Have you wondered why your students forget so easily? Nothing is so frustrating as teaching a topic today and the next day your students can’t answer a question from the topic you taught yesterday. Many teachers get mad at students especially in primary school stages for this scenario. They feel the young children play a lot and forget everything they were taught the previous day.
But is that really the case? How do you do the same thing every time and expect a different result? Have you heard of letting children participate in class activities? These days, it goes beyond just letting them answer questions in class. Children nowadays are distracted by so many things: phone’s, games, tv, computer, social media etc. The best ways to help them internalize what you teach is to engage them with the things that distract them.
Let me share one strategy I use that works wonders. When I teach a topic say artificial intelligence, I give them assignment to produce a PowerPoint presentation on the topic. I give them an outline and show them where to get resources. They come to class and present. This strategy has never failed! I discovered that almost every child registers the details of the lesson after the research and presentation. Even the dull ones come to live with this method. Try it and you will see.
The implications of this is that you the teacher must integrate technology in your classroom. The use of computers, tablets, and phones in teaching is no longer a suggestion. It’s a requirement if you want to get the best out of your students especially in upper primary. These audiovisual equipment are the tools you need to get children’s attention in this age that is full of distractions and even stress.
Engage them with the things that distract them and you will see a big change in their learning outcomes. It’s like asking a known thief to hold your purse. It’s risky though, but the thief cannot lie if the purse gets missing. There are higher chances your purse will be safe! Only you have to warn and forewarn him about the need to keep your purse safe. The same way you must ensure your young students use these gadgets safely. Make sure you involve their parents to watch over them and help them at home.
By now you may be saying “How do I teach my students to use PowerPoint when I don’t know how to use it?” This is a good thing to say. Many teachers face the challenge of not knowing where to start with technology. But the truth is that we live in the 21st century where technology is integrated in every industry especially education. As a school teacher, you can no longer afford to pretend that the way you teach in your class doesn’t matter. Technology is a disruptive force and it is not going away, instead it will be used more and more. So the earlier you begin to learn to use it, the better for you and your students.
You do not need to be a tech guru to use technology in your classroom. All you need is to take it one step at a time. There are many free resources on the internet to help you learn for example there are many YouTube videos that teaches you how to create a PowerPoint for teaching any topic of your choice. Watch here. It is time for teachers to be intentional about teaching students in such a way to prepare them to compete with their counterparts from other anywhere in the world. This will help to build our nation and make the rising generation grow in tech to become innovators and job creators and not job seekers.