Digital learning has fundamentally changed teaching and learning. For the educator, digital resources ease the implementation of what is known as “best practice.” From differentiating instruction to creating culturally responsive learning environments to improving equity of opportunity, the benefits of digital learning environments are clearer than ever.
Each student learns in their own unique way. A broad approach at educating them is guaranteed to not engage the whole classroom. Differentiation gives educators a key that can unlock all doorways of learning. A well-implemented digital learning platform that’s grounded in differentiation arms educators with a bottomless toolbox of instructional strategies that can be deployed to suit any students’ learning patterns and interests. Such a strategy is nearly impossible to execute well without the employment of digital learning platforms, which amplify the capabilities of educators by giving them curated set of resources tailored to their needs.
A good digital learning platform expands the possibility space of learning for students. Digital content has the power to introduce students to discoveries around the world through multi-modal resources that simply weren’t possible within the confines of a classroom. Real-world content ignites students’ curiosity by showing them what they are learning about is present all around them. Instead of text on a page, students can dive into a deep sea of engaging, interactive resources, helping them make lasting connections between their studies and their world.
Even after embracing all the benefits of digital tools, teachers remain some of the busiest professionals in the world. Every minute counts. That’s why it’s vital that digital learning platforms limit the friction for educators between introducing a new instructional technique and seeing that spark of interest in students. Doing that right requires good professional learning and embedding on-demand instructional supports in the resource itself. Professional learning doesn’t need to be intrusive. Good professional learning can dramatically extend the abilities of teachers by inspiring them to see the teacher leader inside them.
Many modern digital learning platforms give students the chance to share their own unique takes on their lessons. These sharing opportunities naturally incorporate the four Cs of 21st century skills — critical thinking, creativity, collaborations and communication. By giving students innovative ways to collaborate with peers on group work, they deepen their engagement with the learning material by seeing it through a different lens. Furthermore, research into the growth mindset of students has demonstrated that putting students in the driver’s seat of their own learning fosters independence, and they respect being given the chance to create their own content. The content creation process itself also provides its own intrinsic benefit to students as a highly prized digital skill to master.
Each of these game-changing elements of modern learning are strengths inside Discovery Education Experience, a new K–12 digital learning platform built from the ground up to support educators. With Experience, educators are given doorways into learning based on their preferences, allowing them to meet the needs of all learners.
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