urse, as traditional reader myself, I realize that there is no great substitute for a physical book. But in the case of the ability of technology to store huge amounts of information, technology earns its place in the school setting.
While I realize we can’t practically remove all textbooks from the classroom, or even a large number of them, there are things that teachers can do to help alleviate the carrying books around problem.
Some Great Solutions
The first thing they can do is make their homework not dependent on bringing home their textbooks. If they only need their binder or folder for paper homework, it helps a huge amount. Carrying around six or seven folders is way less work and stress on their bodies than carrying around six or seven textbooks.
Another great option is to keep a place in the classroom for everybody’s textbook. Even if you have several classes that meet throughout the day, having a space for those books prevents students from having to carry them around all day for that one class.
A third option would be worksheets that they can fill out online. Then they can do them at home without having to carry anything home. There are lots of different computer apps that allow you, students, and parents to access the material online. I am planning to do an article regarding this sometime in the near future.
7. Technology Helps Keep the Students Engaged With What They are Learning
Technology can help teachers to reinforce what they are teaching their students because most methods of technology are simply more memorable.
Technology appeals to multiple senses at once, which is a great way to learn things. So when the students are introduced to something in the classroom and it is followed up with activities that liven their senses, they can’t help but learn.
Of course, some students will respond better to some methods than others. But it is still universally true in the learning arena. Studies have proven that the more variety there is in learning, the more students are reached.
To read more about this, check out my article about the different ways children learn, click here.
And the bottom line is that technology tends to hold our students’ attention longer than classroom lectures or reading much of the time. Once in a while we have a dynamic teaching session or read a book that keeps the kids on the edge of their seat. And for teachers that are really engaged with their students, this happens more often than not.
But the reinforcement of material learned with technology is still one of the best ways to drive a lesson home. Even after the dynamic lesson or amazing chapter of the book.
8. Technology Makes the Teacher’s Job Easier and More Relevant
Why is this the case? Because since we know technology is the language that the whole world speaks, we know that it also has an almost unlimited amount of resources that teachers can use without having to reinvent the wheel.
Sometimes it takes a bit to think outside the box and come up with creative ideas for tying the technology to the classroom lessons. But other times, it flies right out from their computer screen. And honestly, the more teachers get used to implementing technology into their program, the easier and quicker it becomes for them to find the perfect ways to reinforce their lessons and keep the students engaged.
And many times when teachers feel they have exhausted every avenue of creativity, there are programs out there that do the thinking and planning for them. All they need to do is look through those programs and choose what they want to do for that day, week, unit, or whatever it is they are planning.
Thinking back to before technology, teachers coming up with something new all the time would not have even been possible. The advent of technology in the classroom has truly opened up a new world. And it has allowed teachers to teach more effectively and relevantly than ever before.
9. Technology Saves Time in the Classroom
Is there anything faster than the internet? Maybe the speed of light? Maybe even the speed of sound. Actually, I’m not sure ab