How To Use Technology To Increase Student Participation

One of the biggest challenges for schoolteachers is getting their students to participate in class. Whether it's due to shyness, a disinterest in the topic being discussed, or simply an inability to grasp the material, a lack of participation in class ultimately affects how a student performs on essays, exams, and the class as a whole. However, there are a number of innovative tools teachers can use to encourage more classroom participation.Technology, in particular, has played a prominent role in classroom teaching over recent years, with teachers utilising all sorts of technological resources for lessons, exam revision, and more. However, technology has also impacted student participation significantly, encouraging students not only to speak up in class, but also to take a greater interest in the material being presented to them. So it's no wonder an increasing number of teachers are relying on technology-based tools to help their students engage in classroom lessons.One of the most common types of resources includes computer or technology-based games. Technology and computer games are already a big part of youngsters' lives today; so utilising such games in the classroom is a way of applying an already-established student interest to a given lesson. Because students can often relate to such games, it's a great tool for grabbing their attention and encouraging participation.Another popular resource that teachers have been using to encourage participation is the interactive whiteboard. Interactive whiteboards engage students - often with multimedia features - making lessons more fun and interesting for them. Studies have even shown that classrooms fitted with interactive whiteboards show more student participation than classrooms that aren't – meaning the interactive whiteboard is a proven valuable tool in today's educational world.Finally, countless teachers have been relying on student response systems to aid class participation. Such systems – often resembling a remote control – allow students to respond to a teacher's question with a click of a button. The information is then transferred to the teacher's computer, which can be projected onto a screen in the form of bar graphs or pie charts, or simply kept by the teacher for assessment purposes.The idea behind student response systems is that they encourage all students to participate in class – even if there are varying levels of class motivation or lesson comprehension. It's also a great tool for helping shy students participate, as they can contribute without having to speak up or feel uncomfortable in class. Student response systems enable students to answer questions in a game-like format, making participation more intriguing and fun.With a number of technology-based tools and resources available to schools and teachers, it's now easier than ever to encourage students to participate and ultimately help them get more out of classroom lessons.