Common Teaching Tools For The Classroom (With Benefits)

Effective teaching focuses on well-founded learning environments that simplify concepts, stimulate thinking and encourage creativity for students to perform better. To make this happen, teachers combine traditional tools and technologies. Learning about the different tools you may use while teaching can help you support students' scholastic journey and intellectual development. In this article, we explore some common teaching tools and examine their many features.

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Common teaching tools for teachers

If you are presently working as a teacher or you are interested in pursuing this career, learning about some common teaching tools may help you teach students effectively:

Blackboard or whiteboard

Blackboard is a traditional teaching tool, which teachers use widely. It is a common tool for teachers who do not have digital displays in their classrooms. Often referred to as a chalkboard, you can use chalk to write important concepts or reminders on it. Alternative to the traditional blackboard, a whiteboard allows you to use marker pens. You can easily clear a whiteboard using cleaners or dusters. Since it eliminates the use of chalk, it does not produce dust and helps you keep the classroom clean.

Calculator

A calculator is a simple, often pocket-sized device that helps you perform both simple and complex calculations. The functions of a simple calculator include division, multiplication, addition and subtraction. With an advanced calculator, you may solve linear equation problems and perform arithmetic functions. A calculator may be a physical device or work digitally on phones and computers. This device allows you to complete mathematical functions quickly and deliver accurate results.

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Computer

Almost all schools have a computer lab with one or many desktops installed. These devices help you perform a wide range of tasks, like teaching students how to draw or code. There may be times when a school places a computer in a classroom connected with a display panel. With this configuration, you may teach students through online books or digital study materials. A computer also helps you show presentations to students on different topics. You may also help your students learn about historical events through documentaries.

Digital writing boards

Digital writing boards are a replacement for traditional blackboards and whiteboards. They are digital screens that you can operate using touch functions. There may be times when these screens rely on external input devices, like a computer or a mobile application. These digital boards are a great way to share multimedia objects with your students, like pictures, videos and educational games. This teaching technique is often engaging and helps students to concentrate better, given how these boards make learning interactive.

Educational games

Teaching your students in a way where lessons become fun helps you perform your duties as a teacher effectively. With educational games, you can introduce the content of your lessons to the students. There are many games available on the internet that you may use to teach different subjects. For English, you may download a words game and for mathematics, a numbers game. If these educational games are fun, students are more likely to take part in such activities. This also helps them retain the lessons more easily.

Grading applications

With a grading application or a software tool, you can easily document the progress of each student in your classroom. These programs not only save time but allow you to automate class reports and examine them efficiently. With these grading programs, you can maintain an up-to-date record of the grades of all the students. These applications are also capable of giving parents or guardians access to their children's or wards' class performance throughout the year. This is a great tool to keep all the parties informed.

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Messaging applications

With a messaging application, you can remain in contact with not only your students but also their parents. This tool supports effective communication in a classroom and helps the teachers, students and parents stay updated on routine activities. It plays a crucial role, both during and after school. There are messaging applications that are designed specifically for the education sector. These applications allow you to send both personal and group messages. With this tool, you can even contact a student's parents to discuss their performance.

Video tutorials

A video tutorial helps a student learn concepts in a convenient video format. Using online video tutorials or recorded video lessons often enhances the learning experience of students. If you teach a concept to your students, which is challenging for them to follow, you may share with them a video tutorial on the subject. This way, they can watch these videos when at home and examine the content in detail. Such videos also help students complete their homework efficiently.

Virtual classroom

Apart from teaching students in a classroom, you can organise digital classes for students with the help of a virtual classroom. You can take these remote classes via videoconferencing and even include the parents of the students for an inclusive lecture. Another benefit of a virtual classroom becomes evident when a class is entirely remote. This often happens with tuition classes where a teacher shares notes and lessons with their students living in remote places. This tool also offers several customisations, like quick sharing of materials within the application.

Online scheduling applications

Maintaining a schedule that you, your students and their parents follow helps you keep all parties informed about important events. With such schedules, you and the students know what to expect on a particular day. If there is a class test, having it mentioned in the schedule allows the students to prepare in advance. You can mark these events for an individual or for the entire class. These applications allow you to define clear responsibilities for your students, helping them complete tasks within deadlines.

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Test scanner

Test scanning tools allow you to determine the results of quizzes and tests for the students quickly. These devices use multiple-choice test pages. Students fill these pages by making bubbles or squares to mark their responses to the questions. The device scans the inputs of the students by assessing the bubbles. After this, it generates a score based on the total number of correct and incorrect responses provided by the students.

Quizzes

Apart from traditional lessons, quizzes and tests play an important role in helping students remain prompt. These quizzes add to a student's development in the class. You can visit a bookstore near you to buy a book of quizzes or download a software tool. Such programs are designed to help you prepare interesting quizzes. You may conduct these quizzes anywhere, be it a class, the school's playground or a remote location.

Spreadsheet program

Spreadsheet programs have replaced a register book. These programs have a grid of cells where you can type in various details. Since they are digital, you have different tools and macros to complete different tasks automatically. These programs also offer visually appealing formatting options, which you may use to customise the appearance of the sheet, making it easier to understand. These digital tools also help you to create data sets, tables, graphs and charts.

Tablet

A tablet is a handheld device on which students can instal educational applications to learn interactively. These tablets are also a great way to share your students' lessons in multiple digital formats. Students can use this e-learning tool to subscribe to online courses or play games that help them clear some difficult concepts. On this tablet, you can ask your students to read books, take notes, complete projects and take quizzes. This is also a great tool that saves paper.

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Strategies as tools for teaching

Apart from the equipment you use in teaching, there are some strategies you may consider adopting as tools for teaching:

Explaining materials

Effective teaching results from how well you understand the course material before you share it with your students. Acknowledging that there may be some topics challenging for your students to understand helps you simplify your teaching. Simplify these difficult concepts and use comprehensible terms. Explaining hard topics through simple examples and analogies is an efficient way to help students learn their lessons.

Building rapport with students

Being a brilliant teacher depends a lot on how attentive you are to the needs of your students. You may build a rapport with the students by communicating expectations, giving feedback and respecting the individuality of all the students in your class. Your cooperation and collaboration with your students help you become approachable, allowing your students to engage with you comfortably. Once they are comfortable with you, chances are that they may take an interest in your subject.

Encouraging students to improve

Communicating your goals and expectations to your students allows them to believe in themselves. Tell them you believe in their capabilities and encourage them to achieve more. Motivate them whenever your students cannot accomplish a task. These activities strengthen their morale and stimulate their enthusiasm to keep working hard towards their goals. Possess awareness of your students' learning and change your teaching techniques to align them with each student's pace and style of learning.