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Classrooms in the 90s vs. Classrooms of the Future
Say goodbye to the old school and hello to the new school a.k.a digital-ready classrooms
In the past, we used to see digital gadgets in school as distractions. Today, some schools embrace digital education fully and see it as what gives their teachers and students the ultimate edge in learning.
What does a school with an e-learning environment look like these days compared to, say, what schools looked like in the 90s? Are actual teachers replaced by augmented reality illusions or robots? Do students interact with their teachers, parents and each other purely through touch-screens? Do classrooms hover above the ground in zero-gravity?
Well, it’s a lot less sci-fi, but with equally impressive and exciting technology. Read on to discover some of the most effective innovations in e-learning today compared to past learning methods. These changes have placed many schools on top of their game, and you can do the same for your school, too!
Textbooks vs. Ebooks
While books will always, ALWAYS hold a special place in our hearts, bringing a whole stack of textbooks to and from school is not practical or environment-friendly these days.
Aside from the introduction of gadgets into the classroom, there are learning management systems available today that let students and teachers easily access thousands of personalized learning resources.
Edmodo, for example, is a closed-network, web-based learning system that offers free access to its subscribers. With this option, students can treasure books as leisurely reading materials at home instead of extra baggage they have to drag around in clunky strollers (as was the usual scenario among students and their companions in the 90s)!
DIY Visual Aids vs. Interactive Content
Like books, arts and crafts are definitely not dead but have the tendency to be a little limiting and time-consuming when used in teaching.
User-friendly digital tools like Brightspace enhance classroom and online learning with features that let teachers add image and video content to explain their lectures better. It even lets them add quizzes at the end of each lecture, which can change how students look at quiz time. Instead of dreading quizzes, they'll look forward to them and find them more relatable—just like a fun pop-quiz after watching any video on YouTube!
With these options, teachers and students can save those Manila papers, colored pens, and cartolinas for art purposes. Mother Nature will thank them for it, too.
By-The-Book Teaching Styles vs. Interactive Teaching Methods
With new digital education tools, teachers can also design their courses to the next level. These tools are now capable of helping assess which methods students receive well, relieving teachers of having to do all of that by themselves. This gives them more time to focus on creating effective and engaging courses that students will love. It also increases the chances that students will remember what they learned, too.
When teachers get to lessen the tiring administrative tasks and hone what they do best—teaching and reinventing their lecture styles—they feel empowered. So, students can look forward to what their teachers have up their sleeves instead of dreading lesson plans.
Bulletin Board Posts vs. Online Announcement Blasts
90s students and teachers, do you remember when official memos and announcements were paper circulars and print-outs that hung on bulletin boards? Today, digital education systems make it easy for school administrators and teachers to send important information to students and their parents through automated announcement blasts.
No more missing exam schedule changes, deadlines, and other important dates with the help of school management systems.
Logbooks vs. Automated Trackers
And then there are those hardbound record books to track attendance and class lists, right? These days, those notebooks belong in our memories because checklists are also included in the many features of e-learning tools! Here are other benefits of automated trackers:
Teachers can easily track students' grades and performances, helping them reach out to and help those who are lagging.
Parents are also in the loop on how their children are doing in school.
Parents can do away with frequent school visits and appointments.
With these, helpful virtual tools make sure no student is left behind. It’s a big win not just for students, but for teachers and parents, too.
Excited to make the switch to digital education in your school too? Find out how at the Globe myBusiness website.
