From social media to mobile devices to online learning communities, digital technologies has had a significant impact on what we learn and how we teach. Finding the best technologies to use in the classroom can be a challenge. There are so many free applications and software on the web that teachers and librarians can get overwhelmed with the number of possibilities.
Teachers and librarians also need to think critically about whether or not the software will:
(a) help them achieve a particular learning outcome
or
(b) help them to create a meaningful classroom experience
The following two sections provide teachers and librarians with tips on what to consider when choosing the best digital tool to choose for their instructional setting.
Most educators are familiar with Bloom’s Taxonomy, a model that classifies different levels of human cognition in thinking, learning, and understanding. But in a digital age, educators are thinking about it as Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy. This updated version aims to expand upon the skills associated with each level as technology becomes a more engrained – and essential - part of learning.
In Evaluation and Selection of Learning Resources: A guide the Prince Edward Island Department of Education suggests the following questions to ask oneself when choosing a digital media softwares to use the classroom: