Integrating Technology In Classrooms: The New Pedagogical Mantra For An Enhanced Curriculum

“Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event,” rightly said Heidi-Hayes Jacobs, an internationally acclaimed educational consultant. Following this principle, many educational institutions and modern day schools have realized the role played by technology in improving learning of the students and are now integrating technology as a key tool in their classrooms for enhancing their curriculum. With technology evolving at breakneck speed, the future is unequivocally more technologically oriented making it essential for educators to help the students become smart, digital citizens by the time they graduate from school.

Benefits of adopting technology in classrooms

Technology brings along a host of benefits for students. If used appropriately, mobile devices such as laptops and iPads can aid students to prepare for future careers.

Technology also creates wonders in terms of bridging the gap between the teachers and the students. E-Learning platforms enable students and teachers to interact through web-based portals and access the latest curriculum content even remotely after school, through PCs, laptops and tablets, thereby pushing for better collaboration among them.

The use of augmented reality in classrooms through various apps on devices, has also gifted educators a new mode with which students can explore knowledge. With the use of videos along with the traditional learning methods, teachers are now not only able to make learning more engaging and interactive for the students but are also able to give them a real time experience of concepts; which ensures that they have a better grasp at the concepts and are able to recall them faster. Subjects that students often feel more challenging or boring can be made more interesting with virtual lessons, through a video, or with various learning based apps on a tablet. Furthermore, technology also promotes analytical and critical thinking among students making them ready for a better tomorrow. With an increasing digital economy, jobs that may not have had a digital component in the past may have one now and in the future. Education must enable students to solve complex problems ensuring that students are ready to and capable of joining the future workforce. 

Technology helps in saving time and promotes the ‘Go Green Concept’

In contrast to the traditional learning method where students had to make long written notes, technology in the classroom allows students to make presentations online and get feedback from their teachers in less time. Presentation can be shared directly with everyone.

In classrooms where technology is used, there is no need of paper and printouts, thus promoting the ' Go Green Concept '. This highlights one of the major ecological benefits of smart classroom technology.

Technology a blessing for both students and teachers

With several online resources, technology can assist in improving teaching. Teachers can make use of virtual lesson plans, grading software, and online assessments which helps them save a lot time. It also ensures that teachers are able to keep a track of the weaker students and can accordingly differentiate instruction upon analyzing their pain points and further assist them in tackling these problems. In the traditional classroom method, teachers often find it difficult to foster parent engagement. Parent experience is often detached from classroom happenings. Sometimes students are not able to communicate their learning experience to their parents and additionally, parents are physically unable to monitor what their child is learning or working on. With the inclusion of technology in the classroom, parents are able to keep a track of the progress of their child and can visit a website or app to see what their child is learning, and even work through the problems with the child. Also, for both the teachers and parents, constant feedback and interaction becomes easier via online platforms which ultimately helps them to focus more on the child’s performance ensuring overall growth and development of the child. 

Technology has become a crucial aspect of enabling learning, improving the engagement of students in learning, and empowering teachers with the usage of multiple tools to improve learning. With the use of technology, learning, and teaching not only become more interactive and exciting, but also become personalized to suit the needs of every individual student.

Shweta Sastri

Guest Author Shweta Sastri is Managing Director at Canadian International School