As a teacher in the 21st century, technology is an undeniable presence in classrooms. Below are ideas that I have on how I plan to integrate tech in my classroom.
Canva is an amazing site that helps educators and students create beautiful presentations, posters, documents, and more.
Using Canva encourages students to engage more deeply with content by allowing them to personalize their work. Whether designing a book report as a digital magazine cover or summarizing a historical event through an infographic, students have the freedom to creatively express their understanding.
Canva allows for real-time collaboration, similar to Google Docs. Students can work together on projects, presentations, or class visuals, which helps build teamwork and communication skills.
Canva is user-friendly and web-based, making it accessible from almost any device with an internet connection. This ease of access allows students of varying skill levels to engage with digital design without needing advanced technical knowledge.
Because Canva supports multimedia integration, images, videos, icons, and text, it can be especially helpful for visual and kinesthetic learners. It also allows students to present their work in nontraditional formats that may better match their learning strengths.
Microsoft Immersive Reader is a powerful accessibility and learning tool designed to support reading comprehension, language development, and focus for students of all ages and abilities.
Immersive Reader can break down text into manageable chunks, highlight individual words as they’re read aloud, and allow students to adjust text size, spacing, and background color. These features help students focus on content and better understand what they’re reading.
It’s especially helpful for students with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges. The tool’s text-to-speech function, syllable splitting, and grammar color-coding (for parts of speech) support decoding and understanding without overwhelming the learner.
Immersive Reader offers picture dictionaries and translation into over 70 languages. This is invaluable for English language learners (ELLs) who may need support understanding vocabulary or full-text translation to grasp content better.
Because students can control their reading experience—pacing, voice speed, translation, etc.—they gain confidence and independence. This is especially empowering for those who typically need teacher support to engage with complex texts.
Gemini Conversation AI can be a valuable educational tool when integrated thoughtfully into classroom environments. It offers various ways to support student learning, foster engagement, and enhance understanding.
By allowing students to engage in dialogue with AI, Gemini encourages them to ask follow-up questions, challenge ideas, and explore topics more deeply. This kind of interactive learning fosters curiosity and critical thinking.
Students can use Gemini to brainstorm ideas, structure essays, improve grammar, and expand vocabulary. It serves as a writing assistant that helps students develop and refine their own voice, rather than simply correcting errors.
For English Language Learners, Gemini can translate text, explain idioms, and clarify confusing grammar rules. It helps bridge language gaps and makes content more accessible.
Students can use Gemini to gather background information, identify credible sources, or understand topics more quickly—though it's important to teach students to verify information and cross-check with reliable sources.