10 Reasons Today’s Students NEED Technology in the Classroom

Nextech students using technology in the classroom

Do students need technology in education to be successful today? It's likely that they do. In this article, you will learn the following:

  • Common arguments against technology in the classroom
  • Why students need technology in the classroom

If you're a parent of a Generation Z (or younger) student, you've likely heard a well-meaning friend or relative point out that they didn't use technology in their school days and were just as capable, bright, and friendly as today's kids. You've heard rumors that non-educational screen time contributes to poor attention, or perhaps that it takes up too much of kids' time today. Perhaps you've even uttered a phrase that starts with "back in my day" yourself. The modern world depends on technology that enables faster communication, entertainment, and postal shipping — so does this anti-technology logic hold up?

A New Way of Learning

At NexTech High School in Michigan, we believe that a combination of using technology in the classroom and implementing real-time, face-to-face interaction with teachers and peers is a great combination for our students. Read through the following list of reasons to learn why the inclusion of technology is crucial to having a successful and fulfilling classroom experience in the modern world.

  1. Integrating technology in the classroom helps students with different learning styles tailor their education and goals around how they learn and think — not the other way around.
  2. It helps students with special needs to stay engaged and participate as part of the class.
  3. It can help students engage with the curriculum, and it may alleviate attention issues caused by long, in-person school days that offer little downtime to all students.
  4. Students can learn collaborative skills they may not have otherwise learned by using a mixture of face-to-face instruction and online learning.
  5. Students can access information with greater speed than print materials such as encyclopedias, reference books, and newspapers.
  6. Technology reinforces self-directed learning and aids students in taking responsibility for their work and time management.
  7. Using a virtual classroom can help give introverted students a voice in the classroom by making it possible for them to think through responses and edit themselves before adding to a written classroom discussion.
  8. Students will learn practical uses for technology and better understand how it can fit into their lives earlier.
  9. Students can study anywhere at any time (even when traveling outside of Michigan), which can be a great bonus for those who have busy schedules, attend several extracurricular events, or prefer to work at odd hours.
  10. Students may complete work more quickly and come away with a greater understanding of the material because they have access to digital tools, collaboration, and instructor feedback.

Though it's tempting to compare today's kids to other generations and think of their technology use as a cause for concern, we often forget just how much they gain by using technology responsibly and productively. Consider this fact when thinking about where to enroll your child.

Contact NexTech Today

If you have questions about our methods of instruction, what a typical day looks like at NexTech in Michigan at either our Grand Rapids or Lansing locations, please contact us as soon as possible to set up a meeting or visit. We look forward to working with you and making your student's high school experience one that will transform the rest of their lives.

Contact us for more information at our two locations in Grand Rapids and Lansing, MI. 

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