Technology has proven to be very beneficial and substantial to the field of education. Both, teachers and students benefit greatly when technology is integrated into a classroom. Technology allows a classroom to become more student-centered, allowing students to become actively involved with the content. Generally, the more involved an individual is with the material, the easier it is to comprehend and learn. Technology allows teachers to focus more on their students and help them with their individual academic needs. It also helps teachers connect to their students and make learning enjoyable and meaningful. With the correct implementation and appropriate use of technology in a classroom, both the teachers and students should become more successful.
Technology can alter the atmosphere and operation of a classroom if it is used efficiently. Technology allows a teacher to have an active-learning and student-centered classroom (Kashy,Thoennessen, Tsai, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 2). With the increase of technology, teachers no longer need to be the center of the room and constantly instructing the students with information. In fact, lecture time is eliminated with the use of technology, which allows for more classroom demonstration, examples, or activities (Kashy, Thoennessen, Tsai, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 2). This also helps teachers to monitor students' understanding of the content and offer additional help to those students in need (Kashy, Thoennessen, Tsai, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 1). This increases the opportunity for more students to be academically successful.
Students are more excited about learning when technology is integrated into a classroom. Students are actively involved and engaged in the content when using technology, which allows the learning to be meaningful to the students. It is said that, "learning which is not meaningful is not retained" (Bucci, Copenhover, Lehman, & O'Brien, 2003, p. 33). Technology also allows students to connect the content to reality and understand the purpose of learning the material (Bucci, Copenhover, Lehman, & O'Brien, 2003, p. 33).
Technology has been proven to enhance students' learning and academic success (Kashy, Thoennessen, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 1). Most students receive higher grades when using technology, especially in the subjects of science, math, and reading (Bransford, Lin, & Schwartz, 2000, p. 157). It is also noted that the students drop-out rate has decreased due to the increase of technology integration within classrooms (Kashy, Thoennessen, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 6). The increase in academic success is due to the transformation of how classrooms are nstructed because of technology. It allows students to be hands-on, and express their creativity, as well as establish a better connection to the teacher.
A teacher must recognize that there is always a risk in using technology and that the lesson may not go perfectly as planned. Technology is great, but there are faults, such as not working properly. When using technology, sometimes the teacher is also the learner. A teacher may not know how to solve every issue when a technology problem arises, which is alright. Students will be able to relate to the teacher and observe how the teacher handles a difficult and unexpected situation, and this opportunity allows for the teacher and students to learn something new together (Bransford, Lin, & Schwartz, 2000, p. 152). Students may gain a respect for the teacher and be able to better relate to that individual, if a situation like this arises.
Technology is a great asset to any classroom and is very beneficial to both students and teachers. Classrooms become more student-oriented and students are actively involved with the content, which improves students' academic success. Evidence indicates that through the integration of technology, students' grades improve and learning becomes more enjoyable and meaningful. The use of technology also allows teachers to better monitor student progress and identify and help students that are not comprehending the content as quickly as planned. Overall, integrating technology into a classroom is a great instructional method, which will harvest many positive and successful outcomes for teachers and students.
References:Technology can alter the atmosphere and operation of a classroom if it is used efficiently. Technology allows a teacher to have an active-learning and student-centered classroom (Kashy,Thoennessen, Tsai, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 2). With the increase of technology, teachers no longer need to be the center of the room and constantly instructing the students with information. In fact, lecture time is eliminated with the use of technology, which allows for more classroom demonstration, examples, or activities (Kashy, Thoennessen, Tsai, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 2). This also helps teachers to monitor students' understanding of the content and offer additional help to those students in need (Kashy, Thoennessen, Tsai, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 1). This increases the opportunity for more students to be academically successful.
Students are more excited about learning when technology is integrated into a classroom. Students are actively involved and engaged in the content when using technology, which allows the learning to be meaningful to the students. It is said that, "learning which is not meaningful is not retained" (Bucci, Copenhover, Lehman, & O'Brien, 2003, p. 33). Technology also allows students to connect the content to reality and understand the purpose of learning the material (Bucci, Copenhover, Lehman, & O'Brien, 2003, p. 33).
Technology has been proven to enhance students' learning and academic success (Kashy, Thoennessen, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 1). Most students receive higher grades when using technology, especially in the subjects of science, math, and reading (Bransford, Lin, & Schwartz, 2000, p. 157). It is also noted that the students drop-out rate has decreased due to the increase of technology integration within classrooms (Kashy, Thoennessen, Davis, & Wolfe, n.d., p. 6). The increase in academic success is due to the transformation of how classrooms are nstructed because of technology. It allows students to be hands-on, and express their creativity, as well as establish a better connection to the teacher.
A teacher must recognize that there is always a risk in using technology and that the lesson may not go perfectly as planned. Technology is great, but there are faults, such as not working properly. When using technology, sometimes the teacher is also the learner. A teacher may not know how to solve every issue when a technology problem arises, which is alright. Students will be able to relate to the teacher and observe how the teacher handles a difficult and unexpected situation, and this opportunity allows for the teacher and students to learn something new together (Bransford, Lin, & Schwartz, 2000, p. 152). Students may gain a respect for the teacher and be able to better relate to that individual, if a situation like this arises.
Technology is a great asset to any classroom and is very beneficial to both students and teachers. Classrooms become more student-oriented and students are actively involved with the content, which improves students' academic success. Evidence indicates that through the integration of technology, students' grades improve and learning becomes more enjoyable and meaningful. The use of technology also allows teachers to better monitor student progress and identify and help students that are not comprehending the content as quickly as planned. Overall, integrating technology into a classroom is a great instructional method, which will harvest many positive and successful outcomes for teachers and students.
Bransford, J., Lin, X., & Schwartz, D. (2000). Technology, learning, and Schools: Comments on articles by Tom Carroll & Gerald Bracey. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 1(1), 145-182. Retrieved September 11, 2012 from https://onlinecampus.edinboro.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=716681&tId=5615010.
Bucci, T.T., Copenhaver, L. J., Lehman, B., & O'Brien, T. (2003). Technology integration: Connections to educational theories. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 3(1), 26-42. Retrieved September 11, 2012, from https://onlinecampus.edinboro.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=716681&tId=5615010.
Kashy, E., Thoennessen, M., Tsai, Y., Davis, N.E., Wolfe, S.L. (n.d.). Using networked tools to promote student success in large classes. Retrieved September 11, 2012 from https://onlinecampus.edinboro.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=716681&tId=5615010.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThe idea of making the classroom a student-centered area is definitely a theme use by all of the authors that promote technology use in the classroom. You went a step further and insisted that using technology will allow teachers to meet each student's individual needs. It is like every student has his or her own IEP, which I think is really the way that education is heading. (Based on my exeriences at least.)
I also wanted to comment on your insights on the risks that com with using technology. I teach in a 1/2 virtual classroom and out network goes out ALOT!! My fellow teacher and I feel as if someone punched us in the stomach when we realize that the students will not be able to connect to the internet. As the English and math teachers in the classroom, we can alter our lessons on the fly. However, students complete Science and History virtually - and Internet issues poses a huge problem for us because it leave the students with nothing to work on. We all know what that means too - when students are not focused on learning then behavior becomes an issue!
Excellent article, I like your point about how techolology can alter the classroom. I use a mix running from low to high. I attempt to reduce the problems using the school network by down loading videos.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Sarah, our technological infrastructure needs to be updated to meet the demands of the burgeoning online educational arena. Allowing teachers to monitor student progress really lets teachers know where they need to focus their resources and time. It also gives students a medium to interact and help each other out which can become a mutually beneficial learning experience.
ReplyDeleteGreg, I used to do the same thing, if the network would go down, I'd have a video waiting.
Another reason teachers should integrate technology into the classroom is that when you have to submit a comment on a blog it doesn't take you 7 tries to prove your not a robot.
ReplyDelete