Frequent reading greatly improves a child’s independence and communication skills.
If reading alone improves a child’s skills, imagine what the addition of science, math, and grammar can do. Imagine the student a child could be with a love for learning in the classroom.
A thirst for knowledge is valuable, but it can’t be taught in a book. This type of mindset must be fostered and nurtured in a child. The child needs a mentor that encourages them to continue engaging in school and the world around them.
Digital services, such as a virtual mentorship platform, improve learning in student bodies. We’ll explain how in the quick guide below.
What Happened to Books?
It’s common for parents and other guardians to be concerned about the rise in digital technology in schools. Many parents worry about the disappearance of hardcopy books and other materials of the sort.
While this is a valid concern, we’re here to say that books will stay! But we also want to say that access to technology and digital support platforms are beneficial to students.
Technology offers unique, personalized learning, and social support. If you’re skeptical about current digital transformation trends, you’ll want to keep reading.
It’s time to dive deep into the benefits of digital transformation in education. Just like Mike told E.J. Carrion in this video, it’s not just about intelligence. It’s also about impact.
A Personalized Approach
Schools offer multiple levels of classes, depending on a student’s current understanding and prerequisites. A student who struggles with algebra shouldn’t be placed in a near college-level math course while in high school.
Being able to cater to a student’s learning level as they grow is crucial. However, even in individual classes, you’ll likely find 20-25 students learning the same materials.
Digital transformation trends help break down groups even further to present your students with highly personalized learning tracks. Technology is breaking down the boxes that we’ve placed students in for so long.
Why Is This Important?
Allowing students access to personalized tools while in group learning settings propels them into opportunities. This is because presenting material in the way an individual learns best aids in retention and understanding.
Some children learn best with text and bullet points. Other kids enjoy listening to lectures or understanding a subject through imagery and graphs. No brain is the same.
A personalized approach to learning also offers a personalized approach to their future. By better understanding their learning styles and skills, students are able to explore career fields and higher education opportunities best for them.
Improved Accessibility
If there’s anything the pandemic has shown us, it’s that we must be flexible in how we offer education. We never know what obstacles will come our way.
Digital transformation has improved accessibility for circumstances such as the pandemic but also for students with their unique situations. Technology is portable, around-the-clock, and filled with tools for those with eyesight and/or hearing disabilities.
Accessibility Tools
Most digital learning platforms and websites are starting to incorporate tools for disabled individuals. This is life-changing for students all over the nation!
For those with vision loss, text-to-voice features allow students to learn along with the rest of the class. They won’t have to fear missing a chapter of the class book.
Visually impaired students also benefit from ALT text and image descriptions. It’s important that they receive information about the entirety of the page, not just the main body paragraphs.
Students with hearing loss benefit from captions on videos. Because so many schools teach through recorded lectures, captions make all the difference.
Portability and Availability
As mentioned above, technology is portable. We carry our smartphones with us everywhere. Laptops fit into backpacks, and children carry around their tablets.
This means that learning can be done on the go. There’s no need to drag around 3 or 4 different textbooks. Talk about back pains!
Portability is beneficial for students who wake up sick or who aren’t able to find a reliable ride to school. Life happens, and our learning technology must be able to go along with it.
Global Connection
One of the main benefits of current digital transformation trends is the rise in global connectivity. Technology allows students to connect with people from all over the world.
They’re able to connect with other peers, mentors, valuable teachers, and helpful AI technology. A diversified learning environment, even if virtual, deepens subject understanding.
For students who struggle with making friends at school, making online learning friends improves social skills and mental health. Students who feel lonely may not be motivated to learn and engage.
Having access to virtual support systems is especially important for kids who struggle with finding connections at home. Whether they’re an only child or have unsupportive parents, a virtual mentor makes all the difference.
Virtual Content is Shareable
Lesson plans, quiz scores, and assignments are easily shared on cloud-based platforms. Cloud-based digital platforms connect teachers, students, classrooms, admin, and parents.
This type of digital connection is helpful for:
- all parents
- involved grandparents or non-familial guardians
- multiple teachers of the same student
- school counselors
- principals
- education support staff members
Sharing important documents among those who matter most to a student allows adults to track a student’s progress, identify problem areas, and create comprehensive growth plans. Learning should be approached from several angles, including emotional support.
Help the Teachers, Help the Students
Let’s dive deeper into the importance of teachers having access to a student’s progress. It’s important to keep in mind that the better informed a teacher is about a student, the more they’re able to help the student.
Most cloud-based learning platforms use personalized student portals to track a student’s goals and progress. When teachers have access to these goals, they can create personalized lesson plans and unique approaches to deepen a student’s understanding of course material.
Teachers are also better able to identify where students are struggling by viewing test scores and working time. Many portals provide instant scores and analytics- giving a close look into what’s stumping a student.
Once a problem area is identified, a teacher can individually meet with a student to discuss learning strategies.
Who Else Can Help?
Believe it or not, there’s a key figure in a student’s life most people forget about. This figure exists outside a student’s school and home.
This key figure is a student mentor. A personally matched mentor won’t be the one teaching your child math or science, but they can be the person that gives your student the motivation to soar above their goals.
Mentors take the time to know and understand students. They learn about the student’s dreams, interests, and social life. In some cases, they also learn about the student’s fears and setbacks.
When a child has strong support in their life, such as a digital mentor, they’re more engaged in learning environments. This is because they’ve started to understand the importance of applying themselves in school.
They might be more willing to make mistakes, try new extracurricular activities, raise their hand in class, chat with the teacher, or participate in a group project. Sometimes all a student needs to succeed is a friendly face and an encouraging attitude.
Similar Benefits
Having access to a virtual mentor shares many of the same benefits of digital transformation in education.
Virtual mentors are accessible and inclusive. Technology allows around-the-clock access to mentors, and students with busy schedules love being able to chat with mentors through their smartphones.
Do some of your students struggle with low income? There’s no need to worry. Allow students to connect with mentors by using your school’s library resources.
Like each student learns in a different way, each student is motivated in a different way. Mentors work with students to identify key motivating factors and build confidence.
Students might be motivated to engage more in school once a mentor shows them potential college opportunities, career paths, or scholarships.
The Future Is Now
Thanks to the power of digital services, we hold the future in our hands. Students everywhere now have access to the wide array of benefits technology brings.
Digital services improve accessibility, connection, and inclusivity. Digital cloud-based systems allow admin and parents to share crucial information while students receive personalized learning plans. Virtual mentors work to motivate students and increase student engagement.
Invest in a student success network by checking out the Student Success Agency. Learn more about our unique approach on our website, or apply here to be one of our many awesome mentors.
