I've been working with FrontRow for a long time, and before that I taught in the classroom. So I've spent nearly a decade working in and around education. And over the last so many years, I have noticed that there is always a lot of excitement around the Next Big Thing. From interactive whiteboards, to 1:1 initiatives, to tablets, to flipped classrooms, there is always some Thing that is revolutionizing classrooms.
What I also know, from my years as a teacher, is that along with those exciting advancements and changes is the knowledge that at the core it's still the same — fantastic, engaged teachers connecting with their students over important educational content — content that will help shape them into knowledgeable, responsible, contributing, tech-savvy members of our society.
It is the balance of doing what works and trying what may be better that is always tricky. What should the priorities be for the teacher and the classroom? How do you try something new and not leave behind what works?
Research dating back at least three decades has shown how important classroom amplification is — it helps with student test scores, it improves student attentiveness, and teachers feel better when using the system — and after a recent trip to McPhee Elementary in Lincoln, NE we had many teachers and students remind us that, beyond the data (which is important!), fantastic classroom amplification still makes a huge difference.
Classroom amplification systems don't require teachers to change how they teach, but easily adapts when they do. It makes a difference for every student in the classroom, wherever they are sitting, whatever their background, whatever their level.
And, FrontRow Juno makes it so easy for teachers to get started. It requires no installation, and all teachers have to do is wear a light-weight and comfortable microphone.
So, an easy-to-use, installation free classroom amplification system, that helps teachers, students, test scores, attentiveness, and student participation. What could be better? How about trying it for free.
So, while there is always going to be the Next Big Thing going on in education, it's important not to let that distract too much from what's proven and what works. Starting with a solid foundation of what's tried and true in the classroom, with both the teachers and the technology, will allow any of the growing pains from trying new things to be a little less painful. Happy teaching!
