Skip to content Skip to footer

Advanced smart classroom tools to enhance learning experiences

These days, if it’s not showing up on a screen, kids may not be interested in it. While some adults tried to get kids to move away from this device-dependency, many have actually encouraged learning with smart devices.

School administrators and teachers are now realising that new high-tech gadgets not only hold students’ attention for longer but also improve their ability to learn. The concept of a smart classroom builds on the idea of incorporating the latest advancements in the education technology. Numerous new tools have been developed to help educators and instructors to keep a track of the students and advise them when needed.

With so much new ed tech being made available at such a rapid pace, teachers may face a hard time deciding what equipment will be beneficial to the students in their classrooms. Our blog aims to simplify this process by highlighting four advanced smart classroom tools that can significantly enhance learning experiences

Smart Interactive whiteboards (IWBs)

Interactive whiteboards or SMART boards offer a solution that will be used in the classroom on a regular basis. Presentations are made more robust and given more depth. When a picture or document is displayed on the whiteboard, teachers can write on them with an Internet-connected stylus that provides a plethora of additional information to the lesson. This information could include definitions, extra images, references or accompanying audio and video. Teachers can also archive and share any lesson that has used the board, and previous lessons can be instantly revisited to reinforce new topics being explained.

High definition document cameras

A budget-friendly device that can help to more actively engage students, document cameras allow teachers to display worksheets on a screen or to individual devices exactly like a lamination projectors from the yesteryears. Group exercises, quizzes and annotations can be displayed with the camera instead of on individual sheets of paper. This also helps classrooms become more environmentally friendly as well as technologically savvy along with minimised paper wastage.

Cloud-based communication systems

One of the most useful aspects of adding technology into a classroom environment is the ability to broaden the scope of what students can introduce to on a daily basis. With Internet communication services like voice-over-IP, IP-telephony, cloud video conferencing, teachers can arrange for virtual field trips to places they wouldn’t be able to take their classes otherwise. Experts in specific topics can give a talk through Skype and students can collaborate with one another on projects online.

Tablets and ebooks

Like laptops and smartphones, tablets and e-readers are becoming increasingly popular with students outside of school. Harnessing familiar technology inside the classroom can help to engage students and help them feel more comfortable with the material since it is being presented in a format they are used to. Providing electronic copies of textbooks also allows students to go into the lesson more in depth, as links to additional material can be provided inside the text. Key concept summaries can also be provided at the end of a section, as well as digital flashcards that cover the lesson plan.

All of these devices can help schools and teachers remarkably improve learning experiences for their students. Furthermore, they can also use classroom management software that can not only eliminate classroom distractions, but also limit and control applications, internet, print, and drive usage. Technology is becoming an increasingly vital part of education, here’s to the connected and advanced smart classroom of the future.

(Content and image courtesy: www.itbusinessedge.com)