Students in interactive settings are more likely to graduate

If this article were presented in script format, it might look something like this (with all due respect to teachers).

INT. 20th Century Classroom – Day

A teacher walks slowly back and forth in front of the class talking in a monotonous voice about the life of rare animals. On the blackboard behind her are some posters with images of rare animals.

Professor
…and once a rosy-toed deer smells like humans, you may never see them again.

A student sits motionless, head in hands, eyes barely open as the teacher continues reading. The student’s head falls off his hands and hits the desk with a thud!

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And now, the same lesson in a 21st century interactive classroom equipped with touch screen technology.

INT. 21st Century Classroom – Day

A teacher schedules an interactive lesson on a flat screen near the front of the class. On the screen are visualizations of the animals that she and the students will discuss and interact with that day.

Professor
Okay, class… today we have the rare opportunity to find out some really interesting things about the endangered pink-toed deer.

There is a ripple of anticipatory energy flowing through the packed room. Students turn their attention to the front of the class as the teacher touches the interactive whiteboard and the lesson begins. The class falls silent and pays close attention to the unusual presentation of the animal. They know that on that day they will not only see the deer and other creatures, but also touch them.

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Education, like most things, has evolved. With the introduction of 21st century interactive environments, classrooms equipped with flat panel technology open the doors to learning more than ever. Students in interactive classrooms become more engaged, interested in the subject material, and are much more likely to graduate.

If there is a magic key to learning, it is commitment. “Student engagement is the product of motivation and active learning. It’s a product rather than a sum because it won’t happen if any of the elements are missing.” – Elizabeth F. Barkley, author, scholar, and educator.

Without the interactivity and increased ability to engage students as a result of today’s educational technology, progress toward reducing dropout rates would certainly be slow.

As we strive as a nation to provide quality education to all of our future students, especially in underserved communities, our primary obligation is to provide them with the tools and opportunities to learn. Interactive technology can help motivate learning and unlock the limitless potential of our students waiting to be unleashed.

We can only imagine how previous generations of students could have benefited from a truly interactive education. Learning is the gateway to the future and the road along which we travel towards knowledge.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn”. – Benjamin Franklin, author, scientist, diplomat. With knowledge comes the power to choose and positively change the way we live.