Do you know how new technologies are used in education?
Technology has become an important tool in education and according to the IV Study on the use of technology in the classroom, 73% of respondents say they use ICTs in their classes every day.
From the mentioned report, data such as the following also stands out:
The most used device by students is the digital blackboard together with projectors, followed by laptops and PCs.
Among the most important challenges for the introduction of technology in the classroom are teacher training with 44%, connectivity problems with 37% and the lack of sufficient devices for all students and/or teachers.
30% of those surveyed said that they had received training in the use of ICT from their school, but not enough.
54% of those surveyed stated that the relationship between the use of technology and the increase in motivation among students is high.
In short, we are witnessing a change in the way of teaching and learning that is adapted to the technological environment in which we live and that represents an important change for children.
What are the new technologies?
Although we all hear about new technologies almost every day, many times we are not clear about exactly what they are despite using them every day on the cell phone, the computer or the TV.
New technologies can be defined as a series of novelties in technological tools such as programs or applications, which are applied in communication.
New technologies in education bring advantages such as:
- Increased motivation. Children who attend school today are often digital natives so they use technology in their daily lives. One way to connect with this digital generation is to use new technologies that make each subject attractive and attention grabbing. This will improve performance and increase motivation.
- More interaction. Technology favors the interaction of students among themselves and with teachers. This means that they can give opinions, express themselves more easily and give their point of view.
- Teamwork. The new technologies in education encourage teamwork to promote values such as cooperation, solidarity, respect, etc.
- Increased creativity. New technologies in education help students to put their innate imagination into action and create new and surprising things.
- Two-way communication. The means of communication that allow the use of new technologies favor a bidirectional communication, that is to say, it is no longer a teacher who teaches his students to listen in silence, it is a mutual learning in which the communication is more fluid.
New technologies in education: what can be applied?
Applying new technologies in education is quite simple, we propose some ideas:
Using virtual reality: Can you imagine a history class in which your students can see up close how they dressed and lived in a certain period? Or a geography class in which students can see a jungle or a desert up close? Virtual reality can have many applications like these in the classroom.
E-book learning. The era of filling the backpack with heavy books of different subjects to attend class has long since ended in many schools, as e-books are used, more accessible and easier for children to use
Creation of a class blog. This is a simple tool that students can use to share information, make reflections or expose some of their projects.
Teaching geography with Google Earth. Google Earth is an excellent tool for teaching geography in the classroom in a fun and very visual way. For example, you can see the geography of the Earth in three dimensions, measure distances between two places or observe an area from different heights. The possibilities are multiple, you just need to experiment.
Use of virtual simulations. It can be more or less simple to explain phenomena like a tsunami, but it is not the same to see an animation of how it is generated and what effects it produces. On the NASA website for children you can find numerous examples of virtual animations to learn about various phenomena.
Launch of a YouTube channel. This social network offers great possibilities for both teachers and students. On the one hand, there are many teachers who have launched their own YouTube channel to teach using one of the most used media by their students. In addition, students can create videos in which they reflect on a subject or expose a particular project.
Formation of work groups on Facebook. When using social networks, care must be taken with the personal profiles of the students, but you can create, for example, private work groups on Facebook so that information exchanges take place and teamwork is encouraged.
Internet access. Using the internet in the classroom opens up a world of possibilities for children. For example, it could allow children living in inaccessible places to attend school online or help children access information.
