These days teachers are required to make use of various technologies as they strive to shape the young minds of tomorrow. But what technologies are becoming increasingly commonplace both in the classroom and to help continue the education process when the students aren’t in class? Here are five technologies that teachers make use of both in and out of the classroom to help the education process.
Laptops
Yes, a lot of schools will provide an educator with a desktop computer, but laptops are quickly becoming the preferred computing technology for teachers because it allows them to easily take their work with them between home and school and can even facilitate the learning process outside of the confines of a classroom. The ability to stream video and other media from a laptop also makes them a desirable option as it can limit the number of devices needed in the classroom which can save the school money in the long run by consolidating devices.
Email has been around for a while now, but with the ready availability of free email addresses it’s easier than ever for teachers to provide their students with an email address that was created purely for the students. This can allow students to ask their teachers questions regarding assignments or other issues during off hours and can even help facilitate communication between teachers and students that may be too embarrassed to ask certain questions in class or face to face at all.
Blogging Software
Blogging technology is becoming an increasingly popular way of having students work on collaborative projects together while still giving the teacher the control necessary to ensure that the students are acting responsibly in the digital world. Blogs are also popular for teachers that instruct writing or art as they can provide a permanent digital portfolio for the students.
Instant Messaging
Much like email, instant messaging software allows the teachers to be available to their students for questions and concerns during off hours. Many instant messaging programs also allow for chat room functions, allowing students and teachers to have conversations in groups much like a discussion board. This can be helpful when having all of the students in one place isn’t an option or to teach certain lessons about written versus spoken communication and language. By providing the students with an exclusive screen name the teacher can keep in contact with the students while still protecting their private accounts.
Social Media
There’s a lot of discussion about the propriety of teachers and students interacting on social networks, with some schools and school districts having enacted rules about how teachers are allowed to use it in relation to their students. That being said, many teachers have found it to be a useful tool to keep track of students they’re concerned about and it provides another vehicle for students to reach out to their teachers with questions, comments, or concerns that they may feel uncomfortable bringing up in the classroom or face to face with an adult.
Eddy Ayala is a freelance writer for Master-Degree-Online.com, a super helpful graduate education portal for domestic and international students interested in advancing their career with a masters degree. Eddy recently wrote about 9 Tips for Surviving Grad School which has had a great deal of response. Eddy welcomes all feedback from you.
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