Over the next five years, the federal government will provide about 5 billion euros to all-around 40,000 primary schools, secondary general education schools, and vocational schools to provide them with digital equipment such as broadband connections, W-LAN, and devices. This is the time when our government should also focus on the same support system. But what does this support mean for our children, what opportunities arise from this and what are the challenges we face with “digital media in schools”? I get to the bottom of the matter in my new blog series. In Part One you will learn more about the importance, opportunities, and challenges of digital media in schools. With the right app that works both as the teacher’s app and parent’s app, the connections are well made.
What exactly is “digital media in schools” about?
Digital transformation, work environment 4.0, or even digital media are on everyone’s lips. But at least they can imagine something concrete. Digital media offer schools the opportunity to process and consume multimedia and interactive content in a variety of ways. In addition, they provide numerous tools for communication and networked collaboration. Students not only engage more intensively with the learning content, but they can also take advantage of individually tailored support. In addition, studies have shown that self-directed and problem-based learning is supported by digital media.
> The best examples are schools that already have a free Wi-Fi connection and allow students to get content or information digitally via smartphone or tablet. Already there are schools that have their own cloud systems. Via the cloud (definition: parts of the IT in the school data center are outsourced to that of a cloud provider), the students are not only enabled locally at the school but also via access from home. B. Homework or developed information on projects to provide.
> In the meantime, some schools have iPods for entire classes that complement the lessons in a meaningful way. The students have the opportunity to develop content independently, to present their results or to use learning apps as a useful supplement at home.
However, the school management app can also be processed in a completely different and interactive way. Textbook publishing groups have recognized that instead of using a CD, having their own app provides more opportunities to convey learning content. An own app for the textbook also offers the students more fun through their interactive elements and thus also more successful in learning. It will now be followed by other textbooks of all ages and subjects, which will complement the print edition with additional digital content valuable. These examples are only part of what digital media can offer schools.
What opportunities do “digital media in schools” offer?
Of course, the focus here is again on the students. How do digital media affect students in schools? There is a great potential in that students can participate interactively in the classroom and take up the contents of the lesson more intensively. They get the chance to network and above all to work with the right equipment and to present their results in a vivid way using digital media. This expertise in networking is required in many professions today. Students are thus supported in project-oriented work.
Digital or “virtual” workspaces offer students different possibilities to exchange documents and to communicate more strongly with each other. Students learn media skills and responsible use of digital media in their guided interaction with teachers. Another positive effect is that students perceive the school and their private lives as less different, leading to a much higher motivation for the school in general.
