At Sapolu Destined Academy, we value a high-tech learning environment. Students have access to cutting-edge educational technology to assist them in their athletic and academic endeavors.
Though we prioritize in-person, on-site learning, we also believe it’s imperative to incorporate digital resources into the learning process. This means utilizing ebooks, digital study tools, and other technological aids, as well as providing students with laptops and keeping our facility modern and current.
Here are a few ways student-athletes can benefit from a high-tech atmosphere like SDA’s.
Accessible Information
One of the biggest advantages of a high-tech classroom is students’ access to a wealth of information. Digital content libraries, news resources, academic journals, even study sites and apps—when students know how to use the internet to interpret information, identify reliable sources, and help themselves study, they become more independent learners. These digital literacy skills will help them in high school, in college, and as lifelong global citizens.
Interactive Learning
Technology allows instructors to incorporate a broader range of activities into the class period. Things like interactive quizzes and online games accommodate various learning styles and are often more engaging (and fun) for students than a simple lecture. And when students team up for an interactive activity, they’re practicing crucial collaborative skills that will help them both in the classroom and in their chosen sport.
There’s also plenty of evidence that gamified learning leads to better outcomes. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Education for Business found that 68% of students were more motivated by a gamified course than a traditional one. And in a 2021 study published in the International Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Educational Research, 75% of students reported that gamification helped them better understand the curriculum.
Better results and more fun for students: What’s not to like?
Real-World Preparation
We live in a digital-first society, where new technology emerges every day, and today’s students will need to keep pace. Immersion in a high-tech learning environment prepares SDA students for their future endeavors—not only in their lives as students, but also in the working world. Critical skills include:
- Data-driven learning. Incorporating technology into the learning environment enables students to parse, analyze, and draw conclusions from data, whether that involves a complex set of numbers for a math problem or their athletic statistics.
- Digital communication. Clear and compassionate communication is key to success in any field, including high-level sports, and a significant portion of professional communication is conducted digitally. When students are technologically aware, they’re better prepared to conduct themselves with poise and ease via email and platforms like Zoom, Slack, and more.
- Adaptability. In a constantly changing world, students will almost certainly have to learn and master new platforms and tools. Introducing fresh technology during their school years helps foster adaptability and an inherent comfort with innovation, enabling them to tackle whatever new technology awaits them in the future.
Want to learn more about SDA’s unique blend of a close-knit, in-person community and cutting-edge educational technology? Contact the SDA admissions team to learn more.