Modern children are raised in the world of computer technology. Fortunately, it can be used not only for fun but also in the learning process. The teacher must use new educational methods to communicate with ones pupils in one language. The tasks facing the primary school require the introduction of innovative approaches.
Reasons to use technology at primary school
Children perceive everything new with a lively curiosity. There is a high emotionality in the reactions of primary school pupils. Attention becomes especially concentrated and stable if the teaching material is clear and bright. The use of technology in various lessons allows developing the ability to navigate through information flows, to master practical ways of processing data, to form skills that contribute to exchange with the help of technical means.
Primary school pupils have visual-figurative thinking, so it is very important to build the educational process using as much illustrative material as possible, involving not only sight but also hearing, emotions, imagination in the perception.
Computer technologies provide huge opportunities for the development of the education. Children, the most inquisitive part of the society, literally devour all novelties. They confidently use mobile phones, quickly learn to use computers. They are not interested in the usual pictures, diagrams, formulas prepared by pedagogues for the lessons. As a result, cognitive activity, desire to think and work independently are reduced in class. Therefore, teachers have to constantly look for the most effective ways to run the lessons.
It’s recommended to introduce the entertaining features which increase the interest in learning and create conditions for individual studies, the formation of a self-monitoring skill and self-esteem. Technology used in elementary classrooms puts kids in front of the need to be ready for changing forms of teaching, to the perception of the improved content of subjects, increases the enthusiasm, and makes it easier to memorize the material. As a result, the motivation for learning grows.
Even if a kid does not have a writer's talent, he will enter the query "write my essay" in the search engine and get the needed paper from a specialized service. Thus, using a computer will greatly facilitate ones work, help to use time more efficiently and economically.
How can technology help the teacher in his work?
One of the most successful forms of preparation of educational material is the creating multimedia presentations that are an element of novelty in educational sphere. This is a convenient and effective way of transmitting information using technology to enhance learning. It combines dynamics, sound and image, i.e. those factors that keep the child's attention for the longest time.
Simultaneous impact on the two most important organs of perception (hearing and sight) can bring a much greater effect. It is proved that a person remembers 20% of what one heard, 30% of what one seen and more than 50% of what one seen and heard at the same time. Thus, the facilitation of the perception and memorization processes using bright images is the basis of any modern presentation.
Moreover, such approach enables the teacher to independently compose the material based on the particular class, topic, and discipline. This allows building a lesson so as to achieve maximum result.
The use of multimedia presentations is advisable at any stage of the lesson:
- To "discover" new knowledge. It is especially interesting to use multimedia technologies for setting a learning task. Computer programs help to create a variety of visual illustrations and sound.
- To strengthen the studied material. Formation of the knowledge system assumes the systematic repetition of the information received. A bright game animates the work of the class. Moving images not only maintain the unstable attention of pupils but also allow them to test the memory.
- To control knowledge. In modern practice, the role of testing as one of the methods of pedagogical measurements is constantly growing.
No matter how complex and boring the topic of the lesson is, it will become interesting if the educational material on the screen is presented with sound, pictures and other effects. The presentation allows the teacher not to make notes on the board. So there is more time to strengthen the learnt material. Children absorb a large amount of information with interest. The lesson becomes more visual, diverse and exciting.
Presentation is just a find for the lessons dedicated to nature. Pictures of our environment, animals, seas, oceans, natural areas, the water cycle, food chains - everything can be reflected on the slides. Checking the knowledge becomes easier: tests, crosswords, puzzles, charades - all this makes the learning fascinating and therefore memorable.
Many children consider English lessons boring. Psychologists have proved that knowledge acquired without interest, not colored with own positive attitude and emotions won’t be useful, rather become a dead weight. You can always find something fascinating and entertaining in English, add beautiful drawings, grammar tales, etc.
What are the expected results of the application of technology in the teaching process?
The use of technology in educational activities allows not only to expand and consolidate the acquired knowledge but also to increase the creative and intellectual potential of pupils.
Thus, the application of modern methods in teaching allows to:
- develop research skills, creativity;
- strengthen the motivation for learning;
- advance children’s ability to work with information;
- develop communicative competence;
- involve pupils in the educational process;
- control the activity of kids;
- create favorable conditions for better mutual understanding between teacher and students, their cooperation in the educational process.
Any educator may check the stated above in his pedagogical practice. Pupils really like the novelty of multimedia lessons. A real communicational environment is created in the classroom. Children try to express thoughts in their own words, willingly take assignments, show interest in the material being studied, lose the fear of using a computer, and learn to work independently with scientific literature. Proper implementation of technology to a learning process can create a genuine interest in obtaining a higher result, willingness to perform additional tasks.
