One of the most important elements of effective teaching is the ability to understand your students. The ability to connect with and get to know them on a deeper level not only fosters trust but also allows for a more personalised approach to learning. In a recent Deep Dive Wednesday session, hosted by Esam Baboukhan, an expert in education technology and teaching strategies, the focus was on how educators can use technology to better understand their students and improve learning outcomes.
Why Is It Important to ‘Get to Know Your Students’?
At the start of every academic year, teachers face the critical task of getting to know their students. This process is vital for building a strong foundation of trust and rapport, which sets the tone for a positive learning environment. By understanding students’ prior knowledge, learning preferences, and attitudes toward learning, educators can tailor their teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of their learners.
Establishing this connection early on helps to personalise the learning experience and ensures that all students feel valued and supported. A deeper understanding of students’ perspectives allows teachers to identify misconceptions early, offer timely interventions, and adjust their teaching methods accordingly.
TeacherMatic: Empowering Teachers, Not Replacing Them
TeacherMatic is one of the fastest-growing AI teaching platforms, designed to empower educators by enhancing their capabilities rather than replacing them. With the rise of AI in education, Esam emphasised the importance of tools that complement rather than substitute traditional teaching methods. TeacherMatic offers a suite of AI-driven generators, such as multiple-choice quiz creators, Likert scale surveys, and discussion topic generators, that save teachers time while providing them with insightful data about their students.
These tools align with pedagogical models such as Bloom’s Taxonomy and Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, ensuring that educators can integrate modern instructional practices into their lesson plans without increasing their workload.
Practical Tools for Educators
The session introduced various generators that can be used to assess students’ knowledge, attitudes, and preferences from day one:
- Multiple-Choice Quiz Generator: This tool helps teachers quickly create quizzes that not only test knowledge but also uncover how students think about specific topics. The quizzes can be exported into Microsoft Forms, making it easier to collect and analyse data.
- Likert Scale Survey Creator: To capture subtle nuances in students’ opinions and attitudes, this survey tool helps educators gain deeper insights. Teachers can ask questions like, “How confident are you in solving maths problems?” and get responses that range from strongly agree to strongly disagree, providing a more detailed picture of student attitudes.
- Discussion Topics Generator: Designed to foster critical thinking and active participation, this generator suggests discussion topics that align with learning objectives. Topics like “What makes a great teacher?” or “The importance of setting clear classroom expectations” encourage thoughtful dialogue and reflection among students.
- Learning Activities Generator: Perfect for brainstorming ideas to engage students, this tool suggests icebreakers and interactive activities. For example, using this generator to plan icebreakers such as “Two Truths and a Lie” or “Human Bingo” can help create a welcoming atmosphere in the classroom and foster stronger student relationships.
The Future of Education with AI Integration
As technology continues to evolve, the integration of AI in classrooms will become even more prominent. Esam pointed out that while AI can be an incredible asset in education, the role of the teacher remains irreplaceable. TeacherMatic is built to enhance teaching methods by making it easier to gather insights and reduce administrative tasks, freeing up more time for educators to focus on meaningful interactions with students.
Final Thoughts
The session ended with a discussion about how these tools can transform the way educators approach teaching. By leveraging technology to better understand students, teachers can create more engaging, personalised learning experiences. Whether through quizzes, surveys, or discussions, the key takeaway is that technology should be used to empower teachers to be more effective in their roles, not to replace them.
As education continues to adapt and evolve, these tools offer a glimpse into the future of teaching—one that is more personalised, efficient, and responsive to the needs of every learner.
