5 ways to digitally enhance your classroom

Britannica Digital Learning are leading providers of digital learning products. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., is a global digital educational publisher with products that provide timely, relevant and trustworthy information and instructional products used in schools, universities, homes, libraries and workplaces throughout the world. Britannica Digital Learning work closely with schools, parents and educators, designing products for the 21st-century classroom and today’s home learning environments. They are a pioneer in digital education, and their products are marked by engaging and trustworthy content.

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In the digital age, it is a challenge for teachers to ensure that their lessons keep up with the increasingly creative and vibrant media-led society in which we live, as well as to ensure that students are kept engaged in their education. It is even more important to engage students at a young age, so as to engender a love of learning early in life.

This is no easy feat. Teachers must contend with limitations such as device access, classroom technology hiccups, budgets for hardware and tools and, of course, time. They must learn to use the hardware and resources well enough to be able to teach others to do so, while also managing the concerns that go along with students being given access to the Internet or social media.

Here are five ways to use digital resources in the classroom.

1. Make reading active with digital annotation.

Annotation is a skill that allows readers to interact and connect with text. It elevates readers from being third-party observers to becoming part of the story, which supports a deeper understanding and improved retention. Instead of simply reading the text, readers who annotate learn to question, analyse, and think critically about the information they are absorbing.

With digital annotation capabilities, students can engage in activities such as: exploring new vocabulary, answering teacher-led questions to ensure understanding of key concepts, and formulating their own questions as they read through text.

2. Help research come alive.

For example, ask students to choose and research a scientific topic through images, text pieces or video available through safe classroom products such as LaunchPacks: Science. Expose students to a variety of media - all of which come together to give learners a multi-channel approach to learning.

3. Personalise instruction for unique student needs.

Classroom technology tools make it easier for teachers to cater to unique student needs. Digital resources allow teachers and students to modify the reading level and the types of content they are viewing, and empowers the student to get additional help through the digital resources as needed, meaning all learners are getting the same opportunities in their education.

4. Pair content with the curriculum.

Giving students the opportunity to read engaging content relevant to the curriculum, with links and suggestions to related content, allows them to guide themselves through their research while still supporting curriculum goals. This encourages creative learning, with learners encouraged to improve their own research skills, blend prior knowledge with new ideas, and explore science concepts key to their learning needs.

5. Create a classroom of student collaboration.

Have students collaborate on projects in real time. They can edit, add content, ask questions and discuss their topics, even when they’re not in the same room!

With the multitude of classroom technology products in the education market, our goal is to be an informational resource to help you create a thriving digital ecosystem for your schools. To learn about Britannica's newest digital instruction resource for science lessons, visit LaunchPacks: Science. Get free access now, or take a sneak peek and search the multimedia content sets available. Visit www.britannica.co.uk for more information.

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