Opinion: Technology helping engage learners

We’ve written about technology in education before. It’s a topic that often takes a prominent role in educational conversations. For example, do we have enough computers for every student? Should students be reading on digital mobile tablets or cell phones, and what are the differences when they do? How do we teach students to conduct research on the Internet, navigating their way to reliable sources?

In trying to prepare students for an unknown future world, it’s likely impossible to teach all the specific skills students will need for jobs not yet existing. Even if our students are heading to more traditional professions, technology permeates those and the ways in which required tasks are accomplished. To address these formidable challenges, today’s educators aim to foster critical thinking and problem solving with students across our curricula; much like the old adage “give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach him to fish, feed him for a lifetime.

Through this shift in perspective, the role of the teacher is gradually moving from the “sage on the stage” to more of a learning facilitator or coach. It becomes more important than ever to adequately engage students in their own learning, and technology can be a great tool for doing just that.

For example, in Mary Ann Collings’ classroom at Marshall Middle School, checking out and using the iPad cart is an exciting learning experience for her Math students. Using “Handouts,” a free, collaborative learning app, she uploads the math content she’s created — whether word-processed or in PDF format — taking advantage of all the features, such as color, shapes, unique designs, for students to access on their individual iPads. “Differentiating instruction” becomes a breeze as students receive their assignments, tailored to them, engaging and challenging them just enough. A simple “save” button submits the assignment to the teacher who then grades and types comments on the digital content, making teacher comments available to the student. Witnessing first-hand the eagerness with which students were working and responding was amazing, with nary a pencil or piece of paper in sight, at least for this particular learning activity.

Another occasion, I actually heard students begging to learn, using a free interactive app, “Kahoot,” an online tool to administer quizzes, discussions through a response system. With this excited participation of students, seeing is believing.

These are only a couple of tech tools our teachers are using. That’s engaged learning.

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the instructional technology coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools. She can be reached at [email protected]