Going Online to Complement Classroom Lessons

Holding a class's attention, whether you are a grade school teacher or a college professor, is never easy, and smartphones and social media have made it even harder. However, teachers can get one up on their students and regain their attention by bringing the technology they love so dearly into everyday lesson plans.

Here are a few great ways to begin using online resources in your lessons.

Take a virtual field trip

Every teacher would love to take their class to great art museums and natural history museums, but many school budgets can't stretch to such expensive outings. That doesn't mean teachers have to give up on learning outside the classroom.

With Google Arts & Culture, teachers can take their students through exhibitions at some of the world's leading art museums, including the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You'll find amazing works such as Claude Monet's paintings of the Japanese footbridge in his garden. Simply dim the lights and let your students explore some of the most famous art in the world.

Prompt a debate

Many teachers struggle to get their students talking or debating in class. This is usually not the teacher's fault; many students are simply unaware of the controversial ideas and current events around them.

To spark a debate, or push the envelope even further, consider having your students watch a TED Talk. TED features some of the world's foremost minds in science, society, creativity, technology and psychology, and it is a great way to open your students' eyes to whole new worlds of thought. Pick a talk that complements your current lesson, have the class watch it, and then ask them how they felt about it. You'll have a debate in no time.

Engage other virtual classrooms

Through Wikiversity's discussion forums, teachers can bring other students, and therefore other ideas, right into the classroom. There, students can join learners from other schools and colleges, near or far, to follow online lessons and then discuss them with their virtual classmates. Not only does this give teachers a way to supplement their own lessons, it also creates a strong learning atmosphere for students.

When it comes to giving your students the best education possible, there is no reason not to include the internet. Many sites can complement your own lessons, and this kind of technology is something students need to be familiar with to succeed in the future.

So if you are looking for a fun way to liven up the classroom, look no further than the internet.