How can teachers use technology in their classrooms?
The use of technology in the classroom should always be an aid for learning, not a hindrance to the student or something to replace the teacher at the centre of the classroom. I firmly believe technology should be used where needed to support learning. This post discusses, within the context of technology tips for teaching, an everyday object most teachers are now using in the classroom: the Samsung Interactive Whiteboard.
There is no escaping the fact that technology can enhance teaching and make learning interesting for the students. Knowledge can be developed to bring Art History to life for example, where impossible to visit a museum abroad, a virtual tour using the Samsung Interactive Display could allow students to see the Venus of Galgenberg; one of the world’s oldest figurines (dated around 30,000 B.C.) and is permanently housed at the Museum of Natural History in Vienna.
What better way to engage students in the classroom, facilitated with intuitive technology?
For the past 20 years, I used every piece of technology at the front of the classroom: blackboards (1990s), Over-Head Projectors (1995-2000), Projectors (2000) and Interactive Whiteboards (2005)! Today, I’m using the Samsung Interactive Display.
Image: the Samsung Interactive Whiteboard.
The Samsung Interactive Display is accessible to teacher and student, with a multi-touch and interactive display. It’s something that students can easily relate to without allowing the technology to get in the way of teaching and learning.
1. Gamify:
Why not make the classroom experience an engaging one? As an example, this can be achieved using Kahoot is an app that has loads of pre-designed games for you to use in lessons without having to do a great deal of planning!
2. Visualise:
A visual trigger such as flash cards can be accessed via Quizlet. Good for all ages, prompting memories and saving templates for future lessons to reduce lesson planning. Seeing the progress throughout the class in a visual format can help spur students on and allow you to gauge their knowledge. Visualising student understanding using an app like Socrative can create simple yet powerful visuals for real time learning and reporting.
3. Digitise:
For paperless classrooms Showbie allows you to capture every interaction in class. Also keep your ideas and notes in one place with OneNote so you feel more in control and organised.
Image: the Samsung Interactive Whiteboard.
The Ideal Solution:
This is an all-in-one solution known as a ‘system on chip’, leads to more stable and long-term operation. It has a built-in media player to play videos, make notes in different styles and correct errors quickly. You can annotate documents and highlight points and features to capture content with screenshots. Screen mirroring with Samsung tablets allow students and teachers to share work on the big screen; to access information more easily and work collaboratively with the class. It’s simple to set up and easy to use. It helps lesson plans become a reality and documents the process of learning, allowing student participation and class collaboration in and out of the classroom. The technology enables better results and performance which is an attractive prospect for teachers and their demanding students.
Case Study:
Watch this case study from Bolsover Church of England Junior School in Chesterfield:
The Samsung Interactive Display has the power to make a difference in classroom(s): Executive Headteacher, Rowena Herbert says, “… it has completely been embedded in daily teaching in terms of taking teaching forward and raising attainment. We’ve seen a big jump in student response and independence.”
There is a technical demonstration for teachers here. Do get in touch with Samsung to request a demonstration. To find out more, visit Samsung: Education.
