With the new school year in full swing, there is a wide range of tools and methods educators can explore to enhance student learning, from digital tools like AI-driven lesson creators to immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality. Discover how to select the right teaching methods and tools based on purpose, promoting student engagement, and fostering essential skills through both tech and non-tech approaches like project-based learning.
As educators and students head back to school, there is always a lot of excitement for a new school year and new learning opportunities. Over the summer, many educators participate in learning opportunities through conferences, webinars, listening to podcasts, or one of the many ways to gather new ideas to explore for the upcoming school year.
There are endless options available for enhancing learning, whether through a variety of teaching methods and strategies or the use of digital tools. These new ideas have helped to enhance teaching and learning experiences for educators and students. While having so many options is great, it is essential for educators to always first focus on the purpose behind choosing a method or selecting digital tools for use in the classroom.
When we select the most suitable methods and tools for each content area or grade level, not only will we help students to develop content area knowledge but also other skills such as SEL and digital literacy skills. We will amplify student learning potential and boost student engagement in learning.
I always recommend focusing on what the content is that we want to cover. Is it an area that students tend to struggle with or something that we need fresh ideas for? Perhaps it is something that we have considered before but for lack of time or resources, did not have an opportunity to try in our classrooms. And other times, and this was my experience, we may think that a method or a digital tool is not applicable to our class.
For example, as a language educator, I never thought about having students create with augmented and virtual reality tools. However, I used CoSpaces Edu to have students collaborate, build language skills, and have fun exploring in immersive spaces. I typically look for methods and tools that will help students develop their confidence in speaking and provide multiple modes of interacting with the content. Whether I decide to use interactive lesson tools and create a lesson or use a game-based learning tool, the benefits are that these choices help promote student agency and personalize learning as students work at their own pace. It also provides me with valuable data that I can then use to further support students or pivot my instructional plan to better meet the student’s needs.
As another example, math or science teachers may opt for tools that offer interactive simulations or virtual manipulatives that help students visualize abstract concepts. As a possibility, the use of augmented and virtual reality apps enables students to immerse in learning and manipulate objects to then better understand the concepts. A history teacher may explore tools that offer virtual trips or simulations for students to explore famous landmarks or interact with items that are potentially dangerous or hard to access.
Digital lesson planning and content creation tools can be invaluable resources for teachers. They can streamline the planning process and enhance instructional practices. The tools available can help teachers brainstorm ideas, organize, create, and deliver their lessons. With all of the generative AI options available, educators can leverage these tools to create a variety of instructional materials for students or simply to brainstorm new lesson ideas. I recommend exploring Eduaide.Ai, MagicSchool AI, Quizizz, or TeachAid to create anything from lesson hooks, class activities, and unit plans to gamification options and assessments. Each of these provides libraries of resources to choose from and assists teachers with understanding how to leverage AI and save time while creating. I also started using Noodle Factory to create a library of my own teaching materials and then have an assistant for creating quizzes, embedding videos, and more.
Students often are hesitant in class to share their thoughts or provide an answer for fear of making a mistake. Something that I've noticed in my classroom over the years is that there is a lack of confidence. Students need to feel comfortable in their learning space and have a variety of options for conveying where they are in their learning journey. There have been several digital tools, such as Flip, available that enabled students to record simply their voice or a video, to share what they are learning and where teachers were able to give them feedback. The benefit of digital options is that students can respond in a comfortable space that enables them to build their confidence over time and receive the valuable and authentic feedback they need from their teachers.
For some new ideas, I recommend checking out Snorkl App, which offers a whiteboard space that can be used to have students solve math problems, balance chemistry equations, write a narrative, and so many other ways to use it. Students respond and record their answers, which are then analyzed using AI. Within only a few moments, students receive AI-generated feedback that provides support, clarification, guidance, and boosts confidence. Teachers can also provide written or spoken feedback to students. There are also activities available in the Snorkl library for teachers to get started right away. My students enjoyed using this for speaking activities. Padlet also has the option for students to record audio or video and share that on a collaborative space and further engage in discussion. And with their new AI options for generating lessons and other resources, it helps to save teachers some time too.
While understanding how to use technology is important, and educators providing opportunities for students to build these skills, it is also important that they learn in ways that don't involve technology. When students engage in STEM challenges or Project-based learning (PBL), or design thinking and rather than focusing on technology use, their effort is on the process of creating, collaborating, problem-solving, thinking creatively, and reflecting, it helps them to develop the essential skills that they need to be successful in the future.
Some of the tools previously mentioned can be used as ways for students to share their learning or to provide a reflection. These tools can also be used to help teachers design these learning opportunities for students. In any content area, giving students an opportunity to explore a topic of interest through project-based learning or to learn more about possibilities in STEM careers is important, especially with such an increase in demand for people in these areas.
There are many choices available and the key is thinking about the purpose and also trying something that might be a little bit different for you and for your students to learn with and from them as well. the start of a new school year is the perfect time to dive into new ideas and have fun learning together.
About the Author:
Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a World Language and STEAM Educator at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. She is also an Attorney, Edtech Consultant, Speaker, and the author of nine books about education and edtech. Follow her on Twitter/X, Instagram, and connect on LinkedIn. Contact Rachelle.