by Ginger Blackstone, M.A.
Ph.D. student, University of Florida

When it comes to the 21st Century classroom environment, lesson plans full of lectures and pop quizzes are often inadequate for engaging and retaining students’ attention.  In today’s electronically-saturated world, it’s all about technology.  Instructors looking for that upper edge to connect with their students can utilize a wide array of online resources and hi-tech gadgetry to grab students’ attention and keep it.  

Why is technology such a big deal?  The proper use of technology can enhance the learning experience by incorporating more of our senses, bringing “boring” topics to life, and helping to break social barriers that may keep shy or introverted students from participating in class discussions. Indeed, Dr. Curtis Bonk, a professor of Instructional Systems Technology at Indiana University, argues that instructors have an ethical obligation to incorporate technology in their courses. Not only do today’s students expect it, but so do their future hiring managers.

That said, many of us have experienced how the misuse of technology can be equally ineffective: cluttered PowerPoints with too many tiny words for the audience to read, lengthy video clips that lull viewers into a zombie-like state, malfunctioning hardware or software that steamrolls even the most well-constructed presentations, and so forth. The key to engaging the audience is to know how to properly use technology. (And always have a Plan B if something goes awry.)
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