I am currently in a course called Training System Design/Instructional Design (HRD 411) and I just read a case study about touch screen pads that were recently put into museums to provide more information on each topic. These touchpads are stationed throughout the museum for the opportunity to learn about a particular exhibit to a greater extent. This allows students to further explore on their own and participate in activities on the touchpad that were specifically designed for a new, fun way of obtaining knowledge. This encourages learning in informal settings. Therefore, this links educational content with things that affects learners in their daily lives. Informal learning can be enriched by adding questions and information learned in the classrooms. It occurs when a teacher asks questions in the classroom and then learners make a duty of exploring a museum, then collect photos and some notes relating to the question. Learners are therefore encouraged to record, recall, link and share their diversity on different events. It is good, as well as necessary because crossover learning relates both classwork and fieldwork. This improves the learner's abilities to listen in class and to relate the information with the events that occur outside class. Obviously teachers will not always have the opportunity to bring students to a museum, but giving the students specific information on a topic and questions to answer on their own allows freedom for exploration. Letting the learners explore an educational app or game on a touchpad to find the answers creates a better learning outcome than exploring a traditional textbook. This learning style still allows the teacher to lecture and give direction, but also, gives the students freedom to explore on their own to become actively involved in the lesson.

For instance, a teacher can use an app called “Word Cloud” that enables students to participate anonymously during lecture (this works for all subjects). Students often feel nervous speaking in front of an entire class, which may prevent participation and decreased awareness during the lesson. Students are asked a question from the instructor and then they type their response in the Word Cloud app and their response shows up on the big screen. Each response can be seen once submitted by the individuals in the classroom and then these responses can be discussed as a class. I personally felt more comfortable using Word Cloud when it came to getting actively involved in class without feeling like I am sitting in a lecture.

https://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/108-ways-to-use-word-clouds-in-the-classroom-word-clouds-in-education-series-part-2/

This website tells you 101 ways a teacher can use Word Cloud in a classroom (all subjects apply)