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Technology and its influence on education
Discuss the digital divide within education context
Technology and its influence on education
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Many things, both good and bad, blossom from time spent on the internet and regularly using technology. There are many different things that can be done on the internet or with the assistance of technology. We have gained information about many of these including behaviors associated with email, how technology can enhance learning when focused on academic improvement, how to use our literacy skills to evaluate websites and their credentials, why the popular source Wikipedia may not be the best choice for citation, and an introduction in to the world of virtual field trips. Due to the ever rising popularity of the internet and the daily use of technology, all of this information is useful to know when entering into the field of education.
Schools all across the nation are trying to do exactly what the Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina has succeeded in – leveling the playing field for students to increase overall learning. Their success story with this is the reason for them to be in the spotlight for the featured article. Everyone is aware that we are in the age of technology. Every day, millions of people are using technology for work, school, or simply a way of relaxation. Knowing this, as future teachers, we need to be aware that just because the internet and the use of technology is a common way of completed tasks, not everyone is fortunate enough to have the same amount of access as others. There are families out there that still, in the year 2014, do not have a computer to call their own. Many teachers assign projects and papers that call for the students to do some form of research online and might not think twice about the possibility of a student in their class having no computer or internet a...
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... be able to take my students to NASA or to a science lab in person due to high need for funds, the lack of accessibility, etc, but being able to virtually tour these facilities might be just as good. Rather than not being able to go to these places in person, we could virtually tour them and speak with the people that are involved in these places and have the students experience the feel and gain information from those who are associated with them. This is something that I believe all schools should invest in and use. Instead of spending a large amount of funds to travel somewhere with group of students and missing valuable class time, they could use this to enjoy the experience and gain information form the comfort of their own classroom. I am sure this is a tool that many students would enjoy having and something I would love to have in my future classroom.
One of the most widely used technologies is the Internet, or also known as the World Wide Web. “In August 1981 about 200 computers hosted Web servers. By July 1998 there were over 36 million Web servers, that are hosts to approximately 150 million people” (Strauss). The Internet proves to be very beneficial to education, since students have unlimited access to millions of websites with tons of information. There are only so many newspapers, journals and magazines that you can find in libraries or subscribe to. Therefore, the Internet offers an unlimited pile of information that students can always have. Moreover, students are enriched with the most current information in any subject, along with regular updates. Students are able to use the Internet anytime of day, as long as they have a computer at hand. The research process will not have to end when the school day is over (Wissick, 82).
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 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.
“Technology in Education; Where it has been, Where it is now, and Where it is Going”
Since the beginning of the evolution of technology, the way that people think and learn seems to have evolved simultaneously. Children understand technology at a much younger age and many times are called upon to help older generations use new technologies. Technology has become a large part of education in the last fifty years. Assessment software and technologies are available for almost every educator. However many teachers do not utilize Assessment software as intended because they lack training or understanding of the software. Integrating assessment software is imperative to gauging students’ progress. When the teacher is trained and the software is utilized as intended, assessment software can be a powerful teaching tool.
Numerous people praise the Internet and its ability to educate young people. More and more schools are switching to online learning to help children academically. Studies have shown that educational games can help children’s visual intelligence skills (Subrahmanyam, Kaveri, et al. 128). Similarly, some research has found that computer use helps kids in their alphabet recognition, language, early mathematical knowledge and learning (Bremer 412). Contrastly, homework may contribute to academic and intellectual benefits, but the gains are relatively small compared to the negative effects of the Internet on mental health (Shields, Margie, and Behrman 10). Other research has shown that computers alone are not a sufficient replacement of actual teachers and classrooms. Several studies show the Internet to be a hindrance when it comes to academic achievement and cognitive development. Even computer learning software has been know to smite creativity (Bremer
Do you ever think about how much technology has changed the way we work, learn, play, and even think? Technology is a major beneficiary to society; especially in the classroom where we get the opportunity to learn and grow. In recent years, schools have begun implementing tablets and other devices in the classroom to better student’s education. The use of technology in the classroom provides more of a personalized learning experience and gives students a widespread availability to engage in learning. Technology is necessary in today’s modern globe, it is basically “the pen and paper of our time and the lens through which we experience much of our world” (Warlick, 2013). Technology is not just considered the “internet”, it is so much greater than that. Overall, it enhances the quality of education and engages students deeper than ever before. With all the significant gains, why would people argue that technology hinders students more than it helps? Critics may try to repute the use of technology in the classroom but I believe what really matters “is the way we use it, the context that we use it in, and the learners who we use it for” (Chong, 2012).
The use of computers in school classrooms has evolved throughout the years, and has become revolutionary in changing the way we teach and learn. Our classrooms should no longer be confined to four walls and a few teachers who are considered to be experts in knowledge. Our classrooms need to keep up with a changing society and a new world that is dependent on technology. As students graduate, they need the technological skills needed to thrive in a world in which technology sets the pace. Society expects the school system to produce functional citizens who have the skills to gain profitable employment, and not be a drain on the system.
The Impact of the Internet on Education A dusty, one-bedroom schoolhouse on the edge of a village. An overworked teacher trying to manage a room full of boisterous children. Students sharing schoolbooks that are in perpetual short supply, crammed in rows of battered desks. Children worn out after long treks to school, stomachs rumbling with hunger.
Technology, as we all know, is helping and improving many disciplines of life. Technology, in Britannica Encyclopedia, is defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life. (Britannica, 2009)
As time goes by, advances in technology will provide more and more avenues for learning by way of the computer. The Internet has opened the doors of the world and unleashed limitless possibilities in research and education. It may be only a matter of time when the classroom is brought online to all children and attending a school classroom outside the home is a thing of the past. Looking back over the last 20 years, I never would have imagined that computers would come this far and impact our lives so much. Just imagine where they will be 20 years from now.
The introduction of technology into education has revolutionized the teaching quality and learning outcome in the last ten years. The integration of technology into lectures by teachers in classroom has become so natural that both teachers and learners consider computers and their related applications for instruction are “a routine component of the classroom and educational processes in general” (Nuldén, 1999 cited in Buzzard et al., 2011, pp.131-139).
Technology affects every aspect of our lives. From romance to business, it has shown its presence everywhere. But technology has had a huge impact on education that cannot be denied, and has done nothing but improve the quality and quantity of education.
Andy Carvin states “ internet access in schools isn’t worth a hill of beans if teachers aren’t prepared to take full advantage of technology” (2000). Schools spend a lot of money on computer hardware and software as well as other technologies without realizing that many of their employees are unprepared to include them in their teaching and use them to their advantages. Educators often use technology as a classroom management tool rather than an educational one, allowing computer time as a reward for good behavior (Clark & Gorski, 2001). The problem with this is that students learn to use the computer for games and such because it is their reward instead of using it on their own time for educational purposes. This is teaching them the wrong idea. Margaret Honey, director of the Center for Children and Technology in NYC said it best, “The bottom line is, you don’t just put technology into schools or into homes and expect miracles to happen. The technology is only as good as the program that surrounds it” (Meyer, 2002, p.2).
Technology in education is a touchy subject in the United States. Many parents believe that technology will only hurt their child in future, while some believe that technology will help their child. Parents have to be open and must allow themselves, to see what is happening before they make their decision.
Through the internet, the quality and ability of the students and teachers has become much greater. One example of the use of the internet in their school was on research on Ancient Egypt. The fifth grade class was to use the in...