A New and Improved Classroom Experience

Reflecting on the article, What's in store for the post-pandemic classroom? by ESchoolNews, I believe all classroom experiences will improve with the benefit of technology use. 

Educators have been through the ringer the past couple years! With virtual learning, hybrid learning, and now back to in-person learning, we have done it all. Research from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in an Educator Confidence Report, revealed "rising confidence in mastery and benefit of learning technologies" (Ascione, 2021). Teachers and students have had probably the most exposure in the least amount of time to educational technologies and how to use them. Both parties have absorbed and processed a massive amount of change moving through this pandemic. No wonder there has been a increase in confidence using technology in just one year, we have used it every day since being at home! 

So how does that help us moving forward? Hopefully, more teachers and educators will continue to utilize the technology tools that have helped them at home in the classroom. With more resources available, teachers could be more effective in the classroom. Now that students know how to access instructional content whenever, wherever, their learning experiences can happen outside of the classroom as well! CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jack Lynch, states, "The future of the classroom is high-tech and high-touch. We have an opportunity to experience the 'best of both worlds' - to continue to use technology purposefully, for differentiated instruction, workflow, practice and more, while benefiting from the social gathering provided by school communities and that is so crucial to student well-being." (Ascione, 2021)

Keep the ball rolling, keep up the confidence in tech, and use the (overwhelming amount of) resources we have gained and collected since the beginning of virtual learning. Don't let being back in the classroom deter you away from screens. Keep the connection of online learning going, using it to enhance your classroom experience! 

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2021/08/27/whats-in-store-for-the-post-pandemic-classroom/