Student engagement occurs when students are motivated and interested to begin learning and actively learn.When students are engaged, they are able to focus on the current assignment with fewer distractions and they are no longer learning passively (by listening and taking notes on teacher-directed instruction). Since the goal of teachers is to teach students material they need to know according to the mandated standards and help them connect their knowledge to real-world situations, it logically follows that the goal of teacher instruction would be for students to be actively engaged in learning so they can explore, inquire, discover, and make personal connections to the material. When active learning occurs and students are engaged, they are more likely to remember and apply new knowledge and understand extensions of the material they've learned in the future.Similarly, technology can be used to enhance student learning. This means using technology to result in students’ deeper understanding of a concept or topic that allows them to demonstrate their understanding with non-traditional tools (technology rather than with traditional pencil and paper assessment). Enhancing student learning through technology allows the creation of a way that makes it easier for students to understand a given concept. The key to enhancing student learning with technology is to ensure that “the technology tool used allows students to demonstrate their understanding in a way that they could not using traditional tools” (Karen-Kolb, 2013). The point is not to use technology just for the purpose of integrating technology, but to integrate technology when it fits with a lesson such that students will gain a deeper understanding of the material using the technological tool than they have with traditional lectures, practice problems/work sheets, and projects.
Lastly, using technology to extend student learning means taking learning outside the classroom and bringing ideas and concepts into students’ everyday lives. By making connections to the real-world, students can continue to use their knowledge in their own lives and continue to grow even after they leave the school setting (Malone, 2013). We want students to be able to use what they learn in school in their personal lives without the help of us as the teacher. What good is knowledge if you can’t use it without someone telling you to? Bridging school learning to everyday life experiences is essential in order for students to grow as lifelong learners (Karen-Kolb, 2013).
In the video, English teacher Laura Migdal explains how using technology in her classroom on a regular basis allows her to give her students choice and creative options. She talks about how her integration of technology allows students to challenge themselves and become invested in learning. Migdal found that technology also facilitates collaboration because students enjoy sharing with and teaching each other about technology and what they have learned and created. Migdal shares that she has found that integrating technology into her English classroom has engaged and empowered her students, enhanced their learning, and created an even playing field between students and teacher so that they are partners in learning. Laura Migdal's classroom is an inspiration and encouragement for teachers wishing to use technology in their classrooms to enhance, engage, and extend learning.
Use technology to spur students’ desire to learn and understand. Using technology allows students the opportunity to become familiar with various technological tools and gain skills essential for 21st century careers and the ability to use technology skills in their personal lives outside of school as well. Simply using technology in student learning is engaging for students if they are able to use the technology themselves (hands-on learning). However, the hard part is enhancing and extending student learning. For example, you could have your students create a survey in Google Drive according to a subject or idea they are personally interested in (engaging). Then, you could have students compile their results from the survey on Google Forms and use Flubaroo to create a spreadsheet displaying the results of their survey (enhancing learning because it allows students to visualize results using pictures, graphs, and percentages). Finally, students could create and share a presentation reflecting on what they learned from the results of their survey and what they could have done differently to obtain different or better results. This extends students learning by allowing them the opportunity to research, obtain data, and give opinions on results to persuade others on an idea or concept. After doing this activity, students would also have the ability to use Google Drive, Google Forms, and Google Presentations and the skill of carrying out a survey and obtaining results, in their lives outside of school and in the present and future. Engagement, enhancement, and extension successful!Engaging, enhancing, and extending student learning is a difficult thing to plan in our everyday lessons. However, with the use of technological tools and some creativity for activities, teachers can successfully engage, enhance, and extend student learning in order for students to actively learn, be personally motivated, and to grow as lifelong learners in their quest for knowledge!
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References
Keren-Kolb, Liz (2013). Engage, enhance, and extend learning! Learning & Leading with Technology.
Lehigh University Library & Technology Services (2010). Strategies and initiatives. Retrieved from http://www.lehigh.edu/ltsplan/strategies.shtml
Malone, Kailey (2013). Engage, enhance and extend learning! Retrieved from http://malonekailey.blogspot.com/2013/09/engage-enhance-and-extend-learning.html
Project Tomorrow (2011). The 3 E's of education: Enabled, engaged, empowered. Retrieved from
http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/pdfs/SU10_3EofEducation(Students).pdf
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