Lunch and learn

Editor's Notes

• #3: Technology is all around us and is constantly evolving therefore it is important that teachers provide their students with the tools and knowledge to be successful in the 21st-century society. For teachers that have been teaching for years, it can seem daunting to incorporate technology in their classrooms. There are so many devices, tools, online resources, and more that are specifically geared for utilizing tech within the classroom that it can be overwhelming to decide what would be best for your students. The purpose of this Lunch and Learn is to provide teachers with the knowledge and understanding of why technology is important in the classroom and ways to incorporate it within your lessons.
• #4: Children more than any time in history are being exposed to technology and most of them have experience using technology even as early as infancy. College and most jobs require knowledge and the ability to display technological skills therefore it is more important than ever to educate students these skills. Technology has many benefits that include increased engagement of students of content while using technology; students will demonstrate increased focus and interest in an academic content area as a result of utilizing a technological device. Technology also promotes differentiated instruction because there are a wide variety of devices and online resources that reach every type of learner as well as makes information readily available on a global scale.
• #5: There are many different types of technological resources for teachers to use to enhance the learning experience of their students and engage them in their learning. Online resources such as Google and Apple classroom give teachers and students the feel of an interactive classroom while podcasts, blogs, and other multimedia presentations give students an avenue to demonstrate their knowledge through a creative and innovative way. Some teachers have even incorporated social media in their curriculum because it instantly engages students and enables them to connect with others all around the globe.
• #6: Technology has many benefits however, not all teachers have equal access to technological resources at their schools. Even if you only have one device in your classroom, there are ways to incorporate tech in your curriculum such as interactive websites that can be projected onto the whiteboard, online videos that relate to the lesson, and even formative assessment tools such as flipgrid that the teacher can assess using one device. If there are a few devices, the teacher can incorporate them during small group activities where students can work together and collaborate on an assignment or during centers. For classrooms that are one-to-one, the teacher can have their students conduct research and work on project based learning activities (Edutopia, 2018).
• #7: Classroom management is crucial to learning and the classroom environment with or without technology. Fortunately, there are many different technological classroom management tools to assist teachers with managing devices and behavior. Apple classroom allows teachers using iPads to control student devices with his or her own iPad. This is a great tool because teachers can limit students on how they search or where they go which reduces distractions. Establishing a routine early on is another important factor with introducing technology to students. The students should have a deep understanding of how to handle their device and that they are using it for learning purposes and not to play. As one knows, technology is not always fool proof therefore it is important to have a plan b set in place that does not involve technology so students are not sitting around wasting instructional minutes.
• #8: To incorporate technology within group activities, teachers can do this via centers, think-pair-share activities, learning teams for collaborating on assignments, and can even engage students with learning games. Small groups and technology might be the most beneficial with students in the primary-elementary grade levels because they are still learning about their device and would be more productive and time efficient for the teacher.
• #9: The way students conduct research continues to evolve due to technology. Information can now be instantly accessed but it is important for the teacher to model that not all information is accurate and show students what online reliable resources look like. When technology is in the classroom, the teacher is now not the main focus but is now another tool for the students to reference when conducting their research.
• #10: Communication has changed dramatically due to technology. There are great online educational resources for teachers to utilize where they can communicate, grade, plan, and share with their students online. Students can now reach out to teachers any time of day due to technology which is beneficial for students that may be afraid to participate or ask questions in class.
• #11: Technology has many benefits for teachers and students. Even if teachers have limited access to technology, there are still ways to incorporate it in their classrooms. Change is not always welcomed especially if a teacher has been teaching for many years, but it is important to remain open minded and to find ways to use technology because it will prepare students for college and career in the 21st-century society.