GET ON BOARD, TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM IS IN
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The bells are ringing, it’s time to get to class, a new school year is upon us. And with a new school year comes fresh opportunities for students, teachers, and parents.
We want students to actively participate in their education, and not reluctantly drag their heels to school every morning. Educators are always throwing around the buzzword - engagement. How do we keep students engaged? How do we drive engagement?
Well, what seems to soak up children’s attention for hours on end? Technology. Current generations of students are digital natives, they have been born and raised with technology at their fingertips, and they thrive in a digital environment. In my experience as a teacher, kids want to use technology as much as possible, and educators should indulge this interest.
WHAT CONTENT DO KIDS WANT TO SEE?
Parents and teachers complain that kids spend too much time mindlessly scrolling. Devices keep children engaged, but often staring at the wrong content.
How do we get them staring at the right content, things that pique their curiosity and teach them valuable lessons? The trick is that students want to learn relevant to their world, they want some ownership in their education. And today, their world is online. Content from around the globe is streaming in at their fingertips all day every day - and they are fascinated by it! Kids want to learn about the world and the people in it, where they come from, the languages they speak, the dances they do, what they eat for lunch, what music they like, what games they play?!
A good learning tool feeds social curiosity, while teaching life skills.
KIDS LIKE TECHNOLOGY, WORK WITH IT, NOT AGAINST IT
Each morning, kids will be filing into classrooms with phones in their pockets and devices in their school bags. We ought to let them use them, but guide them to the right content. I regularly utilized online content to liven my teaching, and having reliable, engaging, and fun digital learning tools revitalizes the learning energy.
One app that naturally feeds students’ curiosity is Moi Panda. The social learning app connects children and families to other cultures around the world, opening their eyes to the mysteries and wonders of other cultures. The app can be used in the classroom to support a humanities lesson and help students develop social skills, and at-home with the family to strengthen the family bond.
Just because students are on their devices, doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged in meaningful learning. Moi Panda is just one example of how technology can enhance the student experience. Students want to learn about the world, let’s use/find apps that help them do this the correct way.
FIND TOOLS FOR YOUR CHILD’S TOOLKIT
Earlier this year I was afforded the opportunity to attend BETT UK, an EdTech Conference in London, England. There, I had the chance to speak with other teachers and industry leaders about cutting-edge classroom technology and potential applications both in-class and at-home. Check out what industry experts had to say by reading At-Home Or In-Class, Educators Talk Moi Panda.
Parents and teachers, get on board, technology is in the classroom, and it is here to stay, so expand your arsenal of learning tools. Explore new resources and apps that can assist with learning. Education doesn’t stop when the bell goes, and the classroom walls are no longer a limitation. The world is a big place, this school year, let’s equip our students with every digital tool to explore it.
The first new tool added to your toolkit this year could be Moi Panda. Sign up on the Try Now page of our website to give it a try.
Brandon Collier, Former Science Teacher
