Emerging Technologies in the Classroom

If we take a look back at education twenty years ago and we compare it with today’s education, we can recognize the complete different approach that fits the new global learner.

Every year we are faced with new challenges that require changes. All these changes have the same purpose; that our students reach their full potential and learn.

It is a fact that technology increases the pace of such changes. Today’s learner is given a variety of tools to acquire knowledge, tools that many of teachers are just familiarizing themselves with.

For some, incorporating technology has been somewhat of a struggle. However, we all use technology in our classes because we know, that our students’ futures might depend on the ability to use technology efficiently and purposefully.

I have had the opportunity to have an IPad for two years in my class. I've always tried to use it in my stations. I've used Istation, some books that can be read it through the Ipad and different math applications.

The IPad has become a pivotal tool for my stations. I still use Istation and different applications for mathematics.

Recently, I have introduced other applications such as: Chatterkid. The students used this tool to create presentations about important historical figures and were able to record their narrations.

 We have used Pieces Basic in math. Through this program, the students are able to manipulate the ten blocks and create the numbers with them.

We have used the camera to take pictures around the campus, relating our surroundings with essential science concepts.

Kahoot is a favorite for the kids. It can be used cross curricular, providing a fun way of checking for understanding.

Pic Collage and Seesaw will be introduced in the near future.

The biggest obstacle to introduce the applications to our kids the race against time.

Nevertheless, thanks to the great support provided by our math specialist, we will introduce Seesaw and she will be directly involved in the process by providing training for the students.

Our students are playing with the Ipads and they do not realize they are actually learning. It’s great to have them!

By Alexandra Hernandez