Digital modes of teaching are fast becoming a vital part of the current classroom. To effectively use digital methods, educators must keep themselves updated with emerging technologies that can be applied in the 21st-century classroom. This essay will evaluate two software applications and discuss the benefits of the technology tools. Applications I would highly recommend are Google Classroom and Socrative Software.
Practical tools like Google Classroom assist teachers in establishing a well-managed and well-organized classroom atmosphere. Numerous functions are available with Google Classroom, including the ability to grade assignments, administer quizzes, evaluate surveys, and write college essays (Sudarsana et al., 2019). In essence, the program is integrated with Google programs such as Google Docs, which compile the actions taken by students. Using Google Classroom, the facilitator may engage the students in ELA activities such as group discussion, brainstorming, and step-by-step instructions, which are suitable for the general education classroom. Google Classroom can be utilized for students with speech and language disabilities in that the facilitator can provide step-by-step instructions for assignments to students with speech and language disabilities. If students lack verbal and nonverbal skills, the teacher will most likely assign them to the “passive” role upon instruction (Sudarsana et al., 2019). Google Classroom provides various ELA activities adaptable for students with speech and language disabilities. These activities include collaboration through Google Hangouts and posting images or videos to the Google Classroom forum. In addition, students with speech and language disabilities may use Google Classroom to create web pages, blogs, and wikis to express their thoughts.
Socrative is an interactive tool that involves kids and tracks their response rate. Facilitators can efficiently assign tasks, including multiple choice questions. Even the student’s responses to the data are tracked and reported by Socrative (Flynn, 2022). The Software allows instructors to create a vast array of instructional games and quizzes that enhance students’ critical thinking and testing proficiency. Socrative Software is a highly effective tool for facilitating classroom teaching and learning. The Socratic function of this program allows students to virtually quiz one another on lesson material. This program also has a “whiteboard” function, similar to the Google Classroom “forum” function. Still, it allows teachers and students to assign notes and images by writing directly onto the board in real-time. Teachers can post directions or questions on the board that students can respond to on their computer screens. Students may also share real-time images or videos and post written material to be commented upon by their peers. For students with speech and language disabilities, the Software provides an unparalleled opportunity to participate with peers by posting images or videos to the Socrative forum (Flynn, 2022). Additionally, students can complete assignments or assessments through this program non-threatening manner.
The use of both these programs is effective in creating an engaging classroom experience for students of all aptitudes. Using these programs allows an educator to involve students in various activities that are flexible and adaptable to their learning styles and needs. Both Google Classroom and Socrative Software provide numerous ways for teachers to maximize their students’ potential through various enhanced interactive tools. These technologies have evolved but have become increasingly popular amongst educators due to their many advantages. To effectively use digital methods, educators must keep themselves updated with emerging technologies that can be applied in the 21st-century classroom.
References
Flynn, J. (2022). Home – Learn With Socrates. Learn With Socrates. https://www.withsocrates.com/.
Sudarsana, I. K., Putra, I. B. M. A., Astawa, I. N. T., & Yogantara, I. W. L. (2019, March). The use of Google classroom in the learning process. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1175, No. 1, p. 012165). IOP Publishing.