Rationale for Using Technology in the Classroom
There is an overwhelming need for education to be reformed. Its relevance is being questioned, by teachers and students alike. So, in an age where technology is evident every second of every day, how do we use it to change HOW we teach our students? The need for meaningful technology in the classroom is increasing. With students bringing their own devices to school, teachers are trying to stay current with the trends of how students best learn. One new trend that has arisen recently is the BYOD policy that has been adopted by approximately 60% of school boards in Ontario, according to a 2014 article in the The Toronto Star, whereby students are allowed to bring their electronic devices to school for use in the classroom. Now, teachers are struggling to put those devices to good use by providing meaningful activities that are connected to the Ontario curriculum.
One question teachers often ask is how do we make learning meaningful and relevant to the world that these students live in today? Just using technology is not going to do it. The tasks have to be meaningful and relevant both inside and outside of the school. There has been discussion and experimentation around "flipping classrooms" whereby students watch a video lesson at home and come to school to do their written work and get one-on-one assistance from the teacher. However, access to internet at home is not always possible. So, the question remains, how can teachers bring technology into the classroom effectively and with meaningful purpose?
In Ontario, achievement is broken down in to four main categories; Knowledge & Understanding, Thinking, Communication and Application. This website will examine those categories along with common evaluation and assessment techniques that are currently used in a regular classroom and provide meaningful and relevant technology alternatives to traditional activities.
One question teachers often ask is how do we make learning meaningful and relevant to the world that these students live in today? Just using technology is not going to do it. The tasks have to be meaningful and relevant both inside and outside of the school. There has been discussion and experimentation around "flipping classrooms" whereby students watch a video lesson at home and come to school to do their written work and get one-on-one assistance from the teacher. However, access to internet at home is not always possible. So, the question remains, how can teachers bring technology into the classroom effectively and with meaningful purpose?
In Ontario, achievement is broken down in to four main categories; Knowledge & Understanding, Thinking, Communication and Application. This website will examine those categories along with common evaluation and assessment techniques that are currently used in a regular classroom and provide meaningful and relevant technology alternatives to traditional activities.
In an age of where students are inundated with technology and social media it is important that we foster digital citizenship and teach them to feed their creativity forward.
"Create more than you consume"
"Create more than you consume"