Key points:
When it comes to classroom learning, it’s common knowledge that students of all ages are a bit more engaged when they’re able to use an interactive or captivating learning resource–and this is why digital tools are so critical for teaching and learning.
Integrating digital tools into the classroom may seem intimidating to some educators, but fear not–it’s a relatively simple process once you’ve vetted a tool and confirmed that it enhances your instruction and adds learning value.
Because it’s often easier to picture how you might integrate a tool or strategy after seeing another educator do the same, here are some examples of how teachers are using digital tools in their own classrooms:
McKenna Akane, a new STEM teacher in the Alberton School District in Montana, uses Bee-Bots. In discussing ways to engage students in STEM, simulators and STEM Kits can significantly enhance student engagement and understanding by providing hands-on, immersive learning experiences that bring theoretical concepts to life. STEM kits have proven to be invaluable in K-5 grade levels where she is able to use age-appropriate coding and robotics kits like Bee-Bots.
Jon Oosterman, an educator and learning specialist for the nonprofit Van Andel Institute for Education, recommends Teachable Machine. Teachable Machine is a tool that’s been around since 2017, but some educators might have missed it. This tool lets users train models that will recognize images, sounds, or poses, allowing them to integrate AI learning into various subjects. This fosters an understanding of artificial intelligence in a way that’s stress-free and easy to understand. Teachable Machine is free to use and super accessible, making it a great resource for helping students discover what a learning machine is and how they work.
Brent Grahn, a high school math teacher at Shakopee High School in Shakopee, MN, uses Geogebra. Geogebra offers graphing and analysis technology with premade activities. Geogbra features tools for all things visual and tangible in math. It has a great spreadsheet function, which has easy statistical analysis of one and two variables and all of the main visual representations a teacher is likely to need. It also contains great geometry tools for triangle properties, circles, and more. Additionally, it contains a multitude of free, pre-made activities by Geogebra and other teachers. Most activities are embeddable, so students don’t need to leave the safety of your LMS class website.
Rita Mortenson, the educational technology coach for Verona Area High School in Wisconsin, uses Google Arts and Culture. Google Arts and Culture offers over 1,600 experiments and counting. In addition to the extensive collection of artworks and cultural artifacts, it offers some pretty cool immersive experiences. Some favorites include Blob Opera, a fun and creative tool where users can experiment and create music while learning how AI generates and synthesizes vocals. There’s also 3D Pottery, where users can virtually recreate pottery from different cultures and time periods. With Kandinsky Music, students can explore art while experimenting with color and emotions. Lastly, with the Art Coloring Book, students get to pick a famous piece of artwork and color it using the colors of their choice.
High school educator Lynn Thomas created an Escape Room mission using Brightspace. Thomas was inspired to use this activity in her classes upon attending workshops and reading about the benefits and ways to gamify learning, as well as a specific Brightspace workshop about creating an Escape Room through the platform. Thomas crated an around-the-world adventure whose narrative begins as follows: “You have been hired by a mysterious organization to complete a series of challenges. The details are all very vague, but you are very intrigued. All you know is that your problem-solving skills are going to be challenged and that you will have to learn along the way because, apparently, it also involves traveling around the world!” She selected an around-the-world theme because it offers a wide array of subject-matter and material to incorporate into the challenges.
