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Digital technology within classrooms
Digital technology within classrooms
Digital technology within classrooms
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The question people are asking themselves today is, Is digital literacy just as important as daily subjects such as reading, writing, and math for our students today? To prepare for this paper I was given three excerpts to read. Right away I was drawn to how much time we spend on the internet daily and what types of things we do while we are on the internet. I realized that today’s society is dependent on the internet for most things like doing homework, researching information, shopping, and getting on social media websites. While reading a fact sheet named Fact Sheet: Digital Literacy, “We live in an internet economy I came across interesting facts such as 96% of Americans use technology and internet at their jobs and 28% of American don’t …show more content…
Students do things like write papers, access test and quizzes, and even visit their teacher’s web page where they find information needed for the course. This may seem easy to students who have always had internet in their home with a computer they can work on, but what about the students who have no idea what the internet is, or don’t own a computer or device they can to practice on. This is one of the key reason digital literacy is important. Students no matter the age or background should feel comfortable using the internet at school. They should always feel caught up in classes because if they don’t know how to it will be taught to them. Schools should make sure students are up to speed and no child is left …show more content…
For example, I work in a grocery store and people often ask me, “are we hiring:” and ask if they can have an application. Our store does not have any printable applications it’s online which means they must go to somewhere with internet access and fill out the application Just with doing something that seems so simple like filling out an application a person must be digitally literate. Other jobs might actually require you to do all of your work using the internet. You might have known enough skills to get the job but do you know enough to complete daily task. If a person is seeking a job and requires internet skills and or the use of internet daily, and they have no idea what to do classes should be available for them to take for them to understand being digitally literate is important in their everyday life. We should be prepared for these things in our future and people around us should realize we are changing and we need certain skills to do
However, think about the evolution of literacy and the different ways in which children and people learn and retrieve information; this definition could also include interaction with the digital text. There is a wide range as to what counts as literacy such as blogging, social networking, emailing, digital storytelling, online chats and even shopping online just to name a few. Not everyone will agree with what counts as literacy, but if students are not enlightened on the many aspects of what could make them valuable assets in the future; that would be negligent. In Rich’s article digital literacy is being discussed which is the topic this response will focus on. Learning is not restricted only to the classroom. Just like books, the Internet can take you places, on advantages without having to leave home. Digital literacy can be beneficial with the proper guidance of teachers, educators and
Although the Internet has increased how much we read, it has deteriorated our concentration level. We are no longer able to read long passages and stay interested. We have resorted to skimming or finding a shorter version. It has also affected our ability to take an analytical approach to what we read. We no longer go beyond comprehending the information we take in. Outside of using the Internet to “enhance” our mind, Carr has also made the point that it is a daily involvement. We incorporate it in our everyday lives, because it is a source of entertainment or serves as some type of convenience for us.
As the world continues to evolve and technology becomes a new avenue for learning have we lost the need for the common day teacher? In my opinion we have not lost the need for this person. In the book written by Patrick Finn, Literacy with an Attitude, he describes the middle class teacher as an “allies of their working-class students [that] can help their students see that literacy and school knowledge could be a potent weapon” (pg xi). Teachers are the doors for many students into many facets of literacy. Teachers are not only teaching students common day grammar rules, but they are teaching concepts that technology cannot grasp. They are teaching to effectively assist every individual in the classroom as well as how to integrate their own
As new technology starts to be introduced, online classes will start to be provided more. More students will have online assignments where they can have the option to stay home or physically go to school to work on them. This would help schools with the costs of devices, school foods, books, and the actual buildings. The technology we have now in education is close to this ideal situation of future education. However, the students in high school and grades under are required to go to school. The technology is advancing quickly and when people start to involve education with advancing technology, students are going to be prepared for future educations and their knowledge of computer skills and will be prepared for a higher rate of
Another factor contributing to the difficulty in defining technological literacy involves the improperly weighting of computer influence on the term’s definition. In a speech given by former President, Bill Clinton, this misunderstanding is propagated further. He states, “Today, technological literacy – computer skills and the ability to use computers and other technology to improve learning, productivity and performance – is a new basic that our students must master. “ (Clinton, n.d.) Clearly, this mindset is remiss and precludes the contribution of myriad other technologies affecting our daily lives. According to Harrison, “Computer literacy is but a subset of technological literacy, but if this mindset is not encouraged, then the richness of technological literacy will not be passed on to next generations. As technologists, we have the daunting task of reversing this rapidly flowing river.” (Harrison, 2000)
Beaufort County School District (BCSD) is committed to providing an effective literacy program so that all students become literate across all content areas. The foundational literacy skills including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension form a literacy foundation. However, technology advances are changing the way people communicate and work in organizations (Tapscott & Williams, 2006). Therefore, in addition to foundational literacy skills, students must be digitally literate. As noted by Weare and Lin (2000), the Internet has had a profound influence on life in the 21st Century. Students should be able to effectively navigate the Internet and leverage its power. However, literacy in the 21st Century goes beyond Internet searches and retrieval of information. Our students must be able to safely, ethically, and effectively use technology to be fully literate in the 21st Century. In addition, students should be literate and able to read, write, listen, speak and use language across and within content areas. For example, students must be literate in the arts and design concepts (Pink, 2006).
Being literate defines who I am, and forms an integral part of my life. From the practical to the creative, it aids, and enables me to perform in the tasks that modern society dictates. I shall explore the many aspects of my life that are affected by literacy. Through this, understanding in greater depth what it means for me, to be literate.
Do you ever think about how much technology has changed the way we work, learn, play, and even think? Technology is a major beneficiary to society; especially in the classroom where we get the opportunity to learn and grow. In recent years, schools have begun implementing tablets and other devices in the classroom to better student’s education. The use of technology in the classroom provides more of a personalized learning experience and gives students a widespread availability to engage in learning. Technology is necessary in today’s modern globe, it is basically “the pen and paper of our time and the lens through which we experience much of our world” (Warlick, 2013). Technology is not just considered the “internet”, it is so much greater than that. Overall, it enhances the quality of education and engages students deeper than ever before. With all the significant gains, why would people argue that technology hinders students more than it helps? Critics may try to repute the use of technology in the classroom but I believe what really matters “is the way we use it, the context that we use it in, and the learners who we use it for” (Chong, 2012).
In summary, the Digital Divide is real and has placed a severe gap between certain groups of people in the American culture. The Land of Opportunity is not necessarily made available to all. In her CNet article, Sonia Arrison (2002), provides a unique perspective as to the reason behind the gap. “The digital divide is not a crisis, and it is certainly not the civil liberties issue of the 21st century. The real issues are the sorry state of education and the push to raise the taxes that affect lower income families most” (Arrison, 2002). Arrison states that if the Government could improve the education in the American schools and stop luxury taxes on so many services, the Digital Divide could easily be narrowed. By narrowing the divide, more families could afford Internet if so desired, and students could have access to a better education.
Technology has had a negative impact on education by causing distractions during class lectures and assignments. The over use of technology is leading to a loss in communication skills and troubles in reading. The use of technology causes many people to have the temptation for cheating in and out of classrooms, resulting in students not wanting to study. Not every student has the capability of connecting to the internet or have contact to technology. This creates difficulties for those students without connection to the internet to complete online assignments or have accesses to their school’s resources. Also, for online courses, students have to wait for an email response in order to get help or to understand a lecture that the professor is
The Impact of the Internet on Education A dusty, one-bedroom schoolhouse on the edge of a village. An overworked teacher trying to manage a room full of boisterous children. Students sharing schoolbooks that are in perpetual short supply, crammed in rows of battered desks. Children worn out after long treks to school, stomachs rumbling with hunger.
Andy Carvin states “ internet access in schools isn’t worth a hill of beans if teachers aren’t prepared to take full advantage of technology” (2000). Schools spend a lot of money on computer hardware and software as well as other technologies without realizing that many of their employees are unprepared to include them in their teaching and use them to their advantages. Educators often use technology as a classroom management tool rather than an educational one, allowing computer time as a reward for good behavior (Clark & Gorski, 2001). The problem with this is that students learn to use the computer for games and such because it is their reward instead of using it on their own time for educational purposes. This is teaching them the wrong idea. Margaret Honey, director of the Center for Children and Technology in NYC said it best, “The bottom line is, you don’t just put technology into schools or into homes and expect miracles to happen. The technology is only as good as the program that surrounds it” (Meyer, 2002, p.2).
Darrow, R., & MacDonald, C. (2004). What Is information literacy in the digital age? CSLA Journal, 27(2), 21-23. Retrieved July 18, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database. (AN: 13086929).
Computers have always been useful, but not until recently have computers become useful for children who are twelve and under. Of course these children enjoy playing games and talking to there friends on the computer but due to new innovations coming out everyday children can now do a lot more then just play and socialize. Computers have brought school to the home. When children come home from school it used to mean school was over but today if you have access to the internet school is know longer over but just beginning on the internet. The internet has special educational sites that children can visit and learn from. Besides that children actually can have contact with there personal teacher from school. A new invention called the “Mobile Author can be used by human instructors either from a computer or a mobile phone to create their own Intelligent Tutoring Systems and to distribute them to their students. Students can also use any computer or mobile phone to have access to theory and tests.” (Source 2, Journal) Homework, notes, review assignments can now be given over the internet by the child’s teacher from there school. “Instructors can monitor their students; progress and communicate with their students during the course.” (Source 2, Journal) Children can learn new information on the internet and they are able to review and get extra help on things they don’t understand. If a child realizes that they do not understand something when they get home, they know longer have to wait to go in to school for extra help, but they now can communicate with there teacher online or they can go to an internet tutoring system which will give them just as much help as being in a regular classroom.
These days being computer literate is more important than it ever has been in the last few years that computers have been around. Almost everything is becoming computer reliant and there are several businesses that have embraced technology. Computer literacy isn’t something that you can easily escape, and honestly you shouldn’t try to. Humans are all about adapting and computers are just one more thing we all have to learn to adapt to. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t understand that so it’s vital to understand the importance of being computer literate.