Educators know by now that engaging instruction is the best way to ensure students are involved in learning and absorbing new lessons and concepts. These days, the right edtech tools and interactive technologies can open up a wealth of engaging teaching and learning possibilities.
But using technology tools simply because they’re technology tools won’t cut it–and this is where strong teaching, combined with innovative technology, team up for a truly new teaching and learning experience.
In Pennsylvania’s Peters Township School District, educators are transforming teaching and learning with interactive and engaging technology.
“If you’re using technology just to use it, and it really isn’t helping educate your students, then you’re finding the toy with which to waste your time,” said Joe Bratetich, a fifth grade teacher in the district. “In society, our kids have devices–they have smartphones, they have tablets, they have computers. They’re always visually stimulated in the world outside of school. If our clasrooms are unnatural with the rest of the world, it just doesn’t work.”
Related: Will interactive virtual learning stick around after the pandemic?
“Schools have been historically low-tech, and we’re really working hard to break that model. With the solution we’ve put in place, [we’ve been able to do that] fairly easily,” said Adam Swinchock, the district’s director of technology. “All of the dollars we’re spending go into the classroom.”
The return on investment is evident in students’ classroom engagement.
“The fact that we’re getting students out of their seats, they really want to participate, and they’re excited to be a part of the classroom environment just because of that piece of technology–how do you really put a dollar figure on that?” he added.
To learn more about the Peters Township School District’s efforts and to find more resources for interactive technologies and engaging learning, go here.
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