The problem of Student boredom is at least as old as the Classroom itself. And technology, rather than helping to solve this issue, is only making it worse. Today’s students, armed with laptops, smartphones and free Wi-Fi, have a world of distractions at their fingertips, all of which they find more immediately engaging than the curriculum and oration they’ve paid to receive.

It is the teachers who most sharply see and feel the impact of classroom disengagement. They are also the ones best situated to correct the trend, by incorporating new techniques and new technology into their teaching.

The Professor Pulse Survey found that 69 per cent of faculty use learning management systems, while 49 per cent use social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. And while many classrooms maintain a taboo against using smartphones during class, 37 per cent of survey respondents incorporate mobile devices into their learning.

But there is little point in devoting more time and effort into teaching, and adopting new technologies in the classroom, if it falls on deaf ears—that is, if students would still rather shop online than learn online. Successful teaching will ultimately depend on how technology is applied to keep students engaged and raise their comprehension. Here are five ways professors can use new technology to greatest effect, and keep their tech-savvy students focused on learning…

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