Topic 1: Technology for Education

Topic 2: Upgrading Teaching and Learning Resources to E-Learning

Topic 3: Digital Equity and Opportunity in the Time of Covid-19 Pandemic
Topic 4: Digital Accessibility in Remote Learning
Topic 5: Basic Online Digital Set-up for Online Learning
Topic 6: Designing Teacher/Trainers’ Effective Slide Presentation
Topic 7: Assessing students’ work with the use of Google Workspace
Topic 8: Creating Class E-Record for individual student’s Evaluation
Topic 9: Teacher/Trainers’ methods and strategies to different modes of Training
Delivery in the New Normal
TOPIC 1: TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION
A History of Classroom Technology: The Primitive Classroom
In the Colonial years, wooden paddles with printed lessons, called Horn-Books,
were used to assist students in learning verses. Over 200 years later, in 1870,
technology advanced to include the Magic Lantern, a primitive version of a slide
projector that projected images printed on glass plates. By the time World War I ended,
around 8,000 lantern slides were circulating through the Chicago public school system.
By the time the Chalkboard came around in 1890, followed by the pencil in 1900, it was
clear that students were hungry for more advanced educational tools.
 Radio in the 1920s sparked an entirely new wave of learning; on-air classes
began popping up for any student within listening range.
 Next came the overhead projector in 1930, followed by the ballpoint pen in 1940
and headphones in 1950.
 Videotapes arrived on the scene in 1951, creating a new and exciting method of
instruction.
 The Skinner Teaching Machine produced a combined system of teaching and
testing, providing reinforcement for correct answers so that the student can move
on to the next lesson.
 The photocopier (1959) and handheld calculator (1972) entered the classrooms
next, allowing for mass production of material on the fly and quick mathematical
calculations.
 The Scantron system of testing, introduced by Michael Sokolski n 1972, allowed
educators to grade tests more quickly and efficiently.
(Reference: Purdue University Online. Retrieved from https://online.purdue.edu/blog/education/evolution-technology-classroom)

The Benefits of Technology in Education

Technology is everywhere. Teachers want to improve student performance,
and technology can help them accomplish this aim. To mitigate the challenges,
administrators should help teachers gain the competencies needed to enhance learning
for students through technology. Technology provides students with easy-to-access
information, accelerated learning, and fun opportunities to practice what they learn. It
enables students to explore new subjects and deepen their understanding of difficult
concepts, particularly in STEM. Through the use of technology inside and outside the
classroom, students can gain 21st-century technical skills necessary for future
occupations.
As we sail through the 21st century, technology in the classroom is becoming
more and more predominant. Tablets are replacing our textbooks, and we can research
just about anything that we want to on our smartphones. Social media has become
commonplace, and the way we use technology has completely transformed the way we
live our lives.
The impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been quite
significant. This widespread adoption of technology has completely changed how
teachers teach and students learn. Teachers are learning how to teach with emerging
technologies while students are using advanced technology to shape how they learn. By
embracing and integrating technology in the classroom, we are setting our students up
for a successful life outside of school.
1. Technology in the Classroom Makes Learning More Fun
 Students prefer technology because they believe that it makes learning
more interesting and fun. They especially like laptops and tablets.
Subjects that students deem challenging or boring can become more
interesting with virtual lessons, through a video, or when using a tablet.

2. Technology Prepares Students for the Future

Many students believe that using technology in the classroom will help
prepare them for the digital future. These 21st-century skills are essential
in order to be successful in this day and age. Jobs that may not have had
a digital component in the past may have one now. Education isn’t just
about memorizing facts and vocabulary words, it’s about solving complex
problems and being able to collaborate with others in the workforce.
EdTech in the classroom prepares students for their future and sets them
up for this increasingly digital economy.

3. Technology Helps Students Learn at Their Own Pace

Today’s technology enables students to learn at their own pace. For
example, almost all apps allow for individualized instruction. Students can
learn according to their abilities and needs. This form of teaching is also
great for the teacher because it gives them the time to work individually
with students who may be struggling.

4. Technology Connects with Students

Technology occupies an important place within students’ lives. When they
are not in school, just about everything that they do is connected in some
way to technology. By integrating technology into the classroom, teachers
are changing the way they used to teach (lectures for six hours a day) and
providing students with the tools that will take them into the 21st century.
(Reference: Janelle Cox, M.S in Education. Teach Hub.com. Retrieved from: https://www.teachhub.com/technology-in-the-
classroom/2019/11/benefits-of-technology-in-the-classroom/)

Educational Technology
Is a term used to describe a wide array of teaching-and-learning–related software
and hardware that’s increasingly being used in college and university classrooms. The
ultimate goal of educational technology, also referred to as Ed Tech, is to enable an
improved learning environment, which in turn is meant to boost student outcomes. It has
also been proven to increase student engagement and participation in class.
It refers to technology that usually helps facilitate collaboration in an active
learning environment. By using educational technology, educators can create digital,
interactive textbooks, gamify lessons, take attendance, assign homework, hold quizzes
and tests and get real time results related to teaching material, style and format.
Educational technology is disrupting traditional education and teaching methods by
offering both teachers and students the ability to learn in an environment that makes
use of now-common devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.
Reference: Top Hat – Glossary. Retrieved from https://tophat.com/glossary/e/educational-technology/

3 Different Types of Educational Technology

1. Synchronous and Asynchronous
 Learning can occur in or out of the classroom. It can be self-paced,
asynchronous learning or may be instructor-led, synchronous learning. It
is suited to distance learning and in conjunction with face-to-face teaching,
 which is termed blended learning. Virtual classroom can be used by
learners and educators in homes, schools, businesses and other settings
for effective online collaboration.

2. Linear Learning
 Computer-based training (CBT) refers to self-paced learning activities
delivered on a computer or handheld device such as a tablet or
smartphone. CBT initially delivered content via CD-ROM, and typically
presented content linearly, much like reading an online book or manual.
For this reason, CBT is often used to teach static processes, such as
using software or completing mathematical equations. Computer-based
training is conceptually similar to web-based training (WBT) which are
delivered via internet using a web browser.
 CBT provide learning stimulus beyond traditional learning methodology
from textbook, manual or classroom-based instruction. CBT can be a good
alternative to printed learning materials since rich media, including videos
or animations, can be embedded to enhance the learning.

3. Collaborative Learning
 Computer-supported collaborative learning(CSCL) uses instructional
methods designed to encourage or require students to work together on
learning tasks. CSCL is similar in concept to the terminology, “e-leaning
2.0” and “networked collaborative leaning”(NCL).
7 Examples of Innovative Educational Technology
1. Digital readers and tablets
 Increasingly, schools are looking to replace the bulkier hard-copy
textbooks with digital ones that are accessible via a tablet.

2. 3D printing
 3D printing has already seen an impressive application in the world at
large. According to Forbes, 3D printers have been able to create anything
from car parts to artificial organs. In the classroom setting, 3D printing can
create hands-on models that students can investigate and interact with.
For example, students could learn about the geography of an area by
observing a 3D map of it.

3. Virtual reality
 Technology for virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality is rapidly
developing. One of the primary uses for this technology in the classroom is
to take students on virtual field trips to places otherwise inaccessible. For
example, a student could take a virtual field trip to ancient Egypt or to the
bottom of the ocean.

4. Gamification
 Students learn better when they’re having fun. The use of gaming in the
classroom applies this concept by tying together the fun part of play with the
content and concepts that students must learn.

5. Cloud technology
 The cloud hosts apps and services on the internet instead of being on a
user’s computer. It enables information to be stored, shared, and accessed
 on any device that’s connected to the internet. In education, the cloud is
used to store and share digital textbooks, lesson plans, videos, and
assignments. It’s also used to give students the opportunity to chat live with
their instructors and other classmates. In a related vein, cloud technology is
enabling a new educational model known as ‘flipped classrooms’ in which
students can watch a lecture before class and spend the class time
engaged in discussion, group work, and analytical activities.

6. Artificial intelligence
 AI is making its way into the educational sphere by means of automating
grading and feedback and providing personalized learning opportunities.

7. Mobile technology
 Rather than banning cell phones and other mobile devices from use during
class, some schools are incorporating this technology into the learning
process through educational apps.
(Reference: Classcraft. Retrieved from https://www.classcraft.com/blog/examples-of-educational-technology/)
TOPIC 2: UPGRADING TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES TO
E-LEARNING
Shift of Traditional to E-Learning
Traditional learning
 takes place in a classroom setting.
 There is a teacher who moderates and regulates the flow of information and
knowledge.
 Then, the teacher expects the students to deepen their knowledge through
written exercises at home.
 Nowadays, technology is incorporated in the classroom more and more.
 However, in face-to-face instruction scenarios, the primary source of information
is still the trainer.
E-Learning
 often referred to as “Distance Learning” or “Online Learning” which involves the
umbrella term for any learning that takes place across distance and not in a
traditional classroom.
 A learning system based on formalized teaching but with the help of electronic
resources is known as E-learning.
 While teaching can be based in or out of the classrooms, the use of computers
and the Internet forms the major component of E-learning.
 E-learning can also be termed as a network enabled transfer of skills and
knowledge, and the delivery of education is made to a large number of recipients
at the same or different times.
 Earlier, it was not accepted wholeheartedly as it was assumed that this system
lacked the human element required in learning.
However, with the rapid progress in technology and the advancement in learning
systems, it is now embraced by the masses. The introduction of computers was the
basis of this revolution and with the passage of time, as we get hooked to smartphones,
tablets, etc, these devices now have an importance place in the classrooms for learning.
Books are gradually getting replaced by electronic educational materials like optical
discs or pen drives. Knowledge can also be shared via the Internet, which is accessible
24/7, anywhere, anytime.
(Reference: The Economic Times. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/e-learning)

Types of E-Learning
E-Learning enables the learners to learn anytime and anywhere. It enables the
development of perfect learning content through the application of sound instructional
design principles to perfectly analyze the basic requirements of learning as well as
learning objectives.
Fundamentally, there are two categories of e-Learning:
 Synchronous
 Asynchronous
Synchronous E-learning
 is real-time learning.
 In synchronous learning, the learners and the teacher are online and interact at
the same time from different locations.
  They deliver and receive the learning resources via mobile, video conference,
Internet or chat.
 In this type of learning the participants can share their ideas during the session
and interact with each other and they get detailed queries and solutions.
 Synchronous eLearning is gaining popularity because of improved technology
and Internet bandwidth capabilities.
Learning from the sources of:
 Virtual Classroom
 Audio and Video Conferencing
 Chat
 Webinars
 Application Sharing
 Messaging instantly
Asynchronous E-learning
 Learner directed, self-paced learning
 Asynchronous eLearning is pause-and-resume kind of learning.
 In this type of eLearning the learner and the teacher cannot be online at same
time.
 Asynchronous eLearning may use technologies such as email, blogs, discussion
forums, eBook’s CDs, DVDs, etc.
 Learners may learn at any time, download documents, and chat with teachers &
also with co-learners.
 In fact, many learners prefer asynchronous instead of synchronous learning
because learners can take online courses to learn at their preferable time by not
effecting their daily commitments.
Learning from the sources of:
 Self-paced online courses
 Discussion forums & groups
 Message boards
(Reference: CommLab India Bloggers. Retrieved from https://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning-design/types-of-elearning)

Why is online learning more effective?

 Online learning is more effective than traditional learning because it gives you
time freedom. One can open study videos at his/her own time. No need of going
to an institution for attending lectures.
 Students can learn and complete online education courses within their own
timeframe as compared to traditional learning.
 Secondly, it gives proper education by experts in particular subjects. It takes less
time to learn much because the experts teach particular topics in less time.
 People also think about safety point of view because road accidents are frequent
in urban areas. In rural areas, online study apps gives better option of education
and the students get benefits of experts for building their careers. The most
important thing is everyone can learn through eLearning platforms.
 Students don’t need to schedule the lots of time to acquire the new courses. they
can learn through their own devices at anytime and anywhere.
 Moreover, traditional learning has become expensive at present, whereas E-
Learning is much cheaper than former one.
(Reference: Digital Class. Retrieved from https://www.digitalclassworld.com/blog/e-learning-vs-traditional-learning/)
Advantages & Disadvantages of Traditional Classroom Learning
The Traditional Learning Advantages are as following:
 Students can remain in physical contact with their teachers and mentors so that
they can ask questions directly to them and get satisfactory answers.
 They can develop a friendship with their classmates and others.
 Students can grow their network and compete with others.
 Experience different school, college and university activities.
 They have practical knowledge of various subjects in laboratories and fields.
Therefore, they can have better knowledge.
 Students get their degrees physically and have better career opportunities.
Disadvantages:
 Traditional way of education is much expensive because teachers can teach less
number of students at a time. Students have to pay much remuneration to their
teachers.
 Students have to travel to the educational institutions so that they have to pay
travel expenses and sometimes, they have accommodation charges when they
stay in a hostel or paying guest.
 They don’t get flexibility in time although they have to reach the destination on
time. They must attend lectures taken by the teachers otherwise, they miss them.
(Reference: Digital Class. Retrieved from https://www.digitalclassworld.com/blog/e-learning-vs-traditional-learning/)

Education Software
Education software is a massive, all-encompassing term used to refer to any and
all software designed for use in the education industry. The term includes everything
from student information systems and classroom management software to reference
management software and language learning software.
All of it, however, is used with the goal of making some aspect of the education
industry more efficient or more effective. Schools have a reputation of being one of the
last places to adopt technology, but as the digital transformation has led to the
reconstruction and rearrangement of industries in every sector, they too have begun to
embrace the inevitable. Some kind of education software is used by nearly every
educational institution and will become ubiquitous as the number of solutions and the
range of capabilities of those solutions increase.
The scope of tools in the education industry is widening, particularly with the
influx of artificial intelligence software and the private sector’s recognition of the massive
potential attached to developing education-specific software.
Reasons to use Education Software
Education software is hugely beneficial for teachers, administrators, students,
and parents alike. Solutions in these categories provide users with a host of benefits,
from improved visibility and content distribution to analytics and better communication
channels. Smart content, enhanced communication, consolidation of data and
information, and improved efficacy and efficiency are all benefits that accompany the
implementation of education software.
1. Smarter Content
  Education software has the potential to revolutionize the way in which
content is created and presented to students. Digital content embedded
with artificial intelligence capabilities can offer material that adapts to
students’ knowledge levels.
2. Teacher, Parent, and Student Communication
 Clear communication between teachers, parents, and students is vital to
the learning process. There needs to be a strong level of respect and trust
that exists to properly educate students. Education software and apps
help develop strong bonds between all parties through forums, portals,
and other interactive elements.
3. Information Consolidation
 Many types of education software are designed to combine related
information in a centralized repository. Consolidating all related data within
a single program allows for better oversight and the extraction of more
accurate insights from that data. Administrators and education
professionals can utilize those insights to guide both teaching strategy at a
lower level and administrative policy at a higher level.
4. Improved Efficiency and Efficacy
 The goal of any institution is to become more efficient and effective, and
education software helps organizations achieve these goals. Teachers
can utilize resources such as classroom management software to limit
distractions and improve concentration on course material.

5. Better Learning Environment

 Education professionals are tasked with ensuring student understanding
of class material. The amount of available education applications, and the
breadth of functionality they cover in concert, provides educators with the
tools necessary to create the best possible learning environment for their
students.
Trends Related to Education Software
AR/VR for Classroom Use
 Augmented reality and virtual reality technology is improving constantly. As it
becomes more affordable and its adoption is more widespread, vendors have
been developing applications specifically for the education industry.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Classroom
 Artificial intelligence has numerous potential applications within the classroom.
Artificially intelligent teaching assistants (AITAs) are used in certain
classrooms to alleviate some of the workload for teachers and regular teaching
assistants. These digital teaching assistants handle student questions that
typically take educators hours to sort through. As these AITAs are machine
learning applications, the more questions they handle and the wider the scope
of topics they cover, the more accurate they become. Teachers can then use
the extra hours freed up by these applications to focus on real value-adding
tasks.
Digital Materials
 The digital transformation has enveloped the classroom, as schools look to
embrace digital teaching materials. Digital versions of materials are much
more easily modified and distributed and can be embedded with additional
 features to aid students during their learning. These materials include
assessments, which can be graded and analyzed by AI graders, saving
teachers valuable time.

Potential Issues with Education Software

Privacy
 One of the largest issues facing the education software industry is privacy. The
increased use of software throughout the education sector means more
information is gathered and housed by educational institutions. Particularly in K–
12 institutions, there are privacy concerns raised by parents and communities
who don’t want every little piece of information about their students collected,
combed through, and analyzed. As artificial intelligence makes its way into the
classroom and the internet of things (IoT) collects and transmits information
about every single thing that happens within the classroom, the question
becomes how much data does a school have the right to gather.
Security
 The more data and information an organization has on file, the more attractive
the prospect of stealing that information becomes for bad actors. While schools
may not be holding the most valuable information in the world, payment details
and identity related information, as well as sensitive personal student information,
may be on file. For this reason, security is paramount in education software.
Education software tends not to tout security as one of its hallmarks, but that may
change as more sensitive information is held in educational institutions’
applications.
Distraction
 As technology in the classroom becomes ubiquitous, one of the major issues
becomes the potential for distraction. Students armed with tablets and other
internet-connected devices are easily distracted from focusing on subject
material during class.
Improper Implementation
 While this is an issue in every sector, one of the most glaring potential issues for
education software is improper software selection and implementation. Included
in implementation is proper training for employees that will use the software,
which is often overlooked by educational institutions who do not have enough
dedicated IT staff.

Popular Education Software Categories

1. Learning Management Systems
 Learning Management Systems (LMS) serve as a central hub where teachers
and professors can upload and organize course material for student access.
Schools and universities use learning management systems to reduce the
use of paper, as well as make documents available out of the classroom.
Example: Canvas, Google Classroom, Blackboard Learn, TalentLMS,
Schoology, D2L BrightSpace, etc.
2. Student Information Systems (SIS)
 Student Information Systems (SIS) store and track all student information,
including grades, attendance records, and more. SIS products are used by
teachers, students, and parents to communicate all relevant information
pertaining to a student’s schooling.
Example: Ellucian Banner Student, Wisenet, PeopleSoft, Ellucian Colleague,
Workday Student, Jenzabar One

3. Classroom Management Software

 Classroom Management software is used by teachers to add another
dimension to lessons. These tools typically add an interactive element to
lesson plans that better engage students.
Example: Dyknow, ClassDojo, McGraw-Hill Connect, LanSchool, Socrative,
PowerSchool Unified, etc.

4. Assessment Software
 Assessment software provides students with a portal to take computerized
tests and quizzes.
Example: Canvas, Blackboard Learn, Kahoot!, Schoology, GoReact,
McGraw-Hill Connect, etc.