Using Technology And E-Learning Programs to Alleviate Teacher Stress Levels

3 Ways to Integrate Technology & E-Learning Programs to Alleviate Teacher Stress Levels

1. Encourage structured “Tech Time” as part of daily learning.

Every group of students is different. Each teacher has a different personality and teaching style that works best for him/her. Because of the combination of unique people in each classroom, there are a variety of ways teachers can structure tech time into lessons for optimal engagement. This structured tech time could be whole-class instruction, small group learning or paired work, and individual learning.

With whole-class tech time, the teacher may share his/her screen with students as they follow along on theirs. This type of tech time allows the teacher to give tier 1 instruction as a whole so that all of the students get to hear and interact with each other in a way that helps them understand the main skills or content for the day before working on their own.

During small group or partner learning, teachers may choose to set groups of students up where they can rotate through different tasks set to a timer – with one of the tasks being something using technology. Teachers could also choose for everyone in the class to do the same task and structure the tech time a bit differently than students rotating between tasks. Either way, small groups and paired tech time would help teachers be able to bounce from group to group answering any questions students have while also allowing students to answer each others’ questions. This would allow students to problem-solve amongst themselves and learn from each other while the teacher is helping a different group of students. This type of structured tech time allows the teacher to be somewhat of a floating moderator in the classroom and gives the teacher more opportunity for giving feedback to struggling students while allowing the students to try to work through the tasks amongst themselves.

Structured individual learning time using technology helps the teacher really see how much each student knows and allows the teacher the opportunity to give one-on-one feedback while other students are engaged in familiar technology.?

It’s true that each of these types of tech time requires training the students how to use the technology effectively during that specific time in the lesson. However, allowing students to have some of the screen time that they know and love in a structured tech time will help alleviate some teacher stress with keeping students engaged in their learning.

2. Track student progress using technology.

Technology and e-learning platforms open a lot of doorways to track student progress. Depending on the e-learning platform used, tracking progress can be done differently. Tracking progress can range from quick progress checkpoints throughout e-learning activities or exams at the end of a unit. Some platforms even do some of the grading for teachers, so that there’s less stress with trying to grade lots of activities.?

AiTudier’s instructional computer science software offers a progress tracker for admin, teachers, and parents to keep track of student success. The dashboard displays key performance indicators like grades, improvement, and activity. Because the program shares this information directly, the teacher doesn’t have to take the time to share it with the administrator or parents every step of the way. That being said, the teacher could absolutely have a meeting or talk about what the data means or how the student can be helped more effectively with administrators or caregivers at scheduled times or when it’s necessary to congratulate or push student growth.?

3. Deliver the instruction and feedback each individual student needs.

A good use of technology and e-learning programs is to create instruction and give feedback that directly correlates to what each individual student needs. Students tend to get stuck at different parts of the lesson or activity, and an e-learning platform can help the teacher spot exactly where each student is struggling. In classes ranging from 25-40 students, this is very helpful in alleviating teacher stress levels because the teacher is able to give individualized feedback to students in their problem areas in a timely manner without feeling rushed.?

E-learning programs — like AiTudier’s computer science software — with checkpoints in the middle of lessons often prompt students with feedback videos or text to review concepts they didn’t quite grasp the first time. Having the ability to allow students to monitor their own progress throughout lessons using e-learning platforms gives students extra motivation and engagement in their own learning.

Yes, there can be cons to using technology and e-learning programs in the classroom. However, if the technology or e-learning program is integrated with solid, structured routines that engage the learners in the lesson, makes tracking and sharing progress easier/quicker, and gives the teacher opportunities to individualize instruction and feedback, the pros greatly outweigh the cons.