Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom

The world is constantly changing and technology is becoming more and more a vital part of our daily lives. Nearly every profession uses technology in some way and it is only going to become more prevalent as time goes on. Why shouldn't education take every opportunity to use technology in its teaching practices?
We already know some of the ways technology has been an asset to students in the past 10 years or so. Papers are much more easily typed, research is as easy as searching an Internet database, presentations are as easy to put together as opening up PowerPoint or Google Docs. These are great but the next generation of students have so much more to look forward to.
Blogging has gone from an unfamiliar term to an everyday form of communication. In the classroom, more and more teachers are using blogs to have contact with students outside of the class. This is not only beneficial for those who might have missed a class but just as an extra resource for students to know what they are supposed to be doing. It is a way to give constant updates about what is coming up and a way for parents to know what is going on in their child's school lives. Students can also communicate with each other through blogs. We know that sometimes students can gain more understanding through their peers than through the actual instructor. Blogs allow students to discuss assignments and disseminate their own ideas and opinions.
Podcasts and videocasts offer teachers a completely different resource from old textbooks. Students have access to a wealth of current information they might not have had previously. It even presents a new way for students to present their own information. If you have access to the equipment, the class can make their own podcasts and publish them. The more you can make learning interactive and interesting, the better results you are going to get. This allows students to actually do something rather than just sitting in desks listening to lectures.