Once Beyond, Now Becoming: The Classroom Goes Digital

By: Camille Greenwell | Seasonal Public Relations Intern | Digital4Good

For primary to postsecondary students, the Internet has become an increasingly ubiquitous aspect of their lives. It impacts how they consume media, how they communicate, and — now more than ever — how they earn a degree. 

Digital learning resources have been around since the inception of the Internet, from learning management systems that aid educators in organizing content and providing resources for students to accelerated online education for synchronous and asynchronous learning. 

The Shift to Digital Education 

Despite the chaos and uncertainty that surrounded digital learning during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators successfully adapted to remote instruction, improving the accessibility and quality of online learning.

Now, even with the quarantine behind us, remote learning remains prevalent. From college students enrolling in online courses to elementary schoolers using games and other virtual resources to support their education, digital learning is becoming increasingly common. 

How Digital Learning Benefits Students

With countless resources available online, students of all education levels and age groups can benefit from digital learning. While many higher education institutions and organizations provide proper online courses, plenty of alternative options exist — some of which are free. 

Study and Organization Tools

Students can enhance their learning and study habits with software designed for note-taking, studying, and schedule organization. Online educational tools and resources like Quizlet and Evernote can empower students to adopt healthier study habits through ease and accessibility.

Educational Games and Media

The Internet contains a plethora of educational media that is both engaging and informative. Educational television programming, like those aired on PBS, has been popular for decades; with the growing popularity of video sharing platforms like YouTube, many programs can be viewed online. For younger students, websites and apps that gamify the development of skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and general knowledge can supplement traditional classroom learning.

How Educators and Parents Can Help

With the integration of digital media and online learning, educators and parents alike can utilize this technology to their advantage, creating innovative learning experiences for students and combining these resources with traditional educational practices.

Real-World Experiences Made Digital 

With the constant influx of news and information, the Internet’s ever-expanding database of knowledge can contribute to engaging learning experiences at home or in the classroom. Students, especially those in higher education spaces, can expand their knowledge of current events and general subjects by participating in interactive online experiments, monitoring news sites, and researching specialized areas of interest through digital libraries. By encouraging this digital interaction, educators and parents can help students develop skills in digital literacy, media analysis, and research. 

Digital Awareness

With the abundance of information available online, there are risks that students and educators alike should remain mindful of, such as misinformation and disinformation. It is crucial for all who navigate the Internet to develop the appropriate skills in digital literacy, especially for those using the Internet to better their education. 

The education nonprofit Digital4Good provides resources on teaching media literacy and online safety so the Internet can be an empowering and beneficial tool for students and educators alike. Get Digital4Good’s Social Media Literacy Curriculum for your classroom to ensure your students’ digital learning experiences are safe, well-informed, and engaging.