Integrating technology in high schools can benefit students and teachers. I know many people are against cell phones and tablets in classrooms but I think if used correctly it could help the classroom environment. Using Mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets in the classroom to access different apps so students can be interactive with their electronic devices when learning materials. I have seen students in elementary schools learn reading and math using tablets during instructional time and when they are out of school with their parents they continue to access those apps which have been helping them learn. The world is dependent on technology so why not use it to help increase students’ knowledge. Being a high school teacher and having weeks where I turn my classroom into a digital classroom helps keep the students engaged. Students find it to be fun when they can use the smart board, and bring in their technology from home to present a project in front of the whole class. So whether it’s a group project or an independent assignment, turning my classroom into a digital classroom some weeks has kept the students interested in my class. PowerPoint presentations can be used to introduce a classroom concept while providing the opportunity for engagement. Along with the use of graphics and bulleted information, links to videos that accompany the ideas presented in the PowerPoint can be embedded within the slides. Educational apps in the classroom like Kahoot can be used to review information after a lesson or unit. Teachers can create and share Kahoots with one another while students can create anonymous user names to participate in the game. This allows for whole-class participation from students who may usually be reluctant to participate in class. Kahoot is accessible to play on phones or computers and teachers can determine if they want students to work independently or be assigned to teams (Drexel University 2014).
I must admit integrating technology in high schools can be sometimes difficult because some students who just don’t like using technology find it hard to use, or just use it to cheat. I have been thinking of ways to get those students more engaged and up to speed with technology and the one solution is to use the online platforms before even introducing technology to the students. Making knowledge of technology part of my curriculum the first couple weeks can help those students feel more comfortable using technology even though they don’t like it. One assignment I start doing is making students make a virtual locker telling me about themselves and their goals for the year. The virtual locker assignment makes the students use technology to access vast amounts of information and resources, while enabling them to explore and deepen their understanding on how to gather resources from the web for their virtual locker. It enhances their research and critical thinking skills, as they learn to evaluate and analyze information from diverse sources. Once they are done they will present it in front of the class on the smartboard which ends up being fun because the students get to see what they have in common with other students.
More importantly to me being a teacher Integrating technology equips students with essential digital literacy skills necessary for the modern workforce. I tell the students that learning and being educated about technology will help them once they start their career no matter what it is. By utilizing technology in the classroom, students gain proficiency in using digital tools, collaborating online, and adapting to evolving technological advancements. These skills are increasingly crucial in today’s digital age and can enhance their future employability. Once I start talking about how technology can impact their future students normally start taking advantage of technology especially when doing assignments.