Читать книгу The Movement and Technology Balance - Traci Lengel - Страница 55

It is critical for teachers who are using technology with their students to be intentionally responsive to student content outcomes, both positive and negative, in order to deliver instruction that is appropriate for the learner. The U. S. has been struggling for years to find a solution that closes the educational gap between students. Although there is no one solution to the complexity of varied student achievement, technology can play a positive role in helping teachers design instruction to remediate struggling students. At the elementary level, a variety of software programs are available in both reading and math for students to gain additional practice on skills. Educational websites and apps are loaded with skill-building games for learners as young as preschool age. At the secondary level, schools are providing online courses and resources that are available 24/7 for students to access any time they need additional instruction or material. Schools are using technology to implement systematic, research-based progress monitoring systems in order to identify students in need. In addition, there is no shortage of online programs teachers can use to gather student responses quickly and efficiently, allowing teachers to have access to formative assessments that measure and track individual student performance and to differentiate instruction accordingly.

Today’s technology provides unique opportunities for enrichment in the classroom. The use of social media platforms, apps, and websites allow students to collaborate, and audio/visual media can instantly grab students’ attention and encourage them to take their learning beyond standard classroom instruction. Students can explore concepts in depth through podcasts, design software, and videos. Students can engage in open dialogue about a topic, debate with one another, and collaborate on writing assignments through the use of social media or Google classrooms. Students can take charge of their own learning, solving complex problems at home through WebQuests or independent investigations of a concept. Technology provides a way for students to explore the world without ever leaving their seat, gives them access to the great wonders of the world and images and videos of faraway places, and offers opportunities to make global connections with students in other countries. The use of technology can provide students with opportunities for learning that extend far beyond the walls of the classroom.