Technology Drives Classroom Instruction

 

        There's no denying that technology integration is one of the trendiest buzzwords in education right now. Many teachers are still apprehensive about using technology into their classrooms. This is due to a variety of issues, including a lack of preparation and resources, unfavorable attitudes about technology in general, and a lack of belief in the efficacy of classroom devices. “Simply put, technology integration is just that, the practice of integrating or interweaving technology into teaching and learning" (Woodson, 2021).        

        This article discusses 6 Benefits of Technology Integration in English Education. The first is it increases student engagement and motivation. Increasing motivation is extremely important for English language learners. Teachers should be on the lookout for new methods to engage and inspire their students. Second is offering mobility. Teachers may now include technologies in their classes that allow students to access content on their cellphones, computers, and tablets. Students are reminded of the subject through alerts, notifications, and online communication tools long after class has ended. Third is it teaches students valuable tools for the future. "[O]ne of most important prerequisites to success in an English-speaking workplace or learning environment is the ability to navigate technology efficiently"  (Woodson, 2021). The fourth is it can be a time saver for teachers. It can make even the most complex jobs simple and straightforward. Fifth is it promotes learner independence.  By reading and clarifying unfamiliar words, text-to-speech features or interactive textbooks enable students to read and appreciate books above their real reading ability. Last is it provides students access to target culture. These encounters are rich and meaningful whether they browse social media sites, read or listen to news or participate in online debates (Woodson, 2021).

 

        The article also contained several tools. Marvel.com gives children a comic maker and the ability to create characters of their own and to write comics of their own. In video and touch with the real world FluentU immerses students into English. FluentU takes real-world films and makes them a customized language course. Words are supplied with sample sentences and meanings. Storybird is another great application that enables kids to create stories with photos and visuals. News ELA is an excellent tool to help you better understand current events. Kindle Reader is a popular e-reader that lets readers highlight, hear spoken and see/hear definitions for a certain word. Edmodo allows instructors and students to share files, links and media effortlessly and enables seamless communication between teachers and students. Constructing a video collection using the ShowMe app enables teachers to provide excellent and genuine teaching to students without wasting precious time (Woodson, 2021).

                                                                             

 

        I think technology is definitely useful in the classroom. It gives students many different opportunities. The marvel comic maker will really fit into my classroom. My classroom is super hero themed. I feel the kids would really get into it. It will be nice to see what they will create. FluentU seems to have many things to offer to make my classroom successful. It will just take some time to look into. I am most interested in the ShowMe app. My students are often absent and sometimes I don’t have time to get them work. Now with the quarantines some are absent for two weeks even more. ShowMe can provide me excellent, real education without losing valuable time.

Reference:

Woodson, K. (2021, February 10). How to Use Technology Effectively to Transform Your ESL Classroom. FluentU English Educator Blog. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/educator-english/esl-technology-2/