How to Power Synchronous Instruction With Technology

Over the last few years, we’ve seen education suddenly go fully remote, then slowly trickle back to in-person.

As such, our reliance on teaching technology rapidly swelled to the point where we were completely dependent, but as we’ve come back to the classroom, it has not necessarily waned.

If we’ve learned one thing from remote teaching, it is that technology has a significant effect on a classroom. Now that students are back, we can use that same technology to positively affect synchronous learning in-classroom.

The benefits that technology brings to synchronous learning are numerous, but perhaps the most notable of which are decreased preparation time, higher engagement, greater communication, and the ability to customize lessons.

Teaching technology decreases preparation time

To better power synchronous instruction, technology first allows teachers to do more with their time. To put a lesson together, teachers must flip through textbooks, painstakingly take notes, endlessly search materials, and then organize, prepare and finally present it to the class.

With a digital curriculum management platform, all of the content is organized, searchable, and easily editable. This means teachers can find curriculum, customize it, and even add it to a presentation with just a few clicks. This saves educators hours of time each week, allowing them to not only prepare better lessons, but more easily present them, and get their time back.

Digital platforms increase engagement

Technology also increases the engagement levels of students in the classroom. Teaching tech allows for more types of media to be used. Videos, graphics, images, music, and whiteboards are all available when it comes to technology.

These various channels allow for different experiences, and interactions, to create different experiences for the students. Students can then learn in the manners that work best for them, and the varied media makes lessons more interesting.

Further, since curriculum and lessons are readily available and easily accessible, teachers spend less time switching between screens and more time teaching, therefore negating the “switching costs” and loss of focus.

Better communication via technology

Synchronous learning technologies sessions provide greater opportunities to clarify,
emphasize, and facilitate dialogue throughout the lesson.

During a lesson, educators have far more options at their disposal to highlight connections between different concepts and present new material that is relevant to the discussion.

Likewise, students have far more means of interacting with teachers and each other. From virtual whiteboards to interactive photos to chats, these different channels allow students and teachers to engage in different and more meaningful ways.

Technology enables lesson customization

One of the best things about teaching technology is that it empowers endless customization for students of all needs. Every student learns differently and at different paces.

Digital curriculum management platforms allow teachers to easily customize, manage, and distribute lessons that fit students’ individual needs. Further, in today’s PLC-driven schools, tools like Kiddom enable effortless sharing of and collaboration of materials.

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