Speech Blog

It’s back to school season! However, this year looks a bit different for students and teachers – and even parents. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that began early this year, many schools are welcoming their students back virtually, which means students are learning from their homes and parents of younger children are becoming teachers and tutors themselves. And while some schools are opening their doors, social distancing rules will make the flow of a normal school day look a bit different. Technology has been a growing aspect of education for years, but now more than ever, technology will play a pivotal role in how educators teach and how students learn. From elementary schools to universities, this year will set a new standard of education for years to come. This year, students, parents and teachers are not just going back to school, they are going back to the future of education.

The possibilities that open when technology is brought into the classroom are endless. Assistive and educational technology can help education professionals in the monitoring of individual development and can help students absorb and process information. Voice technology is one of the many tools that teachers and students can use in a classroom, whether in-person or virtually, in order to accelerate learning. Voice recorders, like the Philips Digital VoiceTracers, are great tools that can be used in many ways and can be especially helpful when trying to teach and learn from a distance. Here are just a few ways voice recorders can help:

Recording lectures

Whether you are in first grade or your senior year of college, absorbing information while your instructor is teaching can sometimes be difficult, no matter if it’s in-person or virtually. It is easy to miss information while you are trying to take notes and if you are learning remotely, getting the attention of your teacher may not be as easy as if you were face-to-face. By recording the lecture with a voice recorder, you do not have to worry about writing down everything the instructor is saying, and you can ensure you are not missing any crucial information. The audio recording allows students to ‘fill in the gaps’ after the lecture or clarify meaning in their written notes, giving them the opportunity to listen to the lecture, or parts of it, as often as they want.

Studying

When you have the recording of a lesson or a study session, you can easily replay the recordings and take notes on the most important parts, or even re-listen to a section that may not have been clear to you the first time. Revisiting challenging parts with the help of a voice recorder can improve understanding and help with memorizing information. Being able to revisit information on your own is increasingly important when so many students are learning virtually.

Learning new languages

When learning how to speak a new language, pronunciation is very important. With a voice recorder, you can record yourself speaking and then play it back in order to pinpoint which words or phrases you need to work on. You can even send the recording to your teacher so they can help you to identify areas that need work. Your teacher can also record some phrases for you and send the recordings so that you know what they are supposed to sound like.

Playing an instrument

Whether you are just learning how to play an instrument for the first time, have been playing for years and just need to practice, or are learning a new piece of music, recording can be a great way to fine-tune your talent. By recording yourself play, you can listen back and identify what you need to work on. And just like with learning a new language, you can send recordings back and forth with your instructor in order to help you even further.

Assisting with a disability

Voice recorders can help build inclusion by bringing far more empowerment, support and independence to disabled students. While in-person learning may be difficult for these students, learning remotely may make the learning process even harder for some. Recording can enable students to gain full advantage of a class that might not otherwise be fully accessible to them. Learn more about how voice recorders can aid students with disabilities here.

2020 has been a year full of challenges, and the upcoming school year will not be an exception. However, with the help of voice technology, learning can be made just a little bit easier and more enjoyable for students, parents and teachers alike.

Looking for more information about how voice recorders can be used in education? Leave a comment or check out these blogs: Voice Recorders can Improve Learning  &  Boost Learning with Audio Recorders