Integrating Technology Into The Classroom

I. Introduction

Education is the basis of the modern world with it becoming standardized in all first world countries. With the Information Age, society has begun to adapt and engross technology into their daily lives. The technology has begun a way of life for the younger generations and has changed the way they communicate and learn. With this in mind, much of education in public schools in the United States have not changed in correlation with the Information Age. The rate at which information students can absorb is significantly less, causing a slump in their education. The solution to this is a change in the education system and integration of technology into all aspects of education in order for the young generations to excel.

II. Summary

Modern technology allows for the customization of education for every student. It allows students to refresh what they may have missed without having to inquire with the teacher which may be more comfortable for the student. Students have changed so much that a teacher claims that, “I’m tap dancing all over the place... The more I stand in class, the easier it is to lose them.” when asked about how their current classroom is (McKnight). Students today are able to communicate with email and other basic means of contact, but there is a chance in the future that the educator may even be able to interact with students live and show them through 3D/Holograms. While this is speculation of future technologies, the implementation of current technologies is crucial. These advances need to be introduced as stepping stones so that teachers are not jumping for mountains. The ability to transfer the teachings in classrooms to the real world is a lot easier as material can be connected to media most of the time. Students are able to see real world applications without having to actually experience and know the purpose of the material that they are learning (Richlet). Studies on the effects of technology have become so prevalent that due to the heavy technology use, “[technology] makes reality by comparison, uninteresting” which says a lot about how vital

But due to the elongated Information Age, the effects of technology can be examined (Selwyn). The pattern in which technology grows is also quite similar in different time periods. From a different perspective, it is important to note that not enough time has passed to really analyze the effects of the internet, one of the largest driving forces of technology. Some examples of old technology can date all the way back to the 1600s when printed text began to appear. Blackboards and whiteboards began to appear in the mid-1800s which may not seem to be ‘technological’ is still advancements and changes to the classroom (Selwyn). A time where technology has failed in the classroom is back in the 1950s, a school in Michigan used educational film in the classroom in order to educate their students. It was quite apparent that they were not having a major positive impact on their education and was soon expulsed (Selwyn). Even before the films, was the enthusiastic movement of educational radio. It enticed a large amount of educators but in the end also ended up failing. More recently, in the 1980s was the movement of educational television which still continues today. This however also found itself abandoned in the classroom. These historical event could have a serious impact on why schools and districts today do not budge on assigning their budget to technological advances. There is