Current Use of Technology in Classrooms 

Technology has always been used in classrooms to help bridge the gap between students and teachers. Over the years, the evolution of Technology has served as a catalyst for innovation, and the transforming of traditional classrooms into hubs of interactive learning experiences.  

Do you remember the days of dusty chalkboards, monotonous lectures, and textbook-heavy learning experiences? 

Well, this concept has been strategically improved to offer a vibrant landscape of engaging tools for both the students and the teachers. Jamaica, like any other Caribbean country, has utilized/implemented the use of technology in schools to allow students.

Five Uses of Technology in Classrooms

1. Interactive boards – Gone are the days of static displays, dusty chalkboards, and whiteboards as today’s society calls for the use of interactive boards. Interactive boards empower educators to create immersive learning environments, where students actively engage with digital content through touch-sensitive interfaces. In layman's terms “bring the lesson to life.
2. Audiovisual Presentations – Resource allocations have always been one of the main deterrents to innovation and as such, countries like Jamaica utilize technologies that they are privy to. This means that they utilize a cheap cost-effective multimedia platform that captivates students' interest using animation, images, and videos. Audiovisual presentations facilitate dynamic storytelling, enabling educators to craft compelling narratives that resonate with diverse learning styles.

   

   Photo by jobs.ac.uk

   
   
3. Remote Learning – The pandemic in 2019, forced all of humanity into hiding and as such to continue the learning process through video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet. This is still in effect as the government of Jamaica (Ministry of Education) has approved hybrid classes as it allows educators to facilitate real-time interactions, lectures, and collaborative activities regardless of physical proximity.
4. Artificial Intelligence – AI has many uses as it can analyze vast amounts of data on student performance and learning styles. At the UWI, lectures use AI to compute climate change data as well as to analyze if a student's work was from an AI. 

   

   Photo by Vision Launch Media

5. Social Media – Imagine explaining photosynthesis using a catchy TikTok video or the French Revolution via Instagram stories. Platforms like these are becoming powerful tools for educators to explain complex concepts concisely and engagingly.

Click the following link to get a more in-depth understanding of the current use of Technology in Education: Click Here

Share your comments!!!!! 

Have you seen any of these technologies being implemented in your school? 

What other strategies can teachers use to create a more inclusive teaching and learning environment?