learn from their students. The new teacher moves with the times. The new teacher is equipped not only with knowledge but relevant knowledge. Equipping your school with technology is upgrading your teachers to be 21st century compliant.
The Birth of the “New Student”
Students are no longer those docile uninformed pupils who lap up everything that the teacher says. Many children are now raised to ask questions. This comes from a place of being inquisitive, not to undermine the teacher’s knowledge. With technology in classrooms, students now have access to their lesson notes in soft copies. They can read ahead of their classes.
With technology, you have students who are less dependent on teachers. Students who can be globally competitive. Students who can fit into any school in the world.
Learning is More Collaborative
Groups can work on assignments together. Projects can be better executed. Even when the school is out of session, learning does not stop. Students can contact their teachers or group members about their progress on projects.
Learning is not only collaborative; it is hands-on. “Hands-on” does not mean writing hands on paper but class activities enhanced by technology. School is a good time to learn team work. This would be useful in future. Two heads are better than one. Now imagine two brilliant heads brought together by technology? They will change the world.
The Death of Textbooks? Long live Textbooks!
Many Nigerian students go to school burdened under the heavy weight of textbooks. Their backs begin to slouch at a young age. Many complain of nagging backaches. These pains can now be avoided.
Textbooks can now come as e-books, all loaded on a laptop or a Personal Educational Tablet. Backaches gone. Educational content does not only have to be books; there are videos and illustrations which can make learning more memorable.
A world without textbooks is not a world without knowledge. Only a world rid of more environmental waste. Textbooks, and all books are made from trees. What becomes of them when they are no longer in use? Many burn them contributing to environmental pollution.
So technology is like using one stone to kill two birds—makes going to school more comfortable; makes the environment safer.
Skool Media is an initiative that redefines education with technology. We transform the learning experience, making it more engaging and in line with the growing demands of the the 21st Century. We promote increased use of technology for learning, grounded in evidence of impact and global practices.
Contact the Skool Media team: 0807 410 2448, [email protected]