Creative Tech: How Technology is Making Education Fun

Online tests are on the rise, teachers are using video lectures, and over 75% of high school students have access to a smartphone. Kids today are more tech savvy than ever before, and technology continues to play a huge role in education. Here’s how technology is making education fun and exciting for kids.

Widespread Internet Access

You would be hard pressed to find a school in America that doesn’t have internet access in 2015, but perhaps the most remarkable thing about the times we live in, is how much that access to internet has increased thanks to mobile phones. In one survey, 64 percent of students use 3G or 4G mobile plans as their primary means of connecting to the internet at home. One study of the Kent School District in Washington revealed that 91 percent of students have regular internet access at home. That remaining 9 percent is likely to shrink in the coming years as technology becomes more abundant.

Mobile Apps for School Work

It happens all the time, you have a question about some statistic and you look it up on your smartphone. Once upon a time you had to dig out the encyclopedia or go to your local library. Today up to 60 percent of kids are using their smartphones for anytime research. With apps like Evernote and STUDYBLUE  it’s never been easier for kids to use their smartphones to help them with their studies. Teachers are also relying on fun educational games to help kids learn about things like cell biology and history.

Online Courses and Tutoring

That widespread internet access means many students are taking advantage of online courses like Khan Academy to get ahead in their studies. Instant feedback from education professionals, access to fun blogs about math and science, and amazing interactive practice problems are all helping kids reach their learning goals and take control of their education.

Social Media

Kids these days are more networked than ever before, and studies have shown that they expect teachers, administrators and parents to do the same. Many students view social media not as something separate from their physical lives but as an extension of their world. Teachers are starting to find ways to connect with and engage students through social media to help them gain access to local events and education materials.

Making Learning Fun with Legos

Lego Mindstorm is more popular than ever before—kids as young as 8 are being exposed to the concept of robotics through one of the most popular toy franchises in existence. The perfect combination of computer science, physics, math and fun, kids can learn how to use code to get machines to work and move.

An Unprecedented Arsenal of Devices to Aid Learning

Never before have there been more ways to learn on the go—in addition to smartphones, we have laptops, tablet PCs, ultrabooks, PC hybrids and more. With such a large variety of devices to choose from, there’s finally enough tech to match the diversity of a typical student body. Is your high schooler taking AP classes and hoping to become an engineer? Give them a desktop replacement with a processor powerful enough to handle AutoCad or Solidworks. Is your student hoping to make it in the world of digital marketing, get them a Mac Book Pro so that they can start working on their logo design ideas.