student-centered learning

“Students want to be able to study anytime, anywhere.”

The tablet and smartphone revolution is here to stay. Mobile technology provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to invigorate their curricula by adjusting to the learning styles of today’s students. Students want to be able to study anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace. Integrating mobile technology with education gives students the media-rich and on-demand learning experiences they crave.

By enabling students to take control of the pace and location of their learning, mobile technology gives them free reign to learn in their preferred style. Whether that means switching between numerous browser tabs (learning materials, entertainment, and social networking), or focusing on a single learning activity, students are empowered to learn in a manner most effective to them. This freedom falls in line with the relatively new trend of student-centered learning, which gives students increased independence and responsibility—qualities they will need for the real world.

Students’ immersion in mobile technology means that they are “always on.” Rather than seeing this as a detriment, you can use it to your advantage. Reach students on their preferred medium. Just as entertainment and media companies can constantly push content to students’ mobile devices, so can you! Blasting out learning materials or lessons through social media outlets is a surefire way to engage students who are already on their mobile devices. Taking the learning to the students rather the students to the learning is the new paradigm presented by mobile learning.

Use social networks to blast out lessons!

In addition to engaging students through social media, you can also use a multitude of polling or quizzing apps to receive instant feedback and assessment from students. One such app is Socrative, which enables teachers to swiftly quiz, poll, or assess students.  This heightens the potential for gamifying your students’ learning and staying constantly connected.

There are plenty of professional development courses that are tailored to showing teachers how to enthrall learners through the use of mobile technology. Have a look at our very own signature course, Technology Driven Classrooms (TDC). TDC is overflowing with innovative strategies and techniques specifically designed to enthrall learners through the use of mobile technology.

Also, make sure to keep coming back to this blog as we continue our weekly posting series on engaging digital natives!

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