MAPCON Maintenance Software Article Series

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How Software Has Positively Influenced the Classroom

Sean Spencer, Software Development Expert and Author

Today's modern classroom is much different than the traditional classrooms of times gone by. With new technology that is now being implemented, students and teachers have better resources than ever before to help them learn to their fullest potential. Online websites full of information as well as interactive lesson plans that can be done online have truly added a new layer to the educational process. With new software, reference applications, and e-classroom learning techniques, modern multimedia has become an important tool for teachers at all grade levels. Online learning has even made college education possible without having to be on campus or attend real lectures. The E-classroom is slowly becoming a staple in the education world, with more classes and resources going strictly online.

There are several different applications that are now being implemented in classrooms across the country. One of these is called student monitoring. This application allows teachers and professors to see their students" progress both in real time and in future reporting. Student monitoring keeps a virtual eye on students and how they are doing. It allows teachers to better gauge their student"s individual success based on test scores and other results. Multimedia applications have become an absolute must in most modern day classrooms. These applications utilize video, audio, and photographs or graphics to help supplement traditional curriculum. Through the use of multimedia applications, the classroom can become a much more exciting place that also enlists more student involvement. It helps to keep students engaged and better remember the material they are studying.

Teleconferencing is quickly becoming an integral way to speak to groups of people all at once without having to travel or be at the same place. Through teleconferencing, teachers can give lectures or speak to students via telephone or webcam. For the reverse, students can call into a teleconferencing line and sit in on a class without actually being there, helping them to be able to learn and study from home. Virtual classrooms are similar to teleconferencing however they also use other forms of technology. Web chats, online forums, and pre-recorded class lessons are all part of a virtual classroom. The student simply signs into their classroom when they are able, and they can catch up on their own computer. This form of learning has made online degrees and remote learning possible to millions of people.

All students have had to use reference material at some point in their educational career. While encyclopedias and dictionaries were widely used in the past, today reference applications and websites are visited and utilized much more frequently. Here, students can do searches for exactly what they need and browse through hundreds of resources on one topic at any given time. It makes the studying process much quicker and much easier for them, and helps them to find what they need easily. Teachers can also use modern applications such as assessment software to help see how well their students are doing, and in what areas they might need to improve. This type of software is a good way to analyze each student on an individual basis, and find out their strong and weak points. It is also a good way to get a snapshot of the class as a whole so teachers can determine what areas of the curriculum they need to focus more strongly on, and what areas they can change.

New technology and the Internet are making education more interesting and more accessible to more people. Through the use of a wide array of software and multimedia applications, students and teachers alike can learn more and explore more. E-classrooms are becoming more prevalent, and remote education has opened horizons for millions of people. Today, anyone can get their GED or college degree through the virtual classroom, saving them valuable time and money. It is because of new education technology that educators can expand their horizons and teach more people with better resources. Online learning makes education fun, exciting, and easier to use for just about anyone.

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