As a teacher, you know how important it is to motivate your students and keep them engaged in the learning process. But how do you use digital tools to achieve this goal? In this article, you will learn some practical tips and examples of how to use digital tools to motivate students in different ways.
One way to use digital tools to motivate students is to gamify your lessons. Gamification is the use of game elements and mechanics, such as points, badges, levels, and feedback, to enhance the learning experience. You can use gamification to make your lessons more fun, interactive, and challenging for your students. For example, you can use tools like Kahoot, Quizizz, or Quizlet to create quizzes and games that test your students' knowledge and skills. You can also use tools like Classcraft, ClassDojo, or Seesaw to create a game-like environment where your students can earn rewards, collaborate, and progress through a storyline.
You can also take a “barometer“ reading (or testing of engagement), by the use of polling. Throw a poll in to see if the students are with you and ready to move on. Also. You can make some on-line quizzes within the lesson to capture what they know, and text again with a Blookit to see how far they’ve come
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Another way to use digital tools to motivate students is to personalize your feedback. Feedback is essential for learning, but it can also be a powerful motivator if it is timely, specific, and positive. You can use digital tools to give your students more personalized and meaningful feedback that helps them improve and grow. For example, you can use tools like Google Forms, Google Classroom, or Edpuzzle to collect and analyze your students' responses and provide them with instant and individualized feedback. You can also use tools like Flipgrid, Screencastify, or Loom to give your students feedback in the form of video or audio messages that convey your tone, emotion, and encouragement.
A third way to use digital tools to motivate students is to foster collaboration and creativity. Collaboration and creativity are essential skills for the 21st century, but they can also be sources of motivation and engagement for your students. You can use digital tools to create opportunities for your students to work together, share ideas, and express themselves creatively. For example, you can use tools like Padlet, Jamboard, or Miro to create virtual boards where your students can brainstorm, organize, and present their thoughts and projects. You can also use tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, or Book Creator to enable your students to create digital products, such as posters, videos, or ebooks, that showcase their learning and creativity.
A fourth way to use digital tools to motivate students is to empower student choice and voice. Student choice and voice are important aspects of student-centered learning, but they can also be motivators that increase student ownership and agency. You can use digital tools to give your students more options and autonomy in how they learn, what they learn, and how they demonstrate their learning. For example, you can use tools like Google Slides, Nearpod, or Pear Deck to create interactive presentations that allow your students to choose their own pace, path, and content. You can also use tools like Flipgrid, VoiceThread, or Wakelet to create platforms where your students can share their opinions, questions, and reflections with you and their peers.
A fifth way to use digital tools to motivate students is to connect with real-world contexts. Real-world contexts are relevant and authentic situations that relate to your students' interests, needs, and goals. You can use digital tools to bring real-world contexts into your classroom and make your lessons more meaningful and engaging for your students. For example, you can use tools like Google Earth, Google Maps, or VR/AR apps to explore different places, cultures, and phenomena around the world. You can also use tools like Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet to connect with experts, mentors, or peers from other schools or countries and exchange ideas and experiences.
A sixth way to use digital tools to motivate students is to monitor and celebrate progress. Progress is the measure of how much your students have learned and improved over time. You can use digital tools to track and display your students' progress and achievements and celebrate their successes and efforts. For example, you can use tools like Google Sheets, Google Data Studio, or Socrative to create dashboards and reports that show your students' growth and goals. You can also use tools like Classcraft, ClassDojo, or Seesaw to create portfolios and badges that recognize your students' skills and accomplishments.
Personal touch To all of the above, add your personal touch to create a community of learners that feels comfortable to interact without any affective filters. Creating personal connections through games and getting to know each other with personalized questions and answers, sharing opinions with the teacher and the other learners will give the collaborative environment a sens of community and belonging.