For 21st century educators, the use of technology in the classroom has no longer become an option, but a requirement. As the student bodies being taught continue to change, so do their educational needs. In order to provide the best practices of technology integration in the classroom, teachers must incorporate multiple strategies, follow new trends, and utilize the strategies that they are the most comfortable with. Even though the use new technology may be somewhat intimidating for some teachers, it can also be used as a tool to bridge the gap between generations of students.
After researching multiple educational articles on technology, most seem to stress the importance of using a variety of strategies in the classroom. Teachers who integrate technology by using the same methods and activities will eventually see student engagement. As new technology is developed, even more choices can be offered. Currently, some of the best and most widely used strategies include: presentation tools, clickers, technology- based educational games, technology-based performance assessments, computer simulations, teacher websites, blogs, streaming video, wikis, etc. (Salend, 2009, pp. 49-54) Along with engaging students, the use of these technological tools can help to provide students with skills they will need to succeed in a contemporary society. (Besnoy, 2006, p.34)
Although there is a learning curve to any new technology, there are also great benefits that it can provide. For example, using technology-based assessments and clickers not only record and give feedback on student performance quickly, they also help teachers to identify problem areas to address. Another strategy that can be very beneficial is the use of computer sim...
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...nd pick areas of comfort. As we head further into the 21st century, technology will continue to become a larger part of our lives. Fighting against the use of technology is a losing battle that will do nothing but create a gap between teachers and students. Technology doesn’t replace the importance of teachers, but is rather a tool for teachers to enhance the learning experiences of their students.
Works Cited
Besnoy, Kevin (2006). How Do I Do That? : Integrating Web Sites Into the Gifted Education Classroom. Gifted Child Today, 29(1), 28-34.
Harvey-Woodall, Antionette (2009). Integrating Technology into the Classroom: How Does it Impact Student Achievement?, 1-10.
Salend, Spencer J. (2009). Technology-Based Classroom Assessments: Alternatives to Testing. Teaching Exceptional Children, (July/August), 48-58.
From personal experience technology has improved the way I learn and has made it easier to students to collaborate with each other in order to improve our learning. To conclude, technology should be used in school’s curriculum and instruction because of improved communication, innovations to come and convenience to both the students and the teachers.
Stratham, D. S., & Torell, C. R. (1996). Computers in the classroom: The impact of technology on student learning. Boise, ID: Army Research Institute.
Technology is present throughout today’s classrooms. “Educational technology might include printed media, models, projected and nonprojected visuals, as well as audio, video, and digital media,” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008, pg 5). Technology is used to help engage students in lessons and help present information in a clear and distinct manner. “Common technologies, such as a whiteboard, a chalkboard, and a projector, can enhance a lecture substantially and significantly improve communication,” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008, pg 7). My philosophy of technology integration would be to include resources to my students to help improve their knowledge and understanding of the material being presented . Through including technology in the classroom a teacher can help students through different learning styles become engaged in the lesson. “If one learns best through careful examination of pictures or diagrams, then a message that is transmitted orally can be difficult and frustrating to understand and may therefore not be clearly received,” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008, pg 14).
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that
Almost everyone attends a school at one time in their life whether the classroom includes technology or not. Research shows that technology isn’t used as often as one might think. The article, “High Access and Low use of technology in High School Classrooms” illustrates the use of technology by stating that only one in ten of elementary and middle school teachers are daily users of computers (Cuban, Kirkpatrick, Peck). Most schools now have classrooms that use technology throughout the entire class time and even at home to do homework. Although some people might agree with the use of technology in class, it is more harmful to the students than useful. It can cause many distractions, it can be difficult to use and can take away from learning time.
Education is part of our life and it is changing year after year. Schools are measure by academic achievement every year. The state used exams to measure the academic achievement of schools and also evaluate them. “And while standardized test scores continue to be the measurement du jour, the use of technology is having an equally positive impact in helping students gain necessary 21st century skills that serve to advance learning engagement, and prepare students for life and work” (ISTE, 2008, p.7). It is important to note that an integral part of student achievement are the teachers and the curriculum offered by the institution. Teacher with knowledge of technology combine with a good curriculum give the students the tools they need to succeed. “Many teachers use technology not becaus...
Technology is becoming more and more dominant in our society.Everyday upgrades are being made and new innovations are being discovered. Technology is all around us whether we want it to be or not: it is the vehicles we drive, it can be found in our homes, and can even be found in the grocery store.Every place we look there is some type of technology.I believe technology has had a major impact on our school systems and is still impacting it today.There are those who do not agree, though, that technology has impacted our schools.Eric Gormly writes, “In fact, many theorists point out the overall impact of technology on education has been quite small, manifesting little discernible change in the classroom.” [1]Yes, there are some schools that are not as advanced as others, but many of them do have a significant amount of technology in them.I find it fascinating that so much technology has been incorporated into our classrooms, but I believe that, even with all of the positive aspects that are associated with technology, there are some negative and even dangerous aspects that should be taken into account.I will be sharing some of the equipment that has been used in the schools, how both the students and the teachers use the equipment, and also the positive and negative effects that technology has had on our schools.
Technology in the classroom is a debatable discussion had by educators all over the world. The topic falls on both ends of the spectrum with educators young and old. Some feel that education needs to go back to the basics, while others feel the technology is the only way to go and it is what the future holds for students. Both of these ways of teaching are very valuable, and a middle ground needs to be established in order for the most success to happen in the classroom.
Technology integration should be included in curriculum design (Stanley, 2013) and should go beyond the traditional approach of just using technology in lessons. Ali, (2010) reveals that many teachers still lack the required familiarity with technology to integrate it effectively. Integration should make the technology an essential part of learning, be well coordinated, provide access to greater knowledge than conventional methods and provide skills useful to future learning (Tearle, 2003; Yuen, Law, & Wong, 2003). Then, implementation should focus on the needs of the student and it should support the four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection
Ever since the integration of educational technology there has been a dramatic shift in most of the paradigms on which traditional learning exists. The concept of incorporating technology with education is one that has gained widespread attention. Effective use of educational technology is critical to solving numerous educational challenges. Educational technology can help us meet the needs of a diverse learner population and better prepare our students for lifelong learning.
Some say that technology is a distraction and hinders the students from fully learning and developing important skills that they claim only the interactions with the teacher can provide. Teachers have said that technology is a powerful tool that allows them to introduce and demonstrate learning activities in a completely new way. It has been studied and proven that most kids are more motivated and interested in the concepts they are supposed to learn when the teaching tool of technology is used. A fifth grade teacher stated, “Technology is the ultimate carrot for students. It's somet...
Perry, Bruce D. Interview. “Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom.” By Kimberly Moore Kneas. Scholastic. n.d. Web. 8 FEB 2012.
During my time at this field placement, I noticed how Mrs. Anderson uses technology on a daily basis and wanted to give it a try myself. Students seem to enjoy it very much and from what I have seen, Mrs. Anderson gets a great response from the students as far as scores go. Technology in the classroom can be used for different types of assessments as well whether it be for a presentation, test or online activity. As a 21st century pre-service teacher, it is very important for me to know how to properly use technology in the classroom and how to successfully incorporate it into my curriculum. “Teachers must learn to use technology and must allow it to change their present teaching paradigm. This is not an easy task because change can seem intimidating and threatening” (Bitner, 1). This quote sums up exactly what I should be working on in terms of incorporating technology into the classroom. If I begin to use it now then I will be less intimidated in the
Technology properly used in the classroom has many advantages to a student’s learning. Technology can help students become more involved in their own learning process, which is not seen in the traditional classroom. It allows them to master basic skills at their own rate rather than being left behind. Teachers and students alike can connect to real life situations by using technology in the classroom; this can also help to prepare students for real world situations. Technology can be used to motivate students as well as to offer more challenging opportunities. It can also be used as a visualization tool to keep students interested in the subject that is being taught. When technology is used effectively, students have the opportunity to develop skills that they may not get without the use of technology (Cleaver, 2011). Assessing and monitoring students is easier on the teacher because of the ability to use technology in the classroom. When technology is used correctly it offers limitless resources to a classroom atmosphere.
The first explanation for the efficiency of teacher training in using technology in classrooms to students lies on the effective influence of computer science on students’ motivation and improvement. It is said that in the last century, despite the rapid invasion of technology into human life and a huge of money spent on instructional technology in schools, there is no significant improvement in education has been witnessed (Zhao and Frank, 2003, p. 807-840). However, researchers have uncovered the myths of such phenomenon and asserted that technology, on the other hand, has a great impact on students and teacher performance in schools worldwide. As Mundy et al. (2012) points out thanks to the introduction of technology in the classroom, never have before students’ skills as wel...