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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Technology in Schools

Technology is ubiquitous, touching almost every part of our lives, our communities, our homes. Yet most schools lag far behind when it comes to integrating technology into classroom learning. Many are just beginning to explore the true potential tech offers for teaching and learning. Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy.

Integrating technology into classroom instruction means more than teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate computer class. Effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process. In particular, it must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts. Effective technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent and when technology supports curricular goals.

Many people believe that technology-enabled project learning is the ne plus ultra of classroom instruction. Learning through projects while equipped with technology tools allows students to be intellectually challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the modern office looks like. Through projects, students acquire and refine their analysis and problem-solving skills as they work individually and in teams to find, process, and synthesize information they've found online.
The myriad resources of the online world also provide each classroom with more interesting, diverse, and current learning materials. The Web connects students to experts in the real world and provides numerous opportunities for expressing understanding through images, sound, and text.

New tech tools for visualizing and modeling, especially in the sciences, offer students ways to experiment and observe phenomenon and to view results in graphic ways that aid in understanding. And, as an added benefit, with technology tools and a project-learning approach, students are more likely to stay engaged and on task, reducing behavioral problems in the classroom.

Technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators effective ways to reach different types of learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It also enhances the relationship between teacher and student. When technology is effectively integrated into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.

14 comments:

  1. I wish I had as much as technology as they do now when I was in school.

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  2. Technology in schools needs to be embraced and not restricted. Kids will find ways around censorship eventually.

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  3. i think it's getting kind of ridiculous the kind of technology they are putting in. I mean some of it is awesome..but like...the "smart" boards are just a waste of money. good use of taxpayers money eh?

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  4. Schools in some florida districts started handing out kindles to students in lieu of textbooks... thats gotta be an improvement...

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  5. iTs crazy, they're even introducing laptops in some primary schools in some places!!

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  6. Yes, and in few years no pen in school, all of laptop !

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  7. The students tend to do most of the teaching about technology :P

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  8. Oh god, how did I get here, I'm not good with computer.

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  9. When I was younger(and believe me, I still am young), technology in schools meant the cool kids had mechanical pencils, and the Apple 2's were the only computer within the schools budget. I was well out of high school and beyond before dual core was even a concept in consumer technology. I remember trying to build my first computer in college, and I was ecstatic when I got a 2.8 GHz P4 CPU.. those were the days. A whole 7 YEARS AGO. I know, right? Technology, and the evolution of itself has become so rapid that we will have stuff in 5 years that we can't even conceptually understand today. But as with all man made creations, it has been and will continue to be abused, and we may suffer for it. We shall see..

    Supportin'!

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  10. modest crisis is correct student know more than the teachers about up and coming events in time

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