In identifying a problem in middle school settings, a curricular problem that many schools are lacking is having the necessary resources to integrate technology into the classroom. The active use of technology has been on the rise in the educational setting for several years. Schools are now implementing technological courses and lessons in middle grade schools to help students to become successful in the classroom. In becoming more academically inclined, students should be provided with lessons that are enriched with technology. In actively participating in class, students get an opportunity to work on a variety of skills such as building their vocabulary, grammar, math, science, career based activities, and other areas that are meaningful to education. In performing this research, this paper will provide research based insight on technological hardships in middle grade schools.
In looking at the deficit, teachers do not have the necessary resources to teach the lessons that are mentioned in the curriculum in the middle grades schools due to lack of technological aides. As a teacher in the 21st century, technology is a critical area used in the middle school setting. Students are very motivated in reference to using technology being that we are living in a technological society. Most middle schools are lacking the necessary equipment that is need to helps students to achieve in accelerated reading tests and test preparation material. Classrooms are in dying need of more equipment for teachers to use in preparation of their lessons. There is an array of problems that exist in the middle grade school settings that hinder students from making progress. Technology has consumed everything, and educators are the last to adapt to t...
... middle of paper ...
...ve classroom integration of technologies, and transformations in teaching and learning (Cuban, 2001, p. 189).
Even though funding is allocated for technology in schools, this does not mean that there is enough funding to provide all of the technological aides that are available. There are many factors that indicate whether a school is allocated funding to purchase technological aides. With limited funding due to budget cuts, most schools fear that they will have enough money to purchase technology. Based on budgets cuts nation-wide in education, schools and districts that are not receiving stimulus money possibly cannot buy new technology equipment. They possibly can purchase technology that is older or outdated. On the other hand, most schools that are not state funded have a wealth of technology, and majority of these schools’ students have better test scores.
Technology plays a very important role in today’s society. Everyone has a smart phone and we crave the latest and greatest televisions, computers, cell phones and tablets. Some of these include iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, Samsung Smart TVs, Samsung Smart watches and the new Google Glass. More and more schools are using technology in their teaching methods including our own one-to-one program at Oxon Hill High School where each student received a Samsung Google Chromebook. 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.
There are a number of key reasons why we must ensure adequate funding of our schools. To start, we must increase the accessibility of the Internet in our schools. With our society growing by the minute the need for technology is rapidly on the run. Today we depend heavily on the Internet to provide us with fast information. It is used in high tech businesses, in homes and in schools. Through the Internet we enable students to explore new and interesting issues. In addition to the books found in our local library, the Internet serves as a fundamental tool for education. With all of the assets that the Internet provides not all schools have it at their disposal. “According to a 1999 survey, conducted by Education Week only 87%, in states like Pennsylvania had Internet access” (Gazette 99). “This number however rose to 90% in 1999.” Although the numbers did rise there are other states that are not even close to that number of access. This poses as a major problem because while other students are building their skills and are learning more, others still rely on books and articles. Through Internet use students will not only be introduced to a wide a ray of topics and search engines but will also be able to familiarize themselves with technology.
Technology is growing every day. We use technology for everything we do, sometimes without even thinking about it. In our world, these advancements are used for communicating, entertainment, and education as well as others. Since technology is so ingrained into our lives, how much we use and depend on it is often not thought about. Our education system is on the front end of using new technology in classrooms. More and more class room and teachers are weaving it into their lesson plans and making it more available for students to use in the classroom. Technology is changing the way students are educated in America and across the world. In this paper I will discuss several ways that this can be seen and improved.
“Technology in Education; Where it has been, Where it is now, and Where it is Going”
Technology in the classroom can be a good thing for many students. For example, it gives students easy access to information, but it isn’t always the best thing. Technology helps raise the illiteracy rate higher as it is used in school. In 2009, about 97 percent of classrooms had at least one computer in the classroom everyday, although approximately 54 percent could bring their own computers to their class. There was internet access available for almost 93 percent of the computers in the classrooms. Otherwise, 96 percent of the computers were brought in to the students. The average ratio of students to computers was 5.3 to 1. Since 2006 the spending rate for each school in the United States has increased about 1,250 dollars. It’s rate in 2011 was almost 10,250 dollars per pupil. Although technology can help many students and teachers, due to the fact that the use of it gets abused by some students therefore it isn’t the greatest to have at our fingertips.
As technology continues to evolve quickly, the priorities of people change. It even seems that technology has become more of a burden than an aid. Now that students have many forms of distraction, they discover that there is more options to choose over school work. In fact, most students are aware and admit that technology is the reason for their poor performance in school
While certain aspects of the various new technologies may prove useful, school officials should not place specific advantages above potential faults. Innovators create technology with the intent to improve an aspect of the human condition. School officials will naturally consider technologies that claim to improve the experience of learning because schools wish to provide the best experience for students. For example, if a school such as Empire High chooses to “shun printed textbooks” (Doc A), it is because officials hope to promote learning by placing less physical stress on students. However, it is important that administrators not become fixated on potentially positive aspects of technology and ignore negative impacts. Additionally, specifics about the helpfulness of technologies are not important because most public schools would not consider spending valuable resources on technology with no purpose. The technologies schools are considering will consequently provide a noticeable advantage to the school. Hence, while the usefulness of technology may be important when deciding between two brands, it is not important when deciding to implement technology as a whole. Furthermore, it is human nature to be excited by progress...
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.
Technology transports, entertains, facilitates communication, transfers and tracts economic resources, manages agriculture, and provides advanced healthcare, to name just a few. Educationally, students are using technology to explore, research, watch instruction, turn in assignments, share resources, and complete presentations and projects. Technology can no longer be considered a luxury to enjoy; it has become a required component, linking the curriculum and the student. And, although technology use and availability options seem to be pervasive in every aspect of life, technology comes with a cost and not everyone has the capability to access it at the same level. Students from lower socioeconomic status (SES) groups may have barriers to obtaining and utilizing resources that will help them to be successful within the educational program. Additionally, students with visual impairments and other disabilities require assistive technology in order to access curriculum materials alongside their sighted peers, and the cost of those additional options may also be prohibitive for some SES
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 has become an integral part of the 21st century. Now, more than ever, technology is used to accomplish things never imagined before. However, as more and more people are using it in many different aspects of their lives, technology is too often looked at for its negative effects on society. There has been a long debate over whether or not technology should be used in the classroom. A part of this debate includes the digital divide which is the divide of upper-class and lower-class schools regarding the amount of integration of technology in their school systems. Many say that technology serves as a greater distraction than as a useful device, but if used correctly, they can actually be used as tools to aid students. Portable technology, like tablets and iPads, make books, notes, and learning tools easily accessible. Tablets should be used in the classroom because they increase efficiency, create a more active learning environment, and allow students to be better prepared for future careers.
Not many people would argue that computer technology is bad for the K-12 classroom. There is, however, a serious and thought-provoking debate going on regarding computer technology in the classroom. At issue is to what extent and at what age should computers be integrated in American classrooms. There is no question that a certain level of technology will bring improvements in academic achievement. In one study on children of low socioeconomic status a definite improvement was seen. It was noted that, “Increasing the technology available to students encourages, facilitates, and supports student achievement – at the elementary level, the most profound effects were found in the area of mathematics” (Page 391). Page also states that, “numerous studies have demonstrated that young children’s self-esteem or self-concept directly affects their academic performance” (Page 391).
Technology is a vital part of education and the workforce. The digital divide is putting some students at risk for lacking vital vocational and educational skills. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration states that currently about half of Americans are online (ClickZ, 2002). According to a report from the New York Times (2003), United States President, George W. Bush seemed to be satisfied with this number. He tried to eliminate the technology access programs that were initiated in the Clinton Administration for the purpose of bridging the digital divide. His cuts eliminated over 50 million dollars. Fortunately, as a result of several passionate coalitions, Congress has given $50 million back to the funds (Feeder, 2003). However, there is still a digital divide, and it is putting students at risk. According to the educational testing service, which is the world’s largest private educational measurement organization and a leader in educational research (Landgraf, Statistics Section, para. 5); “ ‘49 percent of Caucasian children use the Internet at home, compared to only 29 percent of African-American children, and 33 percent of Hispanic children’, ‘children from high-income families are more than twice as likely to have home Internet access (66%) than children from low-income households (29%)’ and ‘despite strong growth in school access from 2000 to 2002 for low-income children (20 to 32 percent), their current school use still significantly lags behind high-income children (47 percent)’ (Landgraf, Statistics Section, para. 5). The fact that so many children are not accessing technology is not just a present problem for them, it is creating future problems by putting them at risk for lacking vital educational and vocational skills.
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...
Due to the technology increase many schools are reporting higher test scores. One example is Northbrook Middle School in Houston Texas. The school is largely made up of minorities with low socioeconomic statuses. The students at this school recorded test scores that were sharply improved due to the involvement of technology.