What Types of Technology Can Be Used in the Classroom?
Have you ever walked into your classroom, looked at your devices or apps, and thought: Am I using the right technology for learning? If so, you're not alone.
With so many choices, it can be overwhelming to decide what tools are actually going to enhance teaching and learning. As someone who supports educators like you every day, I want to help you understand the different types of technology in the classroom—so you can stop second-guessing and start planning with confidence.
What are the different types of technology in the classroom?
Let’s begin with a clear, practical list of technology in the classroom that teachers commonly use. But instead of just naming them, I’ll show you how they appear in real learning settings so you can envision what makes sense for your own space.
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Interactive whiteboards: Great for collaborative whole-group activities and visual learning.
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Programmable toys (like Bee-Bots): Perfect for problem-solving and early coding skills.
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Tablets: Useful for drawing programs, photo documentation, and literacy apps.
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Desktop or laptop computers: Essential for research, writing, and digital creativity.
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Digital cameras: Encourage observation, nature exploration, and storytelling.
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Augmented reality apps: Add layers of digital discovery to science and outdoor play.
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Audio recording tools: Support oral storytelling, reflection, and language development.
Each of these examples of digital technology in the classroom has its strengths, depending on what you want children to learn and how you want them to engage.
Choosing the right kinds of technology in the classroom starts with a question
What do you want the child to do with technology? That one question can guide you toward technologies for teaching and learning that actually support meaningful outcomes. For example:
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If your focus is on literacy, using speech bubble apps or Book Creator can help children narrate stories visually.
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For problem-solving, programmable robots combined with obstacle courses give children hands-on opportunities to think critically.
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For creative expression, drawing software and digital painting apps allow for experimentation without mess or fear of making a mistake.
The best technology for the classroom is the one that serves a purpose—not just the flashiest gadget on the shelf.
A closer look at the types of technology in schools (real member examples)
Members of the ICT in Education Teacher Academy are already using a wide range of technologies in their schools. Here’s how they integrate different types of classroom technology with confidence:
LEARNING AREA | TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CLASSROOM | ACTIVITY EXAMPLE FROM THE MEMBERSHIP |
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Nature & Science | AR apps on tablets | Children use Seek by iNaturalist to identify plants and animals outdoors. |
Literacy | Bee-Bot with alphabet mat | Children spell their names using programmed sequences |
Creative Arts | Paint 3D or Sketchpad | Children create digital nature collages from their photography walk. |
Problem Solving | Adventure simulation game | Children make decisions and reflect on outcomes in games like "Bob's Castle Adventure." |
When you have access to structured lesson plans and training like the membership provides, it becomes easier to choose the types of technology to use in the classroom based on what suits your goals.
How do you know what’s the best technology to use in the classroom?
It isn’t always about what’s new. Sometimes the most effective types of technology for the classroom are the ones that:
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Align with your curriculum or early learning outcomes
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Allow children to explore independently and collaboratively
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Promote creativity, thinking, and problem-solving
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Help you assess and reflect on learning through documentation
That’s why the Teacher Academy membership includes not just a list of technology in the classroom, but fully developed plans that help you implement, adapt, and reflect on its use.
From uncertainty to confidence: A roadmap for teachers
Too often, teachers are handed devices without the time or support to understand how to use them well. That’s where the ICT in Education Teacher Academy steps in.
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You get clear guidance on the different types of technology for the classroom.
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You receive lesson plans matched to EYLF or primary curriculum outcomes.
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You can adapt each activity based on the types of technology used in the classroom available to you.
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You learn to match each tool with a purpose, not just a feature.
The membership shows you how to take the different types of technology for the classroom and turn them into teaching strategies that work.
What’s next?
By now, you probably recognise that there isn’t one right tool—there are just better decisions based on what your children need, and what you want to achieve as a teacher.
Are you ready to stop wondering about the types of technology in the classroom and start using them with confidence and clarity?
Become a member today and download your first lesson plan to see the difference structured, meaningful tech integration can make.
Remember: As a member, you’re not just getting digital activities. You’re gaining a complete path to professional growth with resources that help you reflect, adapt, and truly transform your teaching with technology.
How Do You Integrate Technology Effectively Into Your Teaching?
If you’ve ever felt uncertain about whether you’re truly using technology in a way that supports learning, you’re not alone. Integrating digital tools into the classroom can be confusing, especially when you're expected to do so with little time, support, or direction.
Let’s change that.
In this blog, I want to talk to you directly about what integration really looks like. Not just using devices for the sake of it, but implementing technology in the classroom in a way that improves outcomes for children—and for you.
What does the effective use of technology in the classroom actually look like?
It begins with a mindset shift: technology isn't just equipment—it's a tool for thinking, exploring, creating, and connecting.
Here’s a simple contrast:
TECHNOLOGY INSIDE THE CLASSROOM | WHEN IT'S INTEGRATED |
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A tablet used to watch a video | Children record and narrate their own nature videos using tablets. |
A Bee-Bot driven randomly | Children program Bee-Bots to retell a story or solve a challenge. |
Drawing app open during free play | Drawing app used during a maths activity to trace shapes. |
This is the difference between just using technology and achieving meaningful integration of technology in the classroom.
How do you know you’re on the right path?
One of the most common questions I hear is: Am I utilizing technology in the classroom the right way? If you’re asking that question, you’re already moving forward.
Here are a few signs that show your use of tech is purposeful:
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You match the tool with the learning intention.
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Children can explain what they’re doing and why.
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There’s creativity, collaboration, or problem-solving involved.
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You’re capturing observations or using the tool to assess.
That’s how teachers using technology in the classroom shift from passive consumption to active learning.
Start with one goal, one tool, one idea
One of the simplest ways to start is to choose one learning goal, then find a digital tool that helps children achieve that goal in a meaningful way.
Let’s look at some practical ideas for using technology in the classroom drawn directly from our membership resources:
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Use an audio recording app to create nature soundscapes and digital stories.
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Combine QR codes with outdoor learning to build curiosity and observation.
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Draw 2D shapes with digital painting programs to support maths and fine motor skills.
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Take apart a broken computer to explore the proper use of technology for students while encouraging curiosity and inquiry.
Each of these is a small, intentional step toward more impactful teaching.
What’s the most appropriate use of technology in the classroom?
The key is knowing your learners and using technology that amplifies what they’re already curious about. The appropriate use of technology in the classroom supports children’s developmental needs—it doesn’t replace creativity, play, or hands-on exploration. It enhances it.
That’s why our lesson plans and activities are designed with EYLF and curriculum goals in mind. They include:
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Clear learning outcomes
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Suggested ICT tools
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ICT differentiation levels
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Reflection and assessment prompts
So you’re not guessing—you’re guided.
The difference membership makes
Educators inside the ICT in Education Teacher Academy aren’t left to figure it out on their own. With each download, they get:
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A pathway for incorporating technology in the classroom that aligns with best practice
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Done-for-you lesson plans with clear instructions and reflection tools
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A workbook to track their growth and confidence
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A community to ask questions, share experiences, and grow together
When you have support, planning the effective use of technology in the classroom becomes something you look forward to.
You don’t need to know everything to get started
You don’t have to be an expert. You just need the right tools and guidance.
Are you ready to take the guesswork out of implementing technology in the classroom?
Become a member and get immediate access to your first lesson plan—designed to help you apply what you’ve just read, with real children, tomorrow.
Why Is Technology Important in Today’s Classroom?
If you’re reading this, you likely already believe in the potential of technology within the classroom—you just want to understand how to make it work better, feel less overwhelming, and deliver real value to your teaching and your students.
Let’s talk about why this matters.
The importance of technology in the classroom starts with student learning
Children today live in a digital world. They don’t just encounter technology; they grow up with it. So when we talk about the importance of technology in the classroom, we’re talking about giving students access to the language, tools, and skills they need to thrive in their world.
Used well, digital tools can:
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Encourage creativity and self-expression
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Support collaboration and shared learning
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Offer new ways to problem-solve and explore concepts
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Deepen engagement through interactive, multimodal experiences
This is where technologies for teaching and learning go beyond novelty—they become transformational.
What happens when we use technology in the classrooms with purpose?
I often say: technology isn’t the lesson—it’s the tool. And when used thoughtfully, it enhances what we’re already trying to achieve.
Here’s what I mean:
LEARNING FOCUS | TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE CLASSROOM | MEMBERSHIP LESSON EXAMPLE |
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Language & Literacy | Digital drawing apps and speech bubble tools | Children add digital text to their photos to tell a story. |
Science & Inquiry | AR nature identification apps | Children scan plants and animals outdoors, then create a digital journal. |
Problem-Solving | Programmable toys like Bee-Bots | Children solve mazes by inputting directional commands. |
Creative Arts | Digital photography and collage apps | Children capture nature images and create themed slideshows. |
These aren’t just activities—they are authentic applications of digital technologies in the classroom.
But isn’t the curriculum already full?
Absolutely. Which is why integration matters.
When the integration of technology in the classroom is done right, it doesn’t add more to your plate. It becomes a tool that helps you:
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Deliver core outcomes in new, engaging ways
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Capture and document learning more efficiently
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Empower students to work more independently
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Reflect on your own teaching practices
In our membership, you’ll find lesson plans that embed digital tools into everyday curriculum areas. You’re not tacking on extra tech; you’re building it into what you already do.
Why does this matter now more than ever?
Technology is changing our classrooms. But that doesn’t mean we hand over control to the devices. It means we guide children with intentional, well-supported strategies that reflect the importance of technology in the classroom while also supporting play, creativity, and child-led exploration.
That’s why educators in the ICT in Education Teacher Academy don’t just download a tool. They learn how to choose the right one. They track their growth. They reflect on outcomes. They transform.
Where do you begin?
The biggest shift happens when you move from trying to use technology to actually understanding it as a teaching tool.
Are you ready to go beyond digital tools and start using technology in ways that truly matter?
Join the membership and get your first lesson plan—aligned with your curriculum and designed to show you what purposeful technology looks like in action.
A Practical Path for Teachers Ready to Turn Technology into Real Learning
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the rapid pace of technology change in schools, you're not alone. Many teachers are told to "just use the tech" without ever being shown how. What’s missing isn’t motivation. What’s missing is the right kind of support.
When it comes to training teachers to use technology in the classroom, the solution isn’t another one-day workshop. It’s a professional learning experience that helps you grow, apply, and reflect—one that’s integrated into your everyday teaching.
And that’s exactly what the ICT in Education Teacher Academy membership is built to provide.
Why professional learning must evolve
In the past, professional development often meant seeking out external workshops, hoping your school would approve, and juggling schedules to attend. Unless you worked in a setting with a dedicated digital learning specialist or team leader, you likely had to find training on your own—and hope it was worth the time.
But today, CPD looks different.
Ongoing, embedded, and accessible training is now essential. CPD for teachers should live where your teaching does—in the day-to-day, in the classroom, and in the moments where you’re actively trying to improve student learning outcomes.
The ICT in Education Teacher Academy brings all of this together. It's professional learning in one place, offering a structured, purposeful pathway designed specifically for integrating technology in the classroom.
This is what we believe CPD for the future looks like—and it's why so many educators are making the shift.
What teachers actually need
From talking with educators around Australia, I’ve found that most teachers don’t need more devices. They need clarity. Clarity on how to:
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Use the technology already available in the classroom
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Make lessons more engaging and purposeful with tech
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Feel confident applying digital strategies that work
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Understand how technology impacts student learning
This is what real transformation looks like. Not adding more tech. But using it better.
Whether you’re a beginning teacher unsure where to start, or a confident user looking to take your ICT use further, this membership gives you the structure, tools, and guidance to grow—at your own pace, in your own context.
Training that fits your day-to-day teaching
The membership isn’t about theory. It’s about helping you put ideas into practice.
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Every lesson plan is tied to real teaching outcomes
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You get digital activities that fit within your learning program
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You can adapt plans to match the tools you already have
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And you build confidence—not by guessing, but by following a clear path
This isn’t a one-off training. The membership walks with you through your classroom journey. It adapts as your confidence grows. And because it’s embedded in your real classroom work, you’ll see immediate impact—not just theory.
You don’t need a tech background to succeed. You just need a structure that helps you learn by doing.
From Overwhelmed to Confident: Sarah’s Story
Sarah, a Foundation teacher in regional Queensland, used to avoid the iPads in her room. “I knew I should be using technology more purposefully,” she said, “but I honestly didn’t know where to begin.”
After joining the ICT in Education Teacher Academy, Sarah downloaded a digital storytelling lesson. She used the planning template to map the learning outcomes, matched it with her curriculum goals, and tried it with her students.
“The difference was immediate,” she shared. “The lesson worked. The kids were engaged. And I could see what they were learning. For the first time, I felt like I knew why I was using tech—not just how.”
Sarah now uses the workbook to document each new activity and track her growth. “It’s not just resources. It’s a journey—and I know I’m becoming a better teacher through it.”
You’ll see impact—on learning and on your own growth
When you join, you’re not just learning how to use technology in the classroom effectively. You’re building:
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Better learning experiences for your students
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New ways to teach that excite you again
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A stronger understanding of how technology improves thinking, creativity, and collaboration
You won’t just try new tools—you’ll understand their impact. With built-in reflection prompts and professional learning templates, you’ll track your own growth and make better instructional decisions. As your confidence builds, so will your ability to lead your students into richer, deeper learning using digital technologies in the classroom.
This is what it means to learn with and about ICT: you're helping children achieve outcomes in literacy, science, arts or numeracy while also giving them the digital skills they need in life.
What’s included when you train through the membership
For teachers searching for a meaningful way to develop their ICT capability, here’s what makes this training experience stand out:
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Structured lesson plans that show you how to implement tech with purpose
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Planning templates to help align tech use with curriculum outcomes
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Observation and reflection tools to monitor impact on student learning
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Step-by-step guidance for digital storytelling, coding, augmented reality, and more
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A professional workbook to track your development and build confidence
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A supportive educator community to share wins and ask questions
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Mapped alignment to APST and EYLF outcomes for professional learning goals
Every part of the membership is designed to help you confidently choose and apply technology—not for its own sake, but for meaningful teaching and learning.
This is the CPD teachers need now—and it’s all in one place.
No more wondering what to do next
Inside the membership, you’ll find:
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Lesson plans with step-by-step guidance
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Tools that help you adapt ideas to your context
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Prompts that support planning, observation, and reflection
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A workbook that helps you track your progress and build confidence
The workbook gives you more than checklists. It helps you reflect on student engagement, map your professional growth, and make informed decisions about what’s working and what to try next.
You’ll stop second-guessing and start seeing the results of your decisions. And you’ll finally feel like someone understands what it’s like to teach in a real classroom with real time constraints.
Why this membership is different
This isn’t just a resource library. It’s a complete process designed to help you make meaningful changes in your classroom.
- You’re not learning for the sake of it. You’re learning to transform.
- You’re not just collecting ideas. You’re applying them.
- You’re not stuck in trial-and-error. You have a map.
Ready to stop attending training sessions that never quite stick?
If you're serious about transforming how you use technology in your classroom—while saving time, building confidence, and improving learning outcomes—this is the training you've been searching for.
Join the ICT in Education Teacher Academy and discover a better way to teach with technology, starting today.
What ICT tools and resources should you use in the classroom?
Technology here and technology there – today, there are so many choices for teachers to choose from. However, it does not have to be this hard. Research tells us that when it comes to integrating technology in the classroom, it is a matter of exploiting our own sense of familiarity with technologies that is common among young people.
It also highlights that this process is all about exploiting the here and now of the available technologies in the classroom and not be concerned with looking for the next big technological development to solve your problem of integrating technology in your teaching and learning. Integrating technology in the classroom is not a straightforward process. So let me explain this to you in a way that is practical and immediately actionable.
One of the most important notes to remember when deciding to use technology in the classroom is that just by exposing your students to technology will not enable them to completely develop their ICT capability. As a common misconception amongst many educators, this has had negative implications on the learning of students. Providing a laptop or iPad or desktop computer to students to use by themselves is therefore not an ideal environment for learning. They need structure, stimulation and scaffolding for effective learning in ICT capability and not ICT skills. As a teacher, you require effective teaching strategies in order for you to increase the chances of enhanced learning.
A common question asked by many teachers, the choice of technology in the classroom varies on a teacher’s plans and purpose for it. For example, you first need to decide whether you just want the students to use it in order to support subject learning, to develop their ICT capability or both. In my opinion, the best option is both because this is entirely possible and it is the ultimate aim of using it in the classroom. To remain completely transparent in the background whilst supporting the subject. On the other hand, you may just wish to use it support to support subject learning such as literacy and numeracy, but I will discuss pros and cons of this later.
The reason why I believe teachers should choose the third option is to do with the following circumstances. ICT capability is amongst the seven 21st century skills or general capabilities in the Australian Curriculum. It also has a strong emphasis in the UK ICT Curriculum. However, my expertise only allows me to discuss that of the Australian Curriculum. As a general capability it is embedded throughout all Learning Areas especially Technologies (Digital Technology and D & T). In this instance, I mainly am speaking about other subject areas and the integration of technology throughout them. Choosing the right ICT tools and resources should then have a lot to do with your intentions as a teacher to meet the curriculum requirements.
The Need for Digital Technology in Classrooms
The digital technology in class that we emphasise is important has to do with the fact that they are:
- Content-free and generic;
- They develop student ICT capabilities;
- Challange students intellectually;
- Enable a high level of decision-making on behalf of the students.
Below I have outlined the other reasons why we should use technology in the classroom.
- E-learning or Online Learning: The presence of ICT in education allows for new ways of learning for students and teachers. E-learning or online learning is becoming increasingly popular and with various unprecedented events taking place in our lives, this does not only open opportunities for schools to ensure that students have access to curriculum materials whilst in the classroom but also allows them to ensure students outside the classroom such as at home or even in hospitals can learn.
- ICT brings inclusion: The benefits of ICT in education is of such that students in the classroom can all learn from the curriculum material. Students with special needs are no longer at a disadvantage as they have access to essential material and special ICT tools can be used by students to make use of ICT for their own educational needs. Despite this, it opens up new issues related to the 'digital divide' and providing access to ICT tools and resources for those who are less fortunate.
- ICT promotes higher-order thinking skills: One of the key skills for the 21st century which includes evaluating, planning, monitoring, and reflecting to name a few. The effective use of ICT in education demands skills such as explaining and justifying the use of ICT in producing solutions to problems. Students need to discuss, test, and conjecture the various strategies that they will use.
- ICT enhances subject learning: It is well known these days that the use of ICT in education adds a lot of value to key learning areas like literacy and numeracy.
- ICT use develops ICT literacy and ICT Capability: Both are 21st-century skills that are best developed whilst ICT remains transparent in the background of subject learning. The best way to develop ICT capability is to provide them with meaningful activities, embedded in purposeful subject-related contexts.
- ICT use encourages collaboration: You just have to put a laptop, iPad or computer in the classroom to understand how this works. ICT naturally brings children together where they can talk and discuss what they are doing for their work and this in turn, opens up avenues for communication thus leading to language development.
- ICT use motivates learning: Society's demands for new technology has not left out children and their needs. Children are fascinated with technology and it encourages and motivates them to learn in the classroom.
- ICT in education improves engagement and knowledge retention: When ICT is integrated into lessons, students become more engaged in their work. This is because technology provides different opportunities to make it more fun and enjoyable in terms of teaching the same things in different ways. As a consequence of this increased engagement, it is said that they will be able to retain knowledge more effectively and efficiently.
- ICT use allows for effective Differentiation Instruction with technology in the classroom: We all learn differently at different rates and styles and technology provide opportunities for this to occur.
- ICT integration is a key part of the national curriculum: The integration of digital technologies or ICT is a significant part of the Australian Curriculum for example, and this is a trend that many global governments are taking up as they begin to see the significance of ICT in education.
- We live in a “knowledge economy": This is an economy where it is vital to have the ability to produce and use information effectively (Weert, 2005). It is a time when ICT is pervasive and permeates throughout all industries in the economy whether it may be health, education, environment or manufacturing (Moon, Feb/Mar 2007). The significance of ICT in the Australian economy was emphasised in the recent article by Alan Patterson, CEO of the Australian Computer Society, in his statement that the “ICT industry now rivals mining in terms of the contribution to the economy” (Patterson, Jan/Feb 2013, p. 8).
Effective technology to use in the classroom
Digital technology in the classroom in a world that is dominated by technology is essential and with global events such as pandemics, acquiring digital capabilities is a must for the 21st-century student of today and workforce of tomorrow. Choosing the right technology is essential which is why the above reasons stand above what others might think are inconsequential to a student's learning.
The integration of digital technology in the classroom begins with the here and now of the available technology in the classroom. Why wait for the next big technological development to come around. Imagine the potential of the digital technology for learning within the context that it will be taught.
You can begin to use digital technology in the classroom such as:
- laptops
- digital cameras and video recorders
- iPads
- Desktop computers
However, digital technology is also about software too, and there lots to choose from.
- Word processors
- Desktop publishers
- Graphics programs (drawing and painting software)
- Spreadsheets and databases
- Web creation and development programs
- And the list can go on!
So make sure that you don't try to outshine your colleagues too early and quick with a fancy piece of software. You can lead by example using the available technology in the classroom as this will also let administration and senior management know that their current investments in technology are being optimised already and maybe just encourage them to invest in more updated versions of what you have got.
The above digital technologies in the classroom represent your best chance as a teacher to ensure that student ICT capability is developed alongside meaningful context-driven learning activities in key learning areas today. By making sound instructional decisions, you will be able to employ evidence based ICT teaching methods that will increase the attainment level in ICT capability and ICT literacy in your school in weeks to come.
Defining Successful Tech Integration
There are many benefits to integrating technology in the classroom. Yet, if you are to seamlessly allow students to develop ICT capability in subject learning then it is important that you ensure that technology use in the classroom is transparent, accessible and supportive of the curriculum learning goals.
Simple exposure to any kind of technology in the classroom is not sufficient today if you are to develop proficient users in ICT.
Defining Technology Integration
In my view, the ICT pedagogy that you use as the teacher should make the technology transparent in its use to the extent that the students hardly notice they are using it to achieve the learning outcomes that you have set for them. Successful technology integration is also not only about using technology in the classroom daily, but also having access to a variety of ICT tools used in classroom teaching that match the task at hand and provide them the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of content.
Studies have found that integrating technology in the classroom in a successful manner can be achieved even if you have just one computer, laptop, tablet computer or any other ICT tool or resource.
When effectively integrated into key learning areas of the curriculum, technology in the classroom can extend learning in powerful ways such as:
- Access to up-to-date material
- Methods of collecting data and recording data.
- Ways to collaborate with students, teachers, and experts around the world.
- Learning that is relevant and assessment that is authentic.
(Edutopia)
Different Types of Digital Tech
As mentioned earlier, there are many different types of digital technologies in the classroom. Despite this, you must always remember that integrating digital technology in the classroom is not about waiting for the next big technological development. It is, however, about imagining the potential for learning with the ‘here and now’ of the available digital technologies in the classroom.
They must give students full control over it in order to be able to used seamlessly in the lesson learning outcomes.
So what is available?
Tablet Computers such as iPads.
- Desk top Computers
- Laptops.
- Smartphones used appropriately by teachers and students.
- Virtual Learning Environments
Try integrating this type of technology in the classroom today. Learn how to by visiting this online workshop for teachers now.
Why This Membership Is the Key to Effective Technology Integration
If you've been following this blog series, one thing is clear: technology in the classroom isn’t just about tools—it’s about strategy, structure, and support.
And that’s what the ICT in Education Teacher Academy gives you.
Through real classroom examples, planning tools, reflection prompts, and digital resources, you’ll move beyond experimentation toward confident, effective use of technology in the classroom. It’s professional learning designed for your everyday reality—not one-off workshops that don’t follow through.
Each blog gave you a piece of the puzzle. The membership helps you put it all together—with a clear, structured path to help you grow.
When you join, you’ll gain immediate access to:
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Step-by-step lesson plans that support real integration of technology in the classroom
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Planning and observation tools to strengthen your confidence
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A workbook to help you reflect, assess, and track your progress
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A supportive community of educators who are learning just like you
But even more, you’ll be saving time, gaining clarity, and building long-term confidence with a membership designed for growth.
Choose the annual membership and save $40—get 12 months of support for the price of 10.
This is more than a resource hub—it’s a professional transformation.
What’s stopping you from turning what you’ve read into real, lasting change?
Join now, start strong, and save when you pay annually.