High School students will soon move into college and career where digital tools are de rigeur. Knowing the most innovative is a great first step. Here are twelve recommended by the Ask a Tech Teacher team:
12 Innovative Digital Tools to Engage High School Students
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, keeping students engaged can be a challenge. Thankfully, technological advancements have led to the development of digital tools designed specifically to captivate high school student’s attention and enhance their learning experiences.
From virtual reality field trips to interactive quizzing platforms, these 12 tools offer diverse ways to bring lessons to life.
Let’s explore how each tool can transform the classroom environment and spark a love for learning in every student.
12 Innovative Digital Tools to Engage High School Students
Exploring innovative digital tools can transform the high school learning experience, making it more engaging and effective.
Here are 12 such tools that will truly captivate students.
1. Interactive Quizzing Platforms
Interactive quizzing platforms are revolutionizing the way educators assess understanding and retention in the classroom. These platforms turn mundane quiz sessions into lively, engaging competitions that students look forward to.
By incorporating elements like instant feedback and leaderboards, they create a learning environment that encourages participation.
2. Educational Video Content Creators
Educational video content creators are empowering educators to bring lessons to life in ways textbooks simply can’t. By enabling teachers to craft or curate videos tailored to their curriculum, these tools make complex subjects more digestible and engaging for students.
Whether it’s through animated explanations or documentaries, video content caters to various learning styles, ensuring each student can grasp difficult concepts at their own pace.
3. A Tool That Helps Them Learn to Code
Coding tools equip students with the ability to comprehend and create technology. Through interactive lessons, they can tackle real-world problems, like learning how to use a proxy with Selenium, enhancing their problem-solving skills. This prepares them for future careers in tech and teaches them logical thinking and perseverance throughout the development processes.
4. Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences
Virtual reality (VR) experiences are transforming how we learn by providing immersive journeys to places and times otherwise inaccessible. And in 2020, 83.7 million people used VR at least once a month. That’s about 25% of the US population. This statistic highlights VR’s growing popularity, making it an engaging tool for educators looking to bring lessons to life in new ways.
5. Collaborative Online Workspaces
Collaborative online workspaces have transformed the landscape of group projects and classroom collaboration. By providing a platform where students can share ideas, edit documents simultaneously, and communicate in real time, students learn to work effectively with others, regardless of distance, preparing them for academic and professional success.
6. Gamification Tools
Gamification tools are revolutionizing education by turning learning into a series of challenges and games. This makes absorbing new information fun and engaging for students, who often view these activities as play rather than work. Plus, 90% of people admit that gamification increases productivity, so just imagine what it could do for the students in your classroom.
7. Digital Art Platforms
Digital art platforms are unlocking creative potential in students like never before. By offering a space where they can experiment with graphic design, digital painting, and other forms of visual arts, these tools provide a canvas for expression without the limitations of physical materials. This nurtures artistic exploration and helps students understand the cultural impact of visual arts.
8. EBook Libraries
EBook libraries are changing how students access reading materials, making heavy backpacks filled with textbooks a thing of the past. With just a few clicks, they can delve into vast collections of literature and research material relevant to their studies. This instant accessibility promotes a love for reading via formats such as audiobooks and interactive texts.
9. Adaptive Learning Software
Adaptive learning software is changing the game by providing personalized educational experiences that cater to the unique needs of each student. If a concept proves too challenging, the software adjusts to simplify it and vice-versa. This ensures that every student is engaged at just the right level, making learning more efficient and effective.
10. Talk-to-Text Applications
Talk-to-text applications are very popular, accounting for 3.09 billion users in the world. While this means most students will know how to use this tech, they may not know how to use it properly. Integrating these apps in the classroom can greatly enhance note-taking and brainstorming sessions, ensuring students focus more on understanding concepts.
11. Project Management Tools
Project management tools can teach students valuable skills in organization, teamwork, and deadline management. By incorporating these tools into classroom assignments, students get hands-on experience planning and executing projects, mirroring real-world tasks. Learning to juggle multiple parts of a project prepares them for the demands of the professional world.
12. Online Language Learning Apps
Online language learning apps have opened up new horizons for students eager to dive into new cultures and communicate in different tongues. These apps make mastering a new language more engaging, providing interactive lessons that simulate real-life conversations. The flexibility to learn at one’s own pace with immediate feedback makes these tools incredibly effective.
Improve Your Classroom with These Technologies
As we navigate through these transformative times in education, the opportunity to integrate these digital tools into your classroom is not just beneficial; it’s essential. Embrace the change and watch as your students discover new joys in learning, with engagement levels skyrocketing.
Here’s the sign-up link if the image above doesn’t work:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/07/1910174607.htm
“The content presented in this blog are the result of creative imagination and not intended for use, reproduction, or incorporation into any artificial intelligence training or machine learning systems without prior written consent from the author.”
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, contributor to NEA Today, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
Education has certainly come a long way since I was young. Back then it was books, lessons with a blackboard, and tests. That is a lot of interesting options.