About This Lesson
Technology is revolutionizing the classroom, but perhaps the changes are not happening quickly enough. Public education is in a state of crisis with over 20,000 teachers leaving the profession every single year.
There are obvious reasons for this: retirement, inferior pay, so on and so forth. While not every factor that drives teachers away in droves can be addressed in a fell swoop, there is one pervasive factor that is more correctable than the general public might at first assume: student behavior.
In fact, 66% of outgoing teachers have cited that it was general frustration with their profession that led to them leaving the field.
The good news is that there are ways to mitigate the problem. Technologies that can correct student behavior, and make the job of the teacher substantially more simple.
Below, we highlight several products that can make classroom management much simpler.
- Better Student Behavior: There’s an App for That:
Believe it or not, but there are actually applications that can help to mitigate most teacher’s biggest problem: student behavior.
In fact, there are now digital solutions to just about every issue that the average classroom is likely to experience. Are you dealing with organizational problems? If so, your class may stand to benefit from Google Classroom.
There are also apps that monitor classroom participation, communication, and even noise levels. It’s a budget-friendly way to keep things orderly in class. With new developments hitting the market on a near-daily basis, this also means that teachers have a continuous opportunity to find a new solution to their most basic needs.
- Reaching Students Through Social Media
Social media has often been thought to be antithetical to classroom learning, but what if teachers can actually use popular communication sites to reach their students?
In fact, there are actually communication platforms that are specifically designed to connect teachers with resources that help them introduce technology into the classroom.
#WhatIsSchool is a platform where teachers can communicate in an honest and open setting about the most pressing issues in their classroom. The exchange of ideas is an empowering way to help teachers improve their operations.
- The Ergonomics of High-Tech Behavior Management
Though the world has changed significantly in the last hundred years, the way that students situate themselves in the classroom has not. Yes, there are tablets, computers, smartboards, even television sets all making a space for themselves in the classroom.
But amidst all of this, students still learn in the classic, uncomfortable desks from days gone by.
Teachers may find it worthwhile to establish a more fluid design concept as they plan their classroom configuration. For example, learning stations even in higher grades are a good way to get students out of the desks, and more engaged with the various technologies that are present in the classroom.
- Inspiring Kids With STEM
STEM is, unequivocally, the future. In fact, it’s increasingly becoming the present as well. Increasing the presence of STEM in the classroom is a good way to make the students of today more prepared for the job market of the future.
The good news for the teacher is that it is also relatively easy to create fun STEM-oriented lesson plans.
A solid STEM lesson plan is a good way to help students engage more with their work while also preparing them for long-term future success and job readiness.
- Teaching Teachers to Teach
As with many fields, education is one that benefits significantly from a dedication to ongoing education. Ongoing education can be informal, with educators simply congregating to discover theories, practices, and tips and tricks.
It’s also not a bad idea for teachers to put themselves back in the classroom setting. Formal classes can result in pay raises, and possibly even career development. As an added bonus, many school districts also allocate funds for teachers that want to pursue additional degrees, making it a little bit easier to enroll.
Finally, there are also online resources that are a great way to engage in continued education.
Edutopia and Mind Shift are both popular blogs that are written by educators with the specific purpose of creating a culture of conversation and learning.
