Thirty years ago, aspiring to work in tech wasn’t nearly as common as it is now. Since then, the world … More
Thirty years ago, aspiring to work in tech wasn’t nearly as common as it is now. Since then, the world has watched technology dominate everything from the economy to what people do in their free time. Young children can look at many great examples of how working in tech can pay off.
However, some students miss that opportunity simply because they never see or hear about technology at school. Today, teachers can use technology not only to help their students but also to show that tech is a viable field. Follow along as we explore several important classroom ideas to spark interest in high-growth tech fields.
5 Ways Teachers Can Encourage Students to Consider a Tech Career
1. Profile Successful Tech Innovators
The type of role models that students fixate on are typically the ones they hear about at school or home. That’s why teachers must profile and teach about successful people from many different fields and backgrounds. After all, how can a student consider a tech career if they don’t have any great examples to look at?
Today, teachers at all levels of education can choose countless successful tech innovators and CEOs to highlight. Highlighting such people can inspire students to consider a career in one of many booming tech fields. It’s a great idea to highlight foundational tech innovators and modern influential tech minds alike.
That way, students can get an idea of how much certain tech fields have grown in such a relatively short time. Doing so can also highlight how tech innovators have become just as influential as the iconic figures from other industries. This can either help students appreciate high-growth tech fields or want to become a part of them.
2. Utilize VR and AR Technology
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are two incredible technologies that students of all ages can appreciate. Implementing VR and AR in lesson plans can help students learn valuable lessons while also appreciating new technology. Doing so can help students associate technology with curiosity, convenience, and learning.
In some cases, that alone is enough to inspire interest in one of many tech fields. Teachers can also use VR and AR to improve academic engagement and performance. That’s especially true for students who otherwise don’t participate in class as much as others.
Naturally, some students may feel inclined to learn more about VR and AR. After all, it can seem like magic for young students. Using such impressive technology can inspire students to learn more in their free time, which may lead to a career.
3. Invite Guest Speakers
For years, teachers and school administrators have had guest speakers to teach their students about different paths. Naturally, the type of careers and organizations such speakers represent has gradually changed with time. Today, it’s important to include guest speakers who represent modern fields within the tech industry.
For example, inviting a cybersecurity engineer can highlight a cybersecurity career path they may not have considered. The same applies to any niche tech position that has implications on everyday life for children and adults alike. After all, most tech fields revolve around practical concepts that benefit many people, like data science, software development, and cybersecurity.
4. Use Tech As a Teaching Tool
Everyone has their preferred learning method, whether it be visual, auditory, or kinesthetic. Today, teachers can utilize technology to cater to a diverse range of students who learn differently. For example, they can craft visually appealing slideshow and video presentations to captivate students.
Even better, teachers can assign students projects in which they must create presentations using video and slideshow software. That alone may be enough to pique a student’s interest and make them consider what’s possible with technology. Some schools have expansive computer science programs and teach their students how to use many practical programs.
While that isn’t universal, it’s a great way to use technology as a teaching tool while also planting a seed in their minds. At the very least, it can show students that technology has more uses beyond convenience and entertainment. What starts as a classroom project may eventually lead to a student pursuing a computer information systems degree.
5. Offer Extracurricular Activities
Teachers can only emphasize tech as much as the school’s budget and curriculum allow. However, offering tech-centric clubs and activities can further nurture students interested in technology. Tech clubs and activities can highlight specific niches within tech, such as code, cybersecurity, design, and programming.
Guest speakers who work in tech can show students that they can enjoy a rewarding career if they stick with it. Of course, this works best if teachers have already used exciting technology in the classroom and highlighted tech innovators. Supportive teachers and parents can show children that anything is possible if they care enough and work hard toward their dream tech career.
Promising Tech Careers Can Start in the Classroom
Children often dream of what their career will be when they grow up. Naturally, this typically comes from nearby influences, which can sometimes be limited. Today, more and more young students consider tech careers because of how prominent technology is in everyday life.
Teachers can nurture this by implementing technology in the classroom and teaching students about iconic tech innovators. Doing so can show students that working in tech can be rewarding in many ways. Whether it be utilizing VR in the classroom or inviting guest speakers, teachers can spark interest in high-growth tech careers in many ways.
