How People Learn and what might technology have to do with it

Using technology as a tool for learning in class or at home is that as easy as it seems to be, but there is no reason to be afraid of implementing it in your class.  To do this succesfully there are many things to consider before you present this great aid to your students.

There are four pilars to know by the time we teach, especially with this type of means.

·         Learning occurs in context: try to look for activities that make sense with familiar experiences and knowledge and that can be used to learn in class. This is something we have to plan before teaching the lesson.

·         Learning is active: students are your audience, this is your target, involve them in the learning process in order to accomplish the class’ objectives.

·         Learning is social: form groups with your students and let them work, pupils can learn a lot from their own peers.

·         Learning is reflective: take some time for feedback, this is useful for you as a teacher, and useful for them as students.

In the other hand you should consider that technology is so powerful, that it can be used against you. How? Well, children are extremely intelligent and they have great skills for technology use, also computers, and iPods and all these devices get pupils’ attention so good that they can get lost and use them for playing instead of learning. Some of them even find softwares of game that are funny for them and apply those to interrupt the class.

Therefore, when you decide to use any technological machine in your classes, establish rules of usage, also, explain to them how to use it responsably and how to obtain useful information for their learning process. Plus, try to use softwares and techniques to teach while they can have fun with it, because otherwise they will search for other things on the net to get entertained.

Once you achieve order, and discipline in the class, you are ready to use any technological device to want to use.