It is amazing as an adult to steer right into a modern-day classroom. They are simply so different from those who work in which we remember learning. The blackboards have substituted for whiteboards, the rulers happen to be replaced by smartphones, and perhaps the teachers are already replaced by robots! Just kidding (for a few of my older readers who may be concerned). But it is quite normal these days to find out classes taught entirely or partially on computers. The amount of learning technologies that have found their way into the classroom is amazing. And they have helped facilitate teaching and student learning during the last decade. Some of these educational technologies are class websites, mobile devices, podcasts, and e-learning products.
Class Websites
Class websites make a perfect and easy way for teachers to facilitate online learning. While traditional courses are still held, teachers have the opportunity to create additional educational material and even homework assignments on-line. In many cases, a college will allow students to consider all their courses simultaneously, over a site such as Blackboard. This helps students manage heavy course loads and manage all of their curriculum, resources, and assignments. The lesson plans from class could be conveniently obtainable.
Mobile Devices For Classroom
Mobile devices are already useful classroom resources because of the invention of clickers and smartphones. Clickers help facilitate PowerPoint presentations which teachers often use on their benefit. Instead of writing notes on the blackboard while they teach the course, teachers can prepare their lesson plans beforehand and click on through notes and diagrams as they lecture. Smartphones, for example, the iPhone along with the Droid are simple to bring in a class and can house information, diagrams, as well as other tools that could be ideal for student learning.
Podcasts are a cool new means for teachers to succeed in students remotely. Needing only a computer, microphone, as well as a web connection, educators can post videos or audio recordings of their lesson plans. This is an incredible tool for distance learning, or whenever a student struggles to make a class. Many teachers make an audio recording of every one of these traditional classes and post these online later for college kids to re-watch.
E-learning
E-learning will be the new trend in educational technology. It is when students use computers to find out, typically accessing online curriculum resources from the internet, cloud computing, or software. Using e-learning technology, entire classes may be taught without ever meeting in a traditional classroom. While this is great for distance learning, many topics such as healthcare education and business education require face to face instruction. Educators are creating a hybrid between traditional learning and e-learning called blended learning, which enables these to reap time management and engagement benefits of online learning while still providing personal instruction.
