27 Brilliant Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom with Ease

Today, there are so many technology-based teaching methods and resources to effectively engage your students and build their skills. However, many educators encounter difficulties when using technology in the classroom.

Maybe a specific platform is too hard to introduce. Or maybe it won’t run on your devices. But despite the challenges, you know that there are so many benefits with educational technology. 

If you’re ready to overcome the huddles and find the right educational technology for your classroom, you’ve come to the right place!

What is educational technology?

Educational technology is a pretty broad term that covers anything digital that is used to facilitate learning. It can be everything from apps to grading systems to learning platforms. 

If you’re not quite sure where to begin or don’t feel confident enough to use technology in your classroom, you’re not alone! But don’t worry, there is a solution. 

Everyone knows that this is the direction that education is heading. So educators across the country and world have banded together to create professional development resources to help you use educational technology. 

Ready to hear some of the options that are out? Let’s check out these 27 easy ways to use technology in the classroom:

Delivering Content

1. Run a Virtual Field Trip

If a location is out of reach due to logistical issues, you can take your students on a virtual adventure right from the comfort of your classroom.

There are apps you can use to explore famous buildings, such as the Empire State Building, and natural phenomena, such as the Great Barrier Reef.

You may be asking: “How can I connect these far off places with a learning objective?” 

You could visit a foreign landmark as a history lesson. You could have students hold a mock conversation in the country’s language that they are visiting as a language lesson. Or you could study the area itself from a geographic perspective.

2. Preview Field Trips Virtually

Similarly, you can use Google Earth to explore locations before actually visiting them.

Let’s say your class is set to go to the local zoo. Find the location, traveling through it using Street View to see which exhibits pique the most student interest. You can quickly discuss what they’re looking forward to, boosting excitement levels for the trip.

All this activity takes is a device connected to a projector or large screen.

3. Quiet a Noisy Classroom

To make it easier to give lessons and presentations, use a tool that tracks and displays classroom noise.

For example, Too Noisy is an accurate noise meter. You’ll likely find that — without having to tell them — students will become quiet when the meter spikes. The visual reminder can be just what they need.

This means most of them won’t be as disruptive when you give a lesson or run an independent work activity. They may even shush each other.

You’ll save your voice and be able to focus more on teaching. Win-win!

4. Use Videos for Mini-Lessons

You can bolster your lesson plans by using videos as stand-alone overviews for some topics.

Also available as skill reviews and previews, there are many websites that host teacher-made video content. TeacherTube is an example of an education-only version of YouTube, covering core school subjects.

You can search for a specific topic or browse by category, quickly finding relevant videos. For example, searching for “middle school algebra” will load a results page containing study guides, specific lessons and exam reviews.

This easy way to use technology in the classroom adds a multimedia element to your lessons, which can effectively resonate with visual learners.

Research has shown that the use of animated videos can positively impact a child’s development in several competence areas including memory, creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving.

5. Co-ordinate Live Video

You no longer have to limit yourself to pre-recorded videos if you want to have subject matter experts to deliver lessons. You can easily video conference them into your classroom. 

Whether it’s a contact from another school or a seasoned lecturer you reach out to, bringing an expert into your classroom will expose your students to new ideas, allow them to ask questions in real time and can lighten your workload.

You can add the person as a contact on Zoom, Microsoft Teams or whichever platform your school uses!

6. Play Podcasts

Playing relevant podcasts for kids can not only supplement your lessons but engage auditory learners. Or you can even use them as a learning station.

Made by groups ranging from media giants to ordinary people passionate about a particular subject, you can find podcasts that are:

• Interviews with the author of a book your students are reading
• Lessons about studying techniques and strategies
• Explorations of a curriculum-related topic
• Lectures from professors

7. Add Multimedia Elements to Presentations

Slideshow presentations that are entirely made up of text can disengage students. However, ones with multimedia elements can hold their attention with the changing content delivery method. Where it makes sense, try to include:

• Images
• Graphs
• Pictographs
• Podcast clips
• Sound effects
• Short video lessons
• News, movie and television show clips

If you can’t find relevant graphs and pictographs (or just don’t want to spend time scouring the internet), you can also make them yourself. 

There are free online tools that take you through the steps of inputting data, adjusting labels and modifying your design. Here are some great ones:

• Flip - Flip offers a way for you to prepare discussion topics and record a video of yourself presenting the topic. Students will then respond in a discussion forum with a video of their own. Making this an at-home assignment gives students time to brainstorm their answers and feel more comfortable in front of the camera. This edtech tool resembles the popular social media app Snapchat, which may increase student engagement and excitement about academic topics. 
• Prezi - Prezi is commonly used as a presentation tool by students, but it can also be used by teachers. This virtual presentation software allows presenters to be on the same screen as the graphics, creating a more engaging presentation that doesn’t just have a voiceover.  
• Storybird - Storybird is a digital platform that encourages students to become better writers by adding images to their stories. It can pair up an entered word with an image. Or it can work vice versa when a picture is added first. For example, when teaching the different parts of plant cells, each vocabulary word can be followed by a picture of that part of the plant. 
• Venngage - Venngage is a fun and easy-to-use design software that students love to use. It can be used to create infographics to visualize data and clearly present ideas. The graphics are saved online and can easily be shared with current and future students.

If you already use slideshow presentations, adding different kinds of media can be an easy way to level them up and make them more engaging.

8. Send Adaptive Content

If each of your students has a smartphone and is always on it, why not use that to your advantage by delivering content through their phones? There are adaptive learning programs that students can access through tablets and smartphones.

For example, ClassK12 offers a mix of adaptive math and English exercises for students. It’s made up of mobile apps that students can download onto their personal devices.

As a teacher, you can create virtual classrooms, deliver assignments and run reports. Delivering appropriate content through such programs may seem difficult, but the process is usually intuitive and automated.

9. Share an Online Class Calendar

To keep students informed regarding what will be happening in the classroom, create and share a class calendar that details lessons and highlights important dates.

You can use a program such as Google Calendar, emailing your calendar’s hyperlink to your students or their parents. This not only keeps them informed, but helps you stay organized — you’ll quickly see if you’ve set too many due dates in a short period.

And by keeping students in the loop, you’ll help them come prepared for each class.

Helping Students Process Content

10. Use Virtual Manipulatives

When teaching and reinforcing some math concepts, virtual manipulatives can be used in more ways than physical ones.

For example, a 6th grade geometry activity from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives involves using geoboards to illustrate area, perimeter and rational concepts. The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is a website made up of tasks targeted to students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. So, there’s likely something for your class. 

11. Run Learning Stations

Learning stations are a method of both delivering content and giving students different ways to process lessons. With a device at each station, you can provide videos, podcasts, slideshows and other digital media. Students can then solve challenges to build understanding of the material. This can involve:

• Using virtual manipulatives
• Solving relevant problems in a computer game
• Recording their thoughts about, and responses to, a podcast
• Contributing notes to a group Wiki page, which this guide explains in a later section

One of the best parts of this approach? It works for classes without one-to-one device use, as students can work in a group at each station.

12. Provide Online Activities for Students Who Complete Work Early

Similarly, you can set up stations for students to use when they complete work early. This gives them engaging ways to further process content. Set up a few devices that have videos, websites and educational games open. 

Take time to ensure that this material is aligned with your lesson, allowing students to delve into relevant topics.

13. Save Time for Exit Tickets

Saving ten minutes at the end of class for exit tickets is an easy way to incorporate technology. Exit tickets can take the form of:

• Online Journal Entries — Using an online notepad, students can write a journal entry to summarize what they learned.
• Slideshow Comments — Sharing copies of slideshows from the day’s lesson, students can make comments through PowerPoint or Google Slides to review and expand on important points.
• Tweets — In 280 characters or less, students can summarize the most important point they learned in class. You can easily see what they wrote by asking them to use a class-exclusive hashtag.

Exit tickets are not only quick from a student perspective, but you should find them easy to introduce and oversee.

14. Use X Hashtags to Take Questions

Just as you can use a class-exclusive hashtag for exit tickets, you can use it to take questions throughout the day. 

By inputting the hashtag in X’s search bar, you can display the feed on a screen during class or check it periodically on your device. You can choose to answer all the questions at once, or as they pop up. 

Either way, you don’t want to see an empty feed. Encourage students to ask inquiry questions, as well as specific ones related to lessons, presentations, homework and more. 

This use of technology can be especially beneficial for introverts, who may not be comfortable asking questions in front of the class.

15. Study, Review and Critique Content on Web Pages

Here’s a technology-focused spin on note taking: Find a web page with content reflecting or related to your lessons, and get students to make notes directly on the page. 

Using a program such as Bounce, you can create an interactive screenshot of any page just by inputting its URL. When students open the screenshot, they’ll see commands to create notes, feedback and other edits. 

In classrooms with one-to-one device use, students can do this individually. In classrooms without one-to-one device use, you can make it a group activity. 

Ask each group to make notes and feedback aimed at improving the web page’s content. Once each group is done, compare the edits to see which group improved the page the most.

16. Use Online Mind Maps for Class Brainstorms

A digital take on brainstorming, there are websites you can use to create clear and detailed mind maps faster than written ones. 

For example, many teachers use MindMeister, as its features are designed for students and educators. Put the program on a screen that everyone can see. Work with your students to brainstorm ideas as a way to reinforce lessons or launch a problem-based learning exercise. 

17. Gather Student Feedback

To encourage student input during content-processing activities, create and distribute surveys. In a few minutes, you can create forms and polls using applications such as:

• Socrative
• Google Forms
• SurveyMonkey
• Poll Everywhere

Students can give responses through personal or classroom devices, giving you insight about the activities they prefer. Based on the results, you may find an easy way to improve lessons. You could even ask about using new technologies in the classroom.

18. Create Assessments that are More Engaging

There are plenty of apps out there to turn dreaded quizzes and tests into a fun activity. Some of these include:

• Kahoot - Kahoot is a teacher favorite for in-class questionnaires and quizzes. This tool is super adaptable and is able to be run on many devices. Students can even join assessments remotely.
• Quizlet -Quizlet allows you to create study sets, review materials, flashcards and learning games for your whole class for any subject. There’s templates that make the process a breeze. Or you can use one of the premade study sets and by other teachers and students on a number of topics.
• Socrative - Socrative provides teachers a way to give formative assessment tools in real-time. This quiz-based app allows you to create engaging and fun assessments that gauge each student’s understanding. It can also provide feedback in multiple ways. Knowing better where each student is at will help you create targeted lesson plans. 
• Parlay - Parlay Ideas is designed for assessments that spur deeper discussions about the learning material. Teachers can see students' responses, provide feedback and give out a grade all in one place. 

Allowing Students to Create Products

19. Launch a Wiki Page for a Collaborative Assignment

Collaboration doesn’t have to just take place face-to-face, as you can give group assignments focused on creating a wiki page. There are many programs you can use to create wiki pages, which are web pages that different people can edit.

As a project, students can create one about a relevant topic. This process inherently encourages collaboration — students must contribute their own content to the page, editing and refining each other’s work.

20. Set Up Student Blogs

Blogging can be a creative outlet for students, lending itself especially well to language arts classes and other writing-heavy subjects. There are free templates and comprehensive privacy settings on platforms such as WordPress, which you can use to host each student’s blog. As for the products they can create? Some popular options are:

• Poems
• Short essays
• Diary entries from the perspective of a historical figure or character from a novel

Blogging takes some time to set up, but — once you’re rolling — it’s one of the easiest ways to introduce and use technology in the classroom.

21. Offer Open-Ended Projects

When it comes time to start a new project, give students a list of options to choose from. This way, you can appeal to their distinct learning styles, and they can effectively demonstrate their knowledge. The projects can involve:

• Designing web content
• Putting together ebooks
• Creating original artwork
• Composing musical tunes
• Crafting multimedia products

Students can use widely-accessible software to complete these projects on classroom devices. This way, you can dedicate in-class time to project work while giving students some autonomy over how they use technology in school.

22. Use Online Sign-Ups

When it comes time for students to deliver presentations, using digital signup forms is an easy way to incorporate technology. Like sharing a class calendar, send students a link to a survey. It should just contain a list of dates to choose from, so they can schedule a presentation time that works for them. They’ll likely be happy to complete the project at their own pace.

23. Base Assignments on Technology-Focused Subjects

Worried that students will find it too hard to use specific technologies when creating products? Remedy this by basing assignments on subjects related to software and other technology. 

For example, students can write guides explaining how to use their favorite computer programs. Or for a greater challenge, they can investigate and report how certain technologies have impacted history, politics or any other subject. They may even develop a new appreciation for the technologies in question.

24. Tynker

Our world has very quickly shifted to many jobs, services and experiences being offered totally online. Because of this, the skills our students need to learn to be successful have changed. 

Introducing STEM programs like coding and computer science early will set up students for success in the later stages of education and in the workforce. 

Tynker provides a great first exposure to coding with approachable tutorials. It covers skills from the most basic to more advanced.

Offering a Unique Learning Experience

25. Introduce a Game-Based Learning Platform

An exciting way to use technology in the classroom is to introduce a game-based learning platform. Most are designed to engage students, enlivening difficult topics and subjects. Research backs up other benefits, too.

For example, video games stimulate an increase in midbrain dopamine to help store and recall information, according to a 2014 article in the journal of Learning, Media and Technology.

Prodigy Education offers adaptive game-based learning through Prodigy Math and Prodigy English. Teachers can create classrooms, track student progress and deliver custom questions through assignments.

You can create and sign into your free teacher account today.

26. Play Simulations

Geared to solo and group use, online simulation games can add context and real-world applicability to your lessons. Most simulations deal with subjects such as business and economics, which require the player to have math skills higher than the elementary level. But it is possible to find ones that appeal to younger students. 

One great option is NearPod. NearPod is a more accessible and affordable virtual reality option that allows students to explore concepts in 3D and deepen their understanding. 

NearPod offers over 450 VR experiences ranging from the exploration of volcanoes to a trip to the American revolution battlefields. There are lessons for students of any grade level and every subject. 

As simulation programs become more advanced, they grow more engaging by teaching students how to apply their knowledge in a greater range of scenarios. And, because many of these programs work on most devices, you’ll have an easy time testing and using them.

27. Participate in a Webquest

Webquests encourage students to find and process information in engaging contexts, adding an interesting spin to the traditional research process. These free online adventures could, for example, place students in the role of a detective. 

To solve a specific case, they may have to collect clues — and information — related to a curriculum topic by scouring certain sources and web pages. You can create your own adventure, but you should find webquests through some Google searches. By the end of it, your students will be surprised by how much research they did.

Infographic

Created by Educational Technology and Mobile Learning — an online resource for teaching tools and ideas — below is an infographic based on this article:

Final Thoughts about Teaching Technology

Education technologies give you more ways to teach and engage students, but you must determine the best ways to use them. 

Depending on the age and makeup of your class, students may find some ideas and technologies disengaging, yet won’t want to stop using others. This list should help you find the methods and techniques that are right for you and your students.  

Create or log into your teacher account on Prodigy — an adaptive math game that adjusts content to accommodate player trouble spots and learning speeds. Aligned to math curriculum around the world, it’s used by more than 100 million teachers, students and parents.