Digital Instruction: Tools and Skills

Welcome to a series of iTaLAM blog posts focused on Digital Instruction, and—more specifically—the tools and skills it employs.

 

The purpose of this series is to offer teachers integrating digital methods of instruction in their classrooms the tools and skills to do so effectively.

 

In general, the secret to success lies in the effective use of tools, and the proper balance of face to face and digital instruction (each featuring its own type of efficiency), as well as proper planning and intelligent choices regarding how and when to apply digital tools in ways that do not frustrate students.

 

Optimally, proper use of digital instruction improves learning and enhances its effectiveness, thereby increasing both the students’ and teacher’s satisfaction.

 

What are the advantages of digital instruction?

1. Adaptability – Optimal digital instruction is adapted to the students’ various levels; the “digital teacher” can focus on and invest in all students simultaneously.
2. Acceleration – Optimal digital instruction can accelerate learning.
3. Increased motivation – Digital instruction can increase the students’ motivation and positive attitude.
4. Equal opportunity for success – Digital instruction employs multiple skills and learning methods, thereby offering new opportunities for students considered to be weak or failing in traditional instruction (who may not be particularly proficient in reading or writing, but may have strong listening and technological skills). For the first time, these students are able to succeed.
5. Learning management, responsibility and planning – Digital learning enables students to monitor and manage their own learning, offering them the essential skill of planning, and taking responsibility for their own learning.
6. Achievement – All of the above results in greater accomplishments for the students, and is ultimately intended to enable them to achieve learning objectives and master the content learned.

 

However, when digital learning is done ineffectively, without the proper attitude or an understanding of the advantages of digital instruction, the learning becomes confusing, awkward, repetitive, unplanned, and ineffective; as a result, both the students and the teacher may become frustrated. This is unfortunate.

 

In this series of blog posts, teachers will learn how to make proper, effective use of the iTaLAM digital learning environment, thereby fostering the desired results: strengthening the students’ Jewish identity and their knowledge of the Hebrew language.