Planning for Change
With all of the dynamic changes in education over the last few years, planning has never been more crucial. The common core shift, paired with enhanced focus on teacher effectiveness has left educators in a unique position that requires calculated balance. In order for teachers to maintain or even increase student performance while introducing new methods of teaching, for both student and teacher, they must find a way to reduce that learning curve while meeting and exceeding expectations. Luckily, as quickly as education initiatives transform, so does the technology designed to help teachers achieve their goals more efficiently and in a fraction of the time.
Technology Should be a Help Not a Hindrance
Integrating technology into the classroom should be seamless and exciting, not dreadful. Many teachers report being overwhelmed with the expectations surrounding the integration of technology, since they will first need to find, learn, and merge new technology with their instruction before having to then teach their students. Strong educational technology should make planning easier, classroom expectations clearer, instruction more individualized and learning more comprehensive. “Tablets, SMART Boards and the Internet are all tools that can be used to improve the delivery of lessons and provide specific instructional plans based on individual student needs.” Through technology, teachers have access to more instructional modalities than ever before which extends the reach to students who learn non-traditionally or with learning preferences that were previously harder to accommodate.
The Swell of Technology in the Classroom
Technological use is increasing substantially in the classroom as teachers find innovative tools to enhance student learning and strengthen instruction. The U.S. Department of Education’s Evaluation of the Enhancing Education Through Technology Program: Final Report (2009), indicated the following statistics about the most popular use of technology in the classroom:
- 60% grade students (e.g. using gradebook software keeping individual records)
- 58% develop curriculum and lesson plans
- 54% locate instructional materials on the Internet
- 54% support new teaching methods (e.g. cooperative learning)
- 52% design and administer student assessments
- 49% enhance student learning in reading
- 45% enhance student learning in math
- 35% enhance student learning in science
As the use of technology becomes more tangible, the practical value for teachers is becoming more pervasive and coherent.
Employing Innovative Solutions
As the need to enhance efficiency increases, solutions to help streamline tasks and augment instruction are giving birth to a new era of learning. Utilizing progressive solutions like Planbook Plus, an advanced lesson planning software tool, allows for a multi-faceted approach to integrating technology while restructuring outdated practices. Planbook Plus is an intuitive tool that promotes collaboration, ensures comprehensive coverage of standards, and generally increases lesson plan organization. The ability to quickly and easily create a scope and sequence that can be personalized, shared, readily adapted, and contains all materials for each lesson plan, makes planning year-over-year effortless. As each lesson plan can be mapped to national or state standards, it’s an excellent way to ensure necessary performance indicators are met. With the ability to collaborate and share, educators can work cooperatively to develop their plans, as well as share those completed plans with students to give them a preview of what they’ll be learning.
As education continues to transform, the emersion of technology will continue. Through the use of cohesive tools like Planbook Plus, both teachers and students will be ahead of the curve and enjoy a more organized means of learning. Remember, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” –John Dewey
