Technology in the Classroom

Technology has moved overtly into the classroom.  Chapters, tests, goals, and pedagogy are all laid out in on-line sources, to be used as needed.  This is terrific, when leveraged properly.

There is still the challenge – How to use such gifts to good advantage?

We have all heard students lament, “But what does this mean? Explain it to me?”

Teachers should, and do.  Good teachers view this as a stepping stone on which to build.  They enlarge on the subject and put learned concepts in context.  

I will use programming as an example.  Codecademy.com, code.org, and learnstreet.com are just a few of the on-line instruction sites for programming.  I have watched student enjoy these and master the lessons, but still not understand what a variable is, where it should be placed and why it must be typed by data type.  They still don't understand the nuances of different kinds of loops, or different kinds of programming languages, for that matter.  In this case, when teaching, I introduce the activities with an overview, and punctuate the learning, in certain spots, to cement understanding.

On-line and pre-created sites add to a teacher’s arsenal.  Good teachers, and there are millions, know where to place these materials.