The document discusses three articles about the use of technology in classrooms. It describes how students use the internet for homework and research. It also discusses how technology allows classes to be offered online to students in rural areas who lack access. The document also reflects on the challenges teachers face in maintaining focus and discipline when students have access to WiFi and laptops in classrooms.

1. By: Rebecca Carlson

2. Menu Students Actually use the Internet for Education Internet and Video to Students Classrooms With Wi-Fi Conclusion Works Cited

3. Students Using the Internet for… Research? The article, “ Research: Students Actually Use the Internet for Education ,” talks about how growing percentage of students use the internet for homework and classroom related work. The article points out that although individual classrooms are able to do more and more lessons online, school’s are putting more restrictions on what students can do online.

4. Students Using the Internet for… Research? Since more teachers are using the internet for daily assignments, they are seeing advantages to social networking sites that almost all school’s have strict bans on. The article states that, “A full 96 percent of students surveyed responded that they use the Internet for social networking purposes, including Facebook, MySpace, Webkins, and Nick.com chat. Seventy-one percent said they use these services at least on a weekly basis.” Students might be more willing to finish their homework if they are able to use social networking sites for group projects. This graph shows how often students visit certain sites.

5. Students Using the Internet for… Research? Personal Reflection A-HA! I think that this article touches on a very important subject that a lot of schools have been struggling with. How can schools incorporate social networking into the classroom without students abusing the privilege? Since so many students have these sites, it would be great if the teacher could use these sites for group projects and out of class reflections. If students have well instructed about what exactly they have to do online, then there would be less restrictions. Most kids have Social networking sites so this would be great for projects! A school could try and create there own group for one of these sites.

6. Internet and Video to Students in Rural Areas “U S West and Utah Education Network Bring the Internet and Video-based Education to Utah Students” This article talks about how useful it could be if all students had access to internet and could take there high school classes online. Students who are in rural areas would have access to high school online, internet journals, and newspaper articles.

7. Internet and Video to Students in Rural Areas Students in rural areas are not the only focus of this article. The article is also passionate about video conferencing which they call ‘full interactive learning’. They describe this online technology as cost effective because it can allow students to graduate early if they need to start working and saves on gas because students and teachers do not have to drive school constantly.

8. Internet and Video to Students in Rural Areas Personal Reflection A-HA! I have never personally thought about taking high school course online. It could be very helpful for students who have to work, are sick, or have disabilities. This could also be resourceful in elementary schools because students could work on homework with laptops. If you are dealing with a school district that is completely rural and gets closed down due to weather, you could use video conferencing online. Adults could get diplomas. Teachers could have conference calls with students parents.

9. “ Classrooms With Wi-Fi ” Technology has presented itself useful time and again but this article talks about the challenges that technology, Wi-Fi for example, gives teachers and students. A main concern in this article is, “How can a teacher retain focus and discipline in the classroom when students multitask with ease?” Teachers have to adapt to these new learning environments while still keeping the students in line.

10. “ Classrooms With Wi-Fi” The article also talks about classroom etiquette saying that, “Classroom etiquette may change; and learning potential may increase through healthy, intraclassroom, nondisruptive communications, as well as through the use of the Internet's timely, global resources.” One of the most difficult changes that the article talks about is when it is appropriate to have laptops out but also how inconvenient it is to always have to be taking them back and forth to their designated carts.

11. “ Classrooms With Wi-Fi” Personal Reflection A-HA! A lot of older teachers probably see technology as competition. They have spent many years perfecting their teaching method, only for a new, more popular teaching method to appear. Not only to they have to find a new teaching method, but they have to reevaluate all of there rules and expectations to go along with the changing times. Technology is very helpful but I can see how it is a hassle for schools that are not set up for all of this modern technology. It would be very hard to have a successful lesson with all of the new advances. Technology isn’t always perfect. Some students are just as bad with technology as teachers. Classroom dynamics have to change with technology.

12. Conclusion Throughout the semester we have been working with different types of programs, websites and recourses we could someday use in the classroom. Since we have focused so much on technology, I decided that I wanted to know how technology actually impacts a classroom or a school corporation. From the three articles that I found I learned a lot about how it can be helpful or unhelpful in a classroom. Technology can be used for homework (in and out of class), it can allow for class to be held online, it can be helpful for group assignments, and in some cases can be less expensive then driving everywhere. Although it is helpful, a few ways that it is unhelpful is that its hard to tell if students are paying attention, or if students are researching what they should be, teachers are not always well educated, and classrooms are not always set up to be technology friendly. Although there are some setbacks to internet in the classroom, the good outweighs the bad for many reasons. Menu

13. Works Cited Classrooms With Wi-Fi. (2002, November 01). The Journal . Retrieved December 7, 2009, from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2002/11/01/Classroom s- With-WiFi.aspx?sc_lang=en&Page=4. Nagel, D. (2007, August 14). Research: Students Actually Use the Internet for Education. The Journal . Retrieved December 7, 2009, from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2007/08/14/Research- Students-Actually-Use-the-Internet-for- Education.aspx?sc_lang=en&Page=1. U S West and Utah Education Network Bring the Internet and Video- based Education to Utah Students. (1999, November 01). The Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2009, from http://thejournal.com/Articles/1999/11/01/U-S-West-and-Utah- Education-Network-Bring-the-Internet-and-Videobased- Education-to-Utah-Students.aspx?sc_lang=en&Page=2. Back to Start