Technology In the Classroom
Beneficial? Or Over-Kill
How does living in the age of technology affect the
education students receive and how can school boards and
educators implement an appropriate use of technology in
the classroom?
Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting
the kids working together and motivating them,
the teacher is the most important. -Bill Gates
The Evolution of
Technology
1960s: Technology has
little impact. It is a curiosity
There is no denying that the amount of technology use in the classroom
1970s: Technology is for
is at an all time high. In a recent study from 2009 The National Center
academics and has little
impact
For Education Statistics surveyed that 97 percent of teachers had one
or more computers located in the classroom every day, while 54 percent
could bring computers into the classroom. In the midst of the digitalage technology has embarked on society as a whole, it has also
integrated its way into the classroom.
The term integrate in regards to
technology does not mean to simply
have in the classroom, but instead make
deeper meaning of material that could
not be accomplished otherwise (Earle).
The purpose of this article is to explore technology use in the classroom
and how it affects the way schools implement technology, educators
teach, and students learn.
1980s: Technology invades
homes and begins to change
behaviors
1990s: Technology is now
everywhere. A great leap
forward. It begins to
connect us around the
globe.
2000s: Growth is
explosive, but like
explosions is uncontrolled
all over the place
2010s: Technology
becomes fully integrated
into our daily lives. We live
more in the digital world.
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All to often, educators put them in a 19th century classroom
for six hours of that day, and the students feel a tremendous
disconnect
the students feel a tremendous disconnect (Lytle).
Within the last 30 years schools have
witnessed the first
computers enter their
A classroom infused with technology has become
a necessity in order for students to feel a
classrooms to the implementation of the Apple
connection between school and the world that we
iPad for every student in the school (McMullun).
live in. Successful technology integration cannot
Over the past decade an even greater push has
be achieved with out overcoming many obstacles,
been made towards implementing technology
one of them being funding. While 78% of K-12
centered learning. Schools face issues such as
teachers believe that technology has a positive
funding, meeting curriculum standards, and
impact in the classroom (Lytle), lack of funding
properly training teachers how to use the
provided by the state puts lower-income
technology implemented. Many wonder why
schools are so adamant
for change, as the
schools at a disadvantage. While there is the
option of applying for a grant from the state,
old saying goes why fix what isnt broken?
requests are not always approved. Other aspects
According to an educator from Cushing Academy,
schools consider when implementing technology
Students inhabit a 21st century world for 18
into the classroom is how often it will be used,
hours a day,
how it will enhance lessons, and funding that goes
And, all to often, educators put them in a 19th
into training staff.
century classroom for six hours of that day, and
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From an educators
graphics for personal
stand point, the most
productivity. With such
important aspects that
emphasis put on funding
goes into teaching is
towards technology in the
having students learn
classroom, many believe
in the most effective
that money should be put
and engaging way
towards teacher training of
possible. Today,
electronics (Earle). The
many teachers have
effectiveness and intent of
students entering
technology usage in the
their classrooms with
classroom play as critical
instinctual-like
components on this topic.
knowledge of
So often, educators use
technology. A large
technology with no
percentage of teachers
underlying purpose, aside
believe that technology has made a
from changing up the flow of a lesson. According
positive impact on their classroom
to Yelland, it is about creating contexts for
(Lytle). Yet according to Earle fewer
authentic learning that use new technologies as
than half of the teachers used computers
integrated and meaningful ways to enhance the
for instructional purposes, rather than
production of knowledge and communication and
word-processing, spreadsheets, or
dissemination of ideas(Vanderlinde).
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Trained properly, teachers will be able to enhance
lessons through technology, as well as build
technological skills that students can use in the
digitally native world. For this to happen, teachers
must put an aim on what they want to achieve when
using technology in a lesson as seen in Table 1.
As technology evolves, so must the
teachers (Lytle). In the age of knowledge
teachers and books are not the only source of
It is common sense to
take a method and try
it. If it fails, admit it
frankly and try another.
But above all, try
something.
-Thomas Jefferson
information. By keeping up to date with technology
and when to implement technology into lessons,
teachers can thrive in a technology-based society.
While the efforts of school boards and
faculty are responsible for providing an adequate
education, the most important aspect of integrating
technology into schools is: how will this effect the
students? As Figure 2 shows, 98.1 percent of
students prefer some kind of technology integration
in the classroom. Schools and educators react to the
meet the students needs; and now classrooms are
integrated with all different types of technology.
Students in classrooms that are technologically
equip are more likely to be inclined to actively
engage themselves in information and think more
independently through their actions (EdReform).
According to Ed Reform When students are using
technology as a tool or a support for communicating
with others, they are in an active role rather than the
passive role of recipient of the information
transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast.
Teachers have reported that the main improvement
they notice when using technology is student
motivation. Often students are surprised with
their own accomplishments through using
technology (EdReform) On the contrary, negative
results from integrating technology into the
classroom can arise. Students may not see the end
goal of using technology if the teacher does not do
an adequate job of planning an effective way to
integrate technology into the lesson (Earle).
Another aspect taken into consideration when implementing
technology into the classroom is the potential distraction that the
Internet can create. Figure 3 is an example of a study done in
2004 with college-level students and the amount of time spent on
the Internet. As displayed, the mean average of searching the web
for pleasure falls shortly behind writing documents and classroom
activities. If students are not given guidelines and expectations to
follow of how to effectively use the Internet for educational
enhancement, the classroom could become an environment prone
to distraction.
As the education system embarks on the journey to find
the balance of technology usage in the classroom, the world
continues to evolve and advance itself. There may not be one
right answer of how society and schools should be using
technology and if one method fails, then try something new.
Although, if schools integrate technology into the classroom and
use it for practical purposes then students will have more access
to educational resources than ever. With school boards, teachers
and the students working together an effective technological
system can be put into
action. Providing best
education possible may
mean taking
a leap into
the world of
technology and opening
endless possibilities for the
digital-age students of today;
so as long as it enhances
learning to its fullest.
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