An average student of the 2020s uses technology to enhance project learning by using several gadgets.
According to Gadget Cover, there are now more gadgets in the world than humans. First, it was mobile phones. 2014 was the year when there were officially more mobile devices than people in the world.
Three years later, Internet of Things (IoT) devices had outnumbered the world’s population as well.
Looking at those facts in a bit more detail, we discover that the point at which mobile devices outnumbered humans was around the 7.19 billion mark.
Today, GSMA’s real-time tracker puts the number of mobile devices at 8.9 billion and counting.
With the ever-increasing screen time and the time spent talking on the phone, social media time does not lag far behind.
According to SENAT. me, Statistically speaking, over 50% of people are consuming media in some form at this given moment.
In fact, the latest data shows that Americans spend over 12 hours per day consuming media in various forms.
Based on Statista, Market leader Facebook was the first social network to surpass one billion registered accounts and currently sits at more than 2.89 billion monthly active users.
The company currently also owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with over one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. In the third quarter of 2021, Facebook reported over 3.58 billion monthly core Family product users.
Asking this tech-addicted generation to leave their phones at home and focus on a heavily outdated book is hardly something that will make a happy student.
Why use technology to enhance project learning?
In this context, using technology can aid learning in multiple ways. It provides the best possible information that is constantly updated. It is also interactive, something that books are not.
Technology is also omnipresent, and it allows you to communicate and learn while on the go. According to HackerRank, Today’s world is one in which technology is ever-present.
Not only is new technology being developed quicker than ever before, but it’s also being adopted faster: research published in the Harvard Business Review shows that while it took the telephone several decades to achieve 50% penetration when the Internet was popularized in the 1990s it took just a few years to attain the same reach.
Listening to an audiobook while jogging is something we’ve all done.
How technology enhances project learning?
Besides aiding learning, technology can also enhance it.
The variety of multimedia materials and the opportunity to communicate with your peers from all over the world and boost intercultural competence while doing so was a dream just 20 years ago.
Now that the technology is there, it may be time to fully deploy it, and stop relying solely on Zoom and solely during lockdowns.
Technology is an instrument
Technology is a great tool and not a goal in itself. While some tech-savvy teachers may try to boast about how much technology they use, the focus should be on student grades’ outcomes rather than the number of websites they have used.
You can even use Pro Essays Service to have the desired essay typed out. Then, ask the students to expand or change the text with synonyms while relying on web sources. This is particularly useful for language teachers.
See also: Technology Helps You Make the Best of Your Time
Technology is an aid
The use of technology aids the learning process, but it does not replace it. There is no substitute for a great teacher and hours of planning with technology.
According to Jet Learn, Bill Gates once said, “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.”
With this in mind, you should equip your students with reliable and trustworthy sources. Doing otherwise may do more harm than damage, especially in the era of conspiracy theories.
See also: EdTech Tools Educators Should Try This School Year
Technology is a bridge
Technology can bridge the gap in acquiring knowledge.
As every student is different and learns in different ways, coming up with projects that give them different opportunities to learn and do so in different ways can boost your classroom grades.
Needless to say, not every student will be 100% happy, but finding tricks, such as asking them to write a (digital) report on their favorite Netflix docuseries, is a good approach to both practicing their writing skills and discovering their interests.
See also: The Most in Demand Tech Jobs 2022 to Consider: Here are 4 Reasons
Technology is an instrument of expression
Technology offers different ways to express yourself.
Give your students projects with presentations to be carried out. Offer 5% of extra points for any student or project that is delivered without using a PowerPoint Presentation.
Some students may rely on Prezi, while some may choose a video format to express their ideas. There is a lot of value in diversification.
Technology is relatable
A part of the success of so many YouTubers is that they are relatable.
According to Oberlo, 62 percent of global consumers say they use YouTube (Statista, 2021). Offering free access to online sources to your students can boost their overall success, as they can rely on the sources THEY like.
Do not forget to offer some sources yourself.
Daily Manna is one source you may suggest to your students. It is a great place to pick up your daily motivation and also to learn about new approaches to common topics.
Use their articles to boost interaction and communication rates in your classroom. So, how to use technology to enhance project learning.
Learning Management Systems
A good Learning Management System (LMS) helps teachers communicate course content effectively with students. Teachers can edit course content as the learning project evolves using a Learning Management System. A Learning Management System can also collect learner data across different activities.
Flipped classroom learning
Through videos, basic instructions are provided to students before class.
The classroom discussion would be more focused on problem-solving and critical thinking if videos were used for instruction before class.
The researchers found that 850 Physics undergraduates at the University of British Columbia achieved an average score of 41% when they used traditional classroom technology, compared to 74% when they used flipped classroom technology.
Video quiz
Online videos can include in-video quizzes after a course topic is discussed. Taking quizzes encourages learners to spend more time on tasks and practice.
Classroom discussions will be more productive with better knowledge retention.
Learner analytics and data visualization
In order to gain actionable insights for course feedback, teachers, students, and parents need to receive clear communication about student data.
In order for project-based learning to be successful, effective communication is essential.
Course gamification
Course gamification involves assigning points to learners for completing activities within a course. Using the points system, students are assigned levels or placed on leaderboards.
As a result, learners are able to improve their engagement by taking advantage of their desire for socialization, competition, accomplishment, and status.
Whiteboard animation videos
Videos with whiteboard animation are great for explaining complex concepts to students.
With verbal cues in the video, the learner is guided through the concept, while the visual part provides a map of the new knowledge.
You can create whiteboard animations using VideoScribe and Adobe After Effects.
Training teachers and students for Software use
Online learning software can be taught to students and teachers through screencasting. In screencasting, learners receive instructions along with a video of the computer screen.
Screencasting is very cost-effective as well, as you only need to add audio besides the screencast to demonstrate computer use.
While professional video editing software such as Screenflow and Camtasia allows users to add voiceovers and text to the screencast video.
Final remarks
Technology is a powerful tool, but only if used right. For this reason, you should not use technology much of it to enhance project learning or use it too prescriptively.
Many students have their own way of relating to technology and using it.
As long as there is no cheating and as long as you get the desired results, any use of technology is acceptable.
Let’s visit RRSlide to download free PowerPoint templates. But wait, don’t go anywhere and stay here with our RRGraph Design Blog to keep up-to-date on the best pitch deck template collections and design advice from our PowerPoint experts.
Joanne Elliot cannot find enough time in a day for everything she would love to do. Besides her regular hobbies and interests of cooking and living healthy, she also takes at least one digital training course every month or so. Continuing education is more important than formal education for her.
