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Whether you’re an experienced teacher or just getting started helping as a supportive parent, trying to find ways to engage your students in technology more can be challenging. You ultimately get new students every year, requiring you to start fresh by teaching new skills. One of the most prominent issues for teachers is student engagement, so you’re not alone. But how can you get your students more interested in technological skills? Here are five different ways to increase your college students’ tech skills.
1. Create Competition
The biggest problem with students learning new and unfamiliar topics is a lack of motivation. By integrating competition into their lessons, you can give them the motivation they need to understand new things and learn how to venture out of their comfort zone. More specifically, you can use games online as a way for students to learn new tech skills. By using gamified learning, you’re allowing them to engage with a computer, memorize a keyboard, and you’re setting a foundation for computer knowledge in general. Typing games in particular are a great source of entertainment, and they help students to learn tech skills that they’ll use in every area of their lives. Aside from typing games, you can also set up scavenger hunts for them to complete. Create a list of random facts and lessons for them to look for online, allowing them to become more familiar with their computer skills on certain websites and software. Maybe even create group assignments or collaborations so they can get comfortable working together with others.
2. Introduce Learning Software
Learning software can be a great tool for requiring students to use computers, as software can be used for many different subjects. There are a few different ways you can integrate learning software into your classes, like using an online IDE to increase particular tech skills. Aside from that, you can also integrate online textbooks since they’re cheaper and easier to access. Also, you can require students to review web pages through learning software, which makes them provide feedback on unreliable sources. This skill can be used throughout their entire lives, as there are so many different websites that deliver false information that can be hard to detect.
3. Integrate Social Media
Another great way to keep students motivated with learning computer skills is by integrating social media, as most students use social media platforms already. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or some other social platform, you can create a group including everyone in the classroom and allow them to post comments, questions and concerns about the criteria or issues in general. To get students started in posting, you can create discussion posts to initiate conversation and break the ice. Furthermore, using social media can be helpful for you as a teacher to gather feedback on the course overall as well as certain assignments and projects. You can gather feedback by creating polls and online surveys to see how students are really responding to the course requirements. This is a great way for students to really express their concerns or confusion privately without coming to you directly.
4. Promote Digital Assignments
One of the best ways to increase computer time among students is by requiring them to use their tech skills to complete assignments. This gives them the opportunity to create digital content of their own while honing in on their computer skills. Requiring this also allows students the opportunity to display their individual talents, as learning is more effective when people can express their personal insights. You can allow them to express themselves by assigning blog posts, digital art, podcasts or any other computer assignment. This not only increases their comfortability with computers, but also increases their ability to express their individuality.
5. Increase Technology During Classtime
Lastly, you can elevate your students’ tech skills by simply increasing the amount of technology you use in class. Whether that’s assigning homework, creating class assignments or more fun opportunities like games or scavenger hunts, requiring students to learn computer skills in any way can be helpful. Consider using a digital calendar to post updates, assign due dates and keep track of upcoming deadlines. Furthermore, increase computer time by creating digital presentations yourself. This can be done with slideshows or lessons, and it helps to teach tech skills to students while further engaging them in the class content.
Conclusion
Overall, you can elevate your students’ tech skills by increasing the amount of class time and class requirements online. Up the amount of time you allow them to use technology and create more assignments that require technological engagement. This will promote their learning of new skills, and it can allow them to become more comfortable using technology in ways that they’ll benefit even beyond your class.
