Using Technology Effectively
Technology in the classroom has been a boon for many teachers, but for combination class teachers, technology has been a lifesaver. Whether you are teaching in a one-to-one classroom with iPads or Chromebooks, or if you just have enough devices for a small group of students, technology allows for increased differentiation in an already wider ability span of students.
So, how do you use technology effectively? The ultimate goal of technology use in the classroom is to improve student learning outcomes. With that in mind, here are some things you will need to consider when using tech in your classroom: |
- Keeping students on task
2. Ease of use for the teacher
Explore the layout of the teacher-side of any program. Can you find what you’re looking for? Does the program offer reports that are valuable to you or your students’ parents? If you are considering paying for a subscription to a program, try before you buy. Many paid programs have free trial periods that will give you an idea if it will benefit your students.
3. Differentiation
Does the program offer individualized instruction? Can you assign practice based on a student’s needs? The option to differentiate with technology is especially valuable in math and language arts.
If you’re just getting started with devices in your classroom, start small. There are a multitude of programs online -- both free and paid -- to choose from. Some of our favorites are listed below.
For Language Arts
- A great option for spelling is SpellingCity.com. Teachers can use to make separate lists by grade level or by individual level.
- For independent reading, ReadWorks, Newsela, and FrontRow offer reading practice. ReadWorks is free and Newsela and FrontRow have free and premium options.
For Math
- Khan Academy is free and offers individualized instruction.
- FrontRow also offers individualized math instruction with paid and free options.
For Social Studies
- iCivics offers lessons and online games for students to learn about different levels of government.
This is just a small sampling of what is available, but these are all programs we’ve used successfully in our classrooms.