Reaching Beyond Pen and Paper
Learning in school is always a given. When students are taught a subject they are eventually tested on the information learned. Most teachers use tests, handouts or papers as methods of evaluating how much a student has learned in their course. With the development of technology and the increasing amount of internet access that most classrooms have, teachers are now thinking outside the box and coming up with new ways to assess their students. Creating web pages and using online tools such as Blackboard are some of the ways teachers can have students present information they have learned. These methods are being used more often as technology grows. Though these alternative ways of assessments seem to benefit teachers, they benefit students as well. Allowing students to be more creative when completing assignments ensures their enjoyment and likelihood to do better.
In 1994 Duke University’s Department of Biochemical Engineering initiated its first use of infrared (IR) networking. The classroom became completely wireless without a physical alteration to the room. Each student had to purchase a PowerBook to be able to participate in the classroom discussions and projects. The professor also had a PowerBook with a program called Timbuktu installed on it, which allowed him to access any students computer screen and project the information seen onto a screen that the whole class could see. The program also allowed the teacher complete control of the students keyboard and trackball. Through use of the IR network, the class could work on group projects more easily because they would be working though one computer.
The system opened more opportunities for students to learn information effectively. For example, if a student had a problem or question about the information being learned in the class, they would simply raise their hand, the teacher would select the name from a menu bar, and instantly the whole class would see the student’s computer screen projected on the big screen. With the whole class being able to see the problem or question an individual had, they could all collaboratively help or learn from the problem. The teacher could address the question to the class and the students could help each other out.
The IR network system allowed the classroom to become completely paperless. Without the hassle of handouts, research papers, and paper tests, the professor could concentrate on the information being learned by his students.
Many colleges have failed in achieving the perfect education by the excessive use of technology. Hacker and Dreifus support the use of technology in many cases, such as having interactive question where the software can give the chance to review your work or giving hints to find the right answer (182). Nevertheless, they are completely aware that the use of technology needs to be supported by a good instruction inside the classrooms (183). The University of the Ozarks’ technological resources out of class are a great advantage to improve the learning process in students’ free time. Online discussions, submitting assignments, and taking online tests are the most common online activities for students in this university, this activities challenge the knowledge acquired in class. Moreover, using technology outside the classroom provides the opportunity to use all the class time to go on new topics, to discus, and to answer questions. Nevertheless, the University of the Ozarks is not using all its technological resources appropriately. Most of the classrooms are provided with interactive boards, speakers, and projectors that are hardly ever used. If the university used every technological resource at its maximum, the positive results of learning would
In my classroom I have the ability to watch students screens, block program or web access, and adjust some hardware settings like turning off sound. The real power behind the system is not management of student behavior, but in some circumstances it does come in handy. The real power is to have another instructional strategy to help students learn harder concepts. My ability to project my screen on theirs, either completely or in a window allows me to make sure all students can see what is happening. It also can help them as I walk through instruction, by allowing for my tasks to be projected and they can emulate what I do without looking up and back where the possibility of them losing their place is inevitable.
Assessments are an important part of teaching. Assessments are a good way for teachers to monitor students’ learning and understanding. Knowing students’ level of understanding can help teachers improve students’ learning and guide their instructions. In the future, I plan to continue assessing students in multiple ways such as, asking questions, illustrations and writing to adjust my instruction. I also plan to encourage students to assess their own work so they are involved in their own learning as well as look for ways to “employ technology to support assessment
As imaginable, this impact not only affected the future of many people but also the changed the way classroom was taught. In today’s society there has been more deep discoveries in the classroom. Such as having more impact ways to communicate and connect with the material more efficiently, while creating new ideas that broadened the way teachers and students learned, thanks to
With the widespread use of digital technology, the classroom teaching approaches and practices went through remarkable changes. When compared to the past ten years, today the classrooms look entirely different in terms of programs and technical tools used to enhance the learning skills of students.
...n because of the ability they present to measure student knowledge at any moment. I did not know before using the Technopedia site that there were so many different types of student response systems. I always just imagined the basic student response system with four A, B, C, and D buttons. However, the fact that you can have student response systems that allow for elaboration to open-response questions make this technological tool even more useful and effective. With so much pressure on standardized testing, this tool allows teachers to question and rank the knowledge of each individual student. Furthermore, because of the abilities of current Smartphones, the expensiveness of student response systems goes out the window in a classroom that allows cell phone use. I truly believe that both of these technologies can truly change and positively effect education.
For the teacher, computer technology can lead to more efficient time management in record keeping and developing lessons plans as well as the ease of conducting any kind of research and communication without having to leave the classroom.
It will lead to a classroom where technology, like the Duke “iPod”, will be an integral part of everyday learning and essential for the classroom to function regularly(48). Teachers will be able to use computers for in class assignments, tests, and interactive programs that will be automatically graded through the system. Not only would students benefit from practicing their technologically savvy attitudes in the classroom, but teachers would also save some time and effort. Furthermore, assignments will become significantly harder because teachers will acknowledge that students are going to have access to an enormous amount of answers, informations, and resources online. Teachers will adjust the difficulty of all assignments due to the students’ abilities to simplify the work. Students will also be able to find relevance, even in the information they are particularly interested in. For example, a student who is confused or uninterested in microbiology could simply search for a crash course video on Youtube that would completely simplify the topic, and also add animations and jokes to make the topic more interesting. This would certainly change the attitude of students towards new topics because they would be able to find a silver lining of relevance even in topics they are not super interested in,
Technology is Changing Education The best method for improving educational standards is to utilize every tool available, including state-of-the-art technology. Computers and the Internet have expanded the way in which education can be delivered to the students of today. Today's networking technologies provide a valuable opportunity to the practice of learning techniques. Educators are discovering that computers and multi-based educational tools are facilitating learning and enhancing social interaction. Computer based telecommunications can offer enormous instructional opportunities, but educators will need to adapt current lesson plan to incorporate this new medium into all the classrooms.
Even using the internet has a source of information for the students or has a tutorial for students who are struggling. There are so many ways that classrooms can benefit from computers. The first thing I looked at was how teachers were being affected by computers. Integrating technology into your teaching can change the way you deliver content to your classes. Not only are teachers affected by having to do grades and attendance by computers now, they also have to worry about teaching their students about computers and integrating it into the daily lesson plans.
Modern technology has made it so much easier to obtain educational information for classroom or homework assignments. It offers educational games that stimulate the brain and help children who have difficulties focusing on traditional teaching and learning procedures. College students are even taking advantage of online courses that many colleges are offering as an alternative to physically attending classes. Advances in technology and computers will continue to play an important role in education for many generations to come.
...assroom. Sometimes there are people that it would not help learn because they need that face-to-face learning. It is just the way that they learn that it could benefit them or it could not . It should be up to the students on it they want to use the old fashion pen and paper or this new technology.
student will be able to maintain focus for much longer. Computers also enable students to learn
Technology properly used in the classroom has many advantages to a student’s learning. Technology can help students become more involved in their own learning process, which is not seen in the traditional classroom. It allows them to master basic skills at their own rate rather than being left behind. Teachers and students alike can connect to real life situations by using technology in the classroom; this can also help to prepare students for real world situations. Technology can be used to motivate students as well as to offer more challenging opportunities. It can also be used as a visualization tool to keep students interested in the subject that is being taught. When technology is used effectively, students have the opportunity to develop skills that they may not get without the use of technology (Cleaver, 2011). Assessing and monitoring students is easier on the teacher because of the ability to use technology in the classroom. When technology is used correctly it offers limitless resources to a classroom atmosphere.
The most important benefit of the use of computers is that it allows students to ...