Students are clutching fast to their mobile phones in the digital age. It is a time we are relying on technology for everything we do. Most media is represented through the internet, whether it is the news, sharing a story, or a song. The conventional methods of performing live or a face-to-face interaction is currently taking a backseat. Even when artistes do perform, some still rely on digital synthesisers for their music.
And like everything else, teaching is also under this digital domain. The best form of teaching is a fusion of face-to-face teaching and digital, smart teaching. More and more teachers are integrating digital means into their lessons, such as accessing documentaries, speeches, videos, and images. This is a wonderful age to learn with such gadgets at our disposal.
For that reason, here are three solid benefits of integrating technology for engaging students in the digital age:
Benefit 1
Interactive teaching means that the information is never stale. It is always updated and accurate in terms of the shifts in our world. All students love it when their lessons are dynamic and lively, and when teaching is done with images and videos, it becomes even more engaging.
Imagine knowing how the icebergs melt through the sharp lens of an intrepid Arctic explorer conveyed on YouTube. After all, we tend to remember what we learn in pictorial form better than the written word. When you read, you form images in your mind whilst deciphering the object in question. When you watch a video, the images are already there! Learning has never been this easy.
Benefit 2
Digital teaching means that a student never has to skip a lesson even if he or she is ill and at home. Being able to connect to your teacher via Zoom and listening in to your lesson means one never needs to worry about missing out. For instance, Google Docs is a way to instantly download notes and worksheets from the teacher and even enables one to get homework done live while the teacher or tutor watches.
This is an exciting era for teaching in the digital age as we need not fall back on our studies. Essays and other components of the English paper can be sent to the teacher instantaneously, and the teacher may even mark them and send it back to the student just as quickly. Remote learning is the latest way of keeping up with education, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Benefit 3
Teaching in the digital age also means we stay at the forefront of everything. Teachers can download all the latest materials at an instant, and teaching methods can be increasingly creative with music, videos, live interviews and commentary adding flavour to a subject. There is really no reason to have boring classes anymore.
For instance, Steve Jobs’ speech at his university must have been watched many times over. The words of great speakers like Jobs resonate with the younger generation (whom he was addressing) and his perception of working smart and making the most out of life has been admired across generations, time zones, and boundaries. There is just more access to the best and latest of information in a fun way.
Conclusion
Teaching in the digital age means that lessons are now more entertaining, and when students are kept engaged, the output automatically becomes stronger. Teaching is also more exciting and satisfying now than ever before. All the best!