Technology Tools Used in the Classroom 2018

Having been a teacher for a number of years before starting my own business, it seems to me that education has fallen a little behind in the realms of the technology that is used especially in the UK. Whilst there are now computers within many classrooms, and many schools that utilise a ‘BYOD’ (bring your own device – our recommendation) policy, there still seems to be a gap between how technology is used to improve education, and how it should be utilised. In this post therefore we will be looking at technology tools used in the classroom.

In this, our first article post at iDeal6, we wanted to take a look at five of the different technologies that are around, and could be utilised within the classroom environment.

At present, many of the technologies that are available, seem to be focused on looking up information through computers, tablets or phones. This is mixed with a range of software that supports different subjects through multimedia learning. But what other technologies are now available that are inexpensive enough to be fully utilised.

1. Google Expeditions

At a Glance

• Brand: Google
• Type: App

Our Outline

This is an app that runs in conjunction with a virtual reality headset (cheap option) such as Google cardboard. With this app, you give the students a chance to go to a huge variety of places around the world and explore each of them in detail. For many students, this offers a view parts of the world that they may never get to see, in an enjoyable way. This app provides information about the places being visited and allows you to explore as a whole class. In a similar way, museum views, although not as orientated to the classroom, allows you to complete a virtual tour of some of the most famous museums in the world and all from the comfort of the classroom. This is one of the technology tools used in the classroom that will provide a great experience and a great benefit.

2. Augmented Reality

At a Glance

• Brand: Various
• Type: Apps and hardware

Our Outline

Augmented reality is simply the laying of extra digital information over the real world. At present this is mainly done through apps and your mobile phone, whereby the app either reads a QR code and produces some pre-programmed element, or you point your phone at something and digital information is overlaid, an example of this being the Sky Map app. This is therefore another one of the technology tools used in the classroom that can help bring information and learning alive for all of the students.

3. Collaborative Learning

At a Glance

• Brand: Various
• Type: Apps

Our Outline

Collaborative learning using cloud based software is now already widely used. Perhaps the most common software for this is on the google platform, where students can easily share presentations and documents with their classmates and teachers. In the ‘real world’ we combine all the time to work collaboratively and this surely has to be a process that should be encouraged in the classroom.

4. Virtual Reality

At a Glance

• Brand: Various
• Type: Apps and Hardware

Our Outline

Unlike augmented reality that places extra information over the real world, virtual reality takes you into a different world. Google expeditions above is an element of this, however there is so much more that is available for the classroom environment. Software such as Labster, offer students the chance to carry out a range of science experiments that would be out of the reach for carrying out in the real world. This is one of the technology tools used in the classroom that can provide a great experience and a great benefit if you have the ability to purchase the kit required.

5. The Mobile Phone

At a Glance

• Brand: Various
• Type: Used to run apps

Our Outline

This is clearly not a new tool, however the development of mobile technology over the past ten years, has meant that is has become an incredibly powerful piece of technology that is used all of the time in our everyday lives. This is a little controversial in UK schools due to the nature of privacy and the misuse of mobile phones in the classrooms. Some schools have taken the option of banning them from school, or heavily limiting their use, and whilst this is understandable, I believe that it is somewhat missing the point. Technology is developing at a remarkable rate, and allows us the ability to do things that would have been deemed impossible in the not too distant past. Many of the previous four technologies rely on mobile phones for easy use. The push in the classroom should be in engaging in the use of this technology appropriately to enhance learning rather than distract from it.