Teachers use technology to keep pupils engaged

Technology is essential when it comes to educating children today, according to George Couros, who delivered the keynote presentation at the Wolf Creek Public Schools 21st Century Learning Symposium held at Bluffton School on Jan. 30.

Couros is the division principal of innovative teaching and learning for Parkland School Division, and has travelled the world to witness first-hand the many different styles of teaching that exist. A growing trend he sees among them all is their adaptation of technology in the classroom environment — something he describes as being a way of keeping kids engaged during lessons that may otherwise see their minds wander.

From Barcelona to Shanghai, and even in Bluffton, schools are becoming more and more technology-oriented: instead of banning gadgets such as cellphones and tablets, many teachers are now encouraging kids to bring them to school to embrace a style of learning that is quickly becoming the norm. According to Couros, children can now access information online in a way that is both convenient and relatively inexpensive.

He emphasized that, through social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook, students are able to obtain up-to-date information on news, classes and school announcements, while others can express themselves ways they would not do otherwise through video-sharing websites such as YouTube.

Couros’ presentation itself made good use of technology, and proved a highly effective means of getting his point across. Humorous videos and family photos were interwoven with Twitter postings that displayed the emotional capabilities of social networking — capabilities many feel become lost through technology. Personal anecdotes spoken by Couros described the compassion of strangers on the other side of the world as the result of him posting personal “tweets” online, and he encouraged teachers to introduce their students to a world of learning, fun and exploration by embracing social networking in the classroom.

While he acknowledged dangers do exist in the online realm, Couros is adamant the advantages of digital citizenship far outweigh the disadvantages. And while much of the technology he discussed has the outward appearance of being more fun than educational, he emphasized, by using technology in the classroom, children are more likely to become more engaged in their studies, and subsequently perform better academically.