Technology is becoming more and more dominant among the kids. Textbooks are replaced with tablets and kindle books. The world is in their fingertips. They can get any information, anytime, anywhere using their smart phones or the iPhone.
Social Media is now one of the biggest platforms where the youngsters spend most of their time. Technology is becoming advanced day to day; there is always something new every day. The world is changing tremendously.
So, the question is- Are teachers being replaced with technology? No!! Teachers can never be replaced with technology. Teachers impart knowledge and life skills; they are more than that just a facilitator. They are guides and mentors to the kids who understand them just by the very look on their face. Without a teacher, technology is just an automated tool. Teachers can use technology as a tool in their classroom and make the learning experiences for the kids meaningful and fun.
With the use of technology and as teachers we should equip our kids for this changing world. Students love technology; they believe that it makes learning fun and interesting. We as teachers can record our lessons and provide online activities. Though it's just the same thing, kids prefer seeing the teacher on the screen. They stop saying it’s boring and sing the opposite song (Goodness! it’s so interesting.) They love a virtual lesson through videos.
Most of the kids believe that if technology is used in the classroom it will help prepare them for the digital future. A few decades back the jobs that didn’t need digital knowledge now are digital.
We as educators need to keep up with the times and prepare our students for this EVER-CHANGING world that we live in. It’s important to know that even traditional learning processes are just as essential as the technology we incorporate in our classrooms. We need to take time to learn how to use technology. Every teacher has a strategy for using technology which can have a lasting impact on their students’ learning.
Here are some of the free tools that we can use in our classrooms:
• Google Class
• https://edpuzzle.com/ for science and social studies
• https://www.readworks.org/ for Reading
• http://www.livebinders.com/ for organizing
• https://www.gutenberg.org/ for eBooks-reading and comprehension
• http://www.realworldmath.org/ for math
• https://www.remind.com/ for announcements
• https://www.khanacademy.org/ for math
• https://quizlet.com/ for spelling and vocabulary
• https://kahoot.com/ for tests
• https://nearpod.com/ writing
We have a high calling. Let's use these free tools and prepare our children to be good citizens for this world and for the world to come. Hats off to you teachers!!! Have a great week ahead. God Bless.
by Alwina Kindo
Alwina teaches at New Orleans Adventist Academy.
