Digital content creation is one of the key components of digital literacy, which has become the new face of 21st century education.
However, it
would be a hard nut to crack if teachers who are supposed to be in the
forefront of driving this change in paradigm remain reluctant and resistant to
its implementation. It has been observed that teachers who are resistant to
this necessary change do so because of their sheer ignorance on the relevance
of digital literacy to today’s teaching and learning process, as well as what
they stand to gain being digital literates.
With a
commitment of time and little financial investment, every 21st
century teacher can produce digital contents that will not only accelerate
learning among school children, but also create additional income source for
the teacher.
In this
post, we are going to look at 5 of those digital content creations that have
the potentials to improve teachers’ classroom engagement as well as create
wealth for them.
#1. Video contents
Video
contents can come in different forms. Meanwhile, teachers are encouraged to
master video creations for classroom engagement first, and then move on from
there. Such videos can come in form
There are
lots of free tools you can start with in creating a classroom video. Check out this post on 10 powerful tools for classroomvideos.
Now the next question is: How does the video content
profit you as an educational tool as well as offering a financial benefit to
you?
Educational
Uses
ü With
videos, you can easily run a flipped classroom. Here, you produce video on an
upcoming lesson and then send across to your students to go through in
preparation for the main class.
ü Videos
help you to assess the effectiveness of your teaching. Just like football
players review the videos of their last game to see how they fared, same way a
teacher can assess how effective and impactful is his teaching by going through
his video lesson over time.
ü Videos
reinforce learning in children. When as a teacher, you produce video lessons
and send across to your students for offline download, they have the freedom to
replay the video over time until learning is perfected.
ü Videos
are more engaging and fun, hence creating interest in learners.
ü With
videos, you can create a distant learning structure with your students. Even
during holidays, you can still engage your students from home. You can do this
simply by using the free tool, Google Hangout to host a videoconference with
your students.
Wish to learn how to host a
videoconference with your students using Google Hangout? Join our Google ToolsMaster-class here.
Financial
Benefits
ü You
can easily upload all your classroom videos to YouTube and monetize them.
ü Video
lessons can as well be used as vlogging contents and then be monetized.
ü You
can also convert them to CDs and sell them offline
ü Your
videos can as well be used for online class, where you make a lifetime income
with a one-time content.
#2. Blogging
Blogging today is the most popular and easiest digital
content creation. There are millions of
blog posts churned out daily, serving as news source and research materials for
the global citizens.
One good thing about blogging is that you can blog about
anything and still find audience who are interested in what you’ve just penned
down.
Those who are not yet blogging have always blamed the
inability to understand the best niche to dive into, as well as the inability
to produce regular, quality content, as the reason why they are not yet
blogging.
However, the truth is that every average teacher has all
it takes to churn out quality and regular blog posts the moment he/she
understands how best to go about it. This post is a complete guide on choosing aniche for your blog, especially as a teacher.
How can blogging assist our classroom engagement as
teachers as well as pay our bills?
Educational
Uses
ü As
with videos, blogs can be used in flipped classroom structure where students
are directed to read through a related blog post in preparation for an upcoming
lesson.
ü Blogs
serve as permanent research platforms for students and teachers.
ü Students
can be directed to carry out short assessment exercises in blogs, which helps
to drive organic traffic for the blog.
ü Use
blog site as a platform to promote products, school events and students’
achievements
ü The
list is endless
Financial
Benefits
With a blog, every teacher can create a lifetime wealth
in addition to his/her regular income. These are the following ways you can
monetize your blog:
ü Ads
Network monetization: You register with these sites and wait
for the approval of your site. The moment your site is approved, you’ll have
third party adverts placed on your sites by placing codes. You make money
through clicks and impressions on these ads. Google Adsense is the leading ads network to monetize your site.
ü Advert
Placement: This is a kind of creating an advert space
on your blog site so that brands with related products can directly advertize
their products on an agreed terms.
ü Affiliate
Marketing: Bloggers also make money through affiliate
marketing- that’s selling other people’s product by driving traffic from their
sites to the merchants’ sites.
ü Personal
Brand Promotion: With your blog, you can promote your
services and products directly to your blog visitors and make money.
#3. Graphic Designs
Today, one does not need to have a degree in graphic
design to be able to design graphics. There are many free and low-cost tools to
create world class designs. Every teacher must endeavour to master the skill of
graphic designs. You can start with Canva.com and Visme.com.
Educational
Uses
ü Schools
can design personalized logo for their brands
ü Teachers
can design award certificates for their students
ü Students
can as well be taught on how to create ebook covers and social media banners
ü Teachers
can create nice infographic for a thrilling classroom engagement
ü The
list is endless.
Financial
Benefits
ü You
can save money creating graphics for personalized brands
ü You
can as well make money creating stunning graphics for other brands
#4. Ebook
Ebooks are books in digital formats, usually sold online
to be used as digital downloads. Teachers can produce ebooks on subject matters
or on subjects and topics that would profit their students. There is so much to
gain by teachers producing ebooks.
Educational
Uses
ü Produce
short ebooks on different areas of students’ lives to improve their academics
and behaviour
ü Ebook
can also be used in a flipped classroom design
Financial
Benefits
ü One
ebook written today can make you a lifetime income with no extra cost
ü Ebook
can be converted to blog post for additional income
ü The
same ebook can as well be converted to hard copies and sold to local customers
#5. Online Class
Withthe imminent collapse of the conventional school system as
well as for the sake of building a global brand, every 21st century
teacher is encouraged to embrace online class. As a teacher, you can create an
online class with any of the notable online class platforms like Teachable, Thinkific etc. You can as well start with Google Classroom.
Educational
Uses
ü Online class provides a distant learning
solution for your students.
ü It can
as well be employed as a flipped classroom tool
Financial
Benefits
ü Online
class is a lifetime income spinner, as one course created today can still enroll
students in years to come.
ü Your
online course materials can also be converted to blog post, videos, Mobile
Apps, podcasts etc, for more money.
ü The list
is endless.
Today’s teachers have so much to do to improve the
educational processes. Technology has provided that leverage and we can’t
afford to miss this golden opportunity. Besides, as a teacher, you’ve got a
future to secure becoming a digital content creator.
Hello, my name is Chima Ezuo. I'm a tech-savvy educator, a Nigerian with great passion to see Africa rise through tech-driven education and digital literacy integration in our educational processes. I train African teachers and teens; I blog for global teachers. 
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