8. “If we teach today as we taught yesterday, it will rob our children of tomorrow” John Dewey previousbeginning
Editor's Notes
Implementing educational technology into your school may seem like a scary and daunting task. However, it is our best way to ensure the success of our students. Advances in educational technology are happening all around us and we need to make sure that we are keeping up with these changes and incorporating them into our daily lessons. Technology has been proven to help with student achievement and is a necessity . I will help answer any questions you might have about this, such as the who, what, where, when and why of educational technology.
There are many benefits that students gain from using technology in the classroom. Some of these include better test scores, higher achievement rates, learning more in less time, and experiencing new things. One study found that students who used computer-based instruction scored at the 64th percentile on tests of achievement compared to students in controlled conditions without computers who scored at the 50th percentile. It also showed that eighth grade students who used simulation and higher order thinking software showed gains in math scores of up to 15 weeks above grade level. Recent data show that most states have made progress enacting policies related to the use of educational technology. Using new technology lets students experience new things that they may have never been able to do. Collaborating online with students overseas, using simulation programs and having access to a personal laptop allows students to have new adventures. But is educational technology appropriate everywhere?
Yes it is. There are so many different technologyoptions out there that it is impossible to exclude anyone from its benefits. The school-age population is more diverse than ever. Fortunately, computers enlarge fonts, translate to and from English, convert text to speech, correct mistakes, and help teachers individualize instruction. Technology can act as instructional assistants in classrooms and help teachers teach the lessons. Teachers aren’t the only ones positively effected by technology, students in technology rich environments showed increased achievement in preschool through higher education for both regular and special needs children. And according to a West Virginia study, girls and boys did not differ in achievement, access, or use of computers. What kinds of technology should be used in schools?
Yes! Educational technology should be incorporated in schools across the nation and the world. It has always been thought that most students dislike going to school and would rather be doing something else. But technology in the classroom helps to change that way of thinking. One recent study showed that students like their classes more and develop more positive attitudes when their classes include computer-based instruction. It went on to say that the students attitudes towards learning and their own self-concept improved consistently when computers were used for instruction. By using technology, curricula, teaching methods, and schedules can all be customized to meet the learning styles and life situations of individual students. So educational technology is appropriate everywhere, but is it appropriate for everyone?
There are so many different types of technology out there that it may be hard to decide what to use. The technology also differs between different subjects areas. E-struction, multimedia presentations, computer based learning, simulations, microworlds, intelligent tutoring systems and forums all provide different learning opportunities for students. Word processing and e-mail enhance communication skills, databases and spreadsheets work on students’ organizational skills and modeling software helps students understand math and science. The best way to select which things to use is to do some research and come up with a technology plan that will work in your school.
Advances in educational technology in the classroom have been happening for many years. It wasn’t too long ago that calculators and VCR’s were the only types of technology being used in schools. Now, there are endless possibilities to where the technology could lead us. We need to prepare our students for experiences with technology that they will have in the future. For example, many colleges offer online courses and even high schools are starting to participate in this. Michigan, for example, became the first state to require that all public high school students gain experience with online learning, a method that enables students to learn from almost anywhere there is a computer and to engage in "class discussions" at any time of day or night. We need to implement technology into our classrooms to ensure that our students will be prepared for the things they will experience in the future.
It is safe to say that technology will always be global in it’s outreach, immediate in it’s ability to update and change, and open for people to access, share, and create information and media. This will create profound cultural shifts that will change how we teach and interact with our students. Technology is a part of our daily lives that encourages self growth and education. Educational technology has been proven to work, and that is why we need to continue to implement it into our schools.
