3 EDTECH tools for the rotation of the station in early learning

Key points:

Combined learning has become more popular in recent years given creative forms
The educators had to teach students practically during the pandemic, and many forms have even stayed with the return to the classrooms in person.

In primary classrooms, the most effective combined learning model is called the station rotation model. According to Blended Learning Universe (ND), this model It has students who move through different stations in the classroom while they follow an established schedule, and at least one of the stations includes digital tools and online learning activities. Many classrooms already operate stations or centers, and educators do not even realize that they are incorporating combined learning in this way.

Some lower elementary educators may hesitate to throw students at a device and let them navigate independently the technological tools. Some veteran educators may be accustomed to a classroom that does not incorporate technology, and they may not know where to start with these new and innovative approaches for teaching. It is possible that some educators do not want children to spend time looking at the screens during school and do not think that their young students need to have access to a device. Although there is still decline, <a target="_blank" href="https://explorance.com/blog/7-reasons-students-need-technology-classroom/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Many benefits to incorporate technology in the classroom They have been identified, including instant access to information, support for different learning styles and incorporating things such as creativity, communication and digital literacy (Explorence, 2023).

The stations and centers are often used during reading or ELA blocks in the kindergarten
through second degree classrooms. This might seem that students move through the stations with their groups, including a station that uses a device and a station station with the teacher. Students can work in a variety of activities in their technology station, completing things in certain days or having the freedom to work on articles throughout the week. Students could have a list of pending tasks so that the elements complete on devices, or can participate in exploration and choice activities. The following are some ways to start students using devices for a technology station during reading rotations.

1. Rocker: Seesaw is a learning management system that can be used in many ways during a technology center, and is excellent for connecting families to see the work of students completed in school. SEESW can be used as a platform for students to practice skills and concepts through teacher tasks, or can be used as a form of evaluation so that students send work by dominating the content. This platform is excellent for differentiation, since educators can create different activities to send individuals or groups of students. Seesaw has many tools and characteristics that are excellent for practical learning: students can move around pieces, write, write and record themselves by speaking or reading.

2. Digital content libraries: Students can access many digital content libraries to read, listen to audiobooks or see animated stories. Some examples of applications and websites that students can explore during their technology station include epic!, Online history, Tumblebooksand Bookflix. Access to some of these resources may vary according to school or district subscriptions, but some digital content libraries are free. Students could also interact with the websites of reading the curriculum that have digital resources, including texts. Digital content libraries are excellent for differentiation because they can be used to assign students certain texts to read, or for students to explore books at their own level and interest. You can find more benefits from digital content libraries <a target="_blank" href="https://acerforeducation.acer.com/education-trends/education-technology/7-main-benefits-of-digital-libraries-at-school/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>here.

3. Choice boards and QR codes: Educators can still provide self -guided options and learning on technological devices without being free for all for young children. Creating activity options for students to complete in their technology stations is an excellent way for students to have an opinion in their learning and at the same time control the content to which they have access. We know about investigation This choice increases the interest and property of students learning, leading to greater motivation to complete the work (Flowerday and Schraw, 2000). The choice panels could be created as a way of 'can make' so that students select practice activities for a reading skill, or can include things such as games or other resources to play when they finish their tasks for the week. Virtual choice boards with links or QR codes on paper or projection boards work for this purpose, provided that students can access them independently.

It doesn't matter how you choose to execute the rotation model of your station, it is a good idea to ensure that the activities that students are completing on the devices are significant and determined for student learning. Executing the station rotation model with a technology station does not need to feel overwhelming, as long as you find what works for you and your students and stick to it.

Creating and enforcing a weekly routine can help stations to work without problems and ensure that students can independently navigate their work on devices during their technology station.

Resources

Combined Learning Models. (ND) mixed learning universe.
https://www.blendedlearning.org/models/#stat

Flowerday, T. and Schraw, G. (2000, December). Master's beliefs on the choice of instruction: a phenomenological study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92 (4), 634-635.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.92.4.634

7 ways in which technology in the classroom improves the success of students. (2024, August 23). Exploration.
<a target="_blank" href="https://explorance.com/blog/7-reasons-students-need-technology-classroom/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>https://explorance.com/blog/7-reasons-students-need-technology-classroom/

7 Benefits of digital libraries for school – Acer for Education. (2017, October 24). Acer for education.
<a target="_blank" href="https://acerforeducation.acer.com/education-trends/education-technology/7-main-benefits-of-digital-libraries-at-school/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>https://acerforeducation.ace.com/education-trends/education-technology/7-main-benefits-of-digital-libraries-at-school/