Integrating technology into classroom doesn't only mean teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a class. However, it means to enhance the learning process and to reinforce engagement that influence students' achievements and the academic performance. So, technology, when utilized in collaborative learning methods, it aims at advancing higer-order thinking and problem solving skills, and prepare students for the workface.
Thus, the usage of technology in the classroom
helps both teachers and students to develop skills essential for the 21st
century in order to be successful in the future. For instance, working on
different projects by collaborating with others on forums or by sharing
documents on their virtual learning environments can encourage collaboration
with students in the same classroom, same school and even with other classrooms
around the world. Also, the usage of online whiteboard could help the teacher
to ask a question in class and the students write their responses on their
whiteboards and so the teacher immediately gets a response from every student
and so that teachers can instantly see and share. Moreover, the usage of
instructional videos can enable students to learn new concepts and skills and
engage in practice activities, all at their own pace. In addition, the breakout
rooms that becomes a popular feature among students during remote learning
would help students to connect and learn from each other with a limited time
especially because each breakout room would be purposeful and meaningful.
As a result, when
technology is integrated into lessons, students are expected to be more
interested in the subjects they are studying. Technology provides different
opportunities to make learning more fun and enjoyable in terms of teaching same
things in new ways. For instance, delivering teaching through gamification,
taking students on virtual field trips and using other online learning
resources. What is more important is that technology can encourage a more
active participation in the learning process which can be hard to achieve
through a traditional lecture environment. The ultimate goal of technology
integration is to completely redefine how we teach and learn, and to do things
that we never could before the technology was in our hands. As a result, we can
say that technology is heuristic!
