Technology and Curriculum - The Pro’s and the Con’s

 

Technology has revolutionized education, nobody can deny that.  Educators have also adjusted their teaching methods in response to new technology over the years.  Gone are the “field of dreams” days when believing that simply putting computers in the classroom would automatically make a difference.  Many schools now carefully consider cost and application when debating how best to use new technology.

Although providing laptops for every K-12 student in the classroom is cost prohibitive for most districts, wireless mobile labs can be used in group projects.  Individual word processers are now also becoming more affordable was as smaller, hand held devices such as personal digital assistants that can be hot-synced to the teacher’s computer.

Pro’s of the classroom technology “gadgets” in the classroom can create what they feel is a more interesting interactive environment that students are, in many cases, already familiar with outside of school.  This varies from district to district as in the poorest communities technology is limited in school but also outside of school.  This technology gap in our communities is a direct relationship in terms of money to technology.  This gap is widening in our country is something worthy of further review.

There are several reasons why technology in the classroom can improve students achievements.  For example, computers can provide more motivation then their teachers during drilling and practice skill building.  Students in an at-risk group, such as special need students, rural and inner-city schools, feel motivated and successful when using curriculum-assisted instruction.  In addition, these types of students create visual abstract ideas which might help the student from being discouraged during difficult tasks and concepts.

When students are suing technology as a tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher or textbook.  The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate or display information.  Technology use also allows many more students to be actively thinking about information, making choices and executing skills than is typical in teacher-lecture lessons.  Moreover, when technology is used as a tool to support students in performing authentic tasks, the students are in the position of defining their goals, making design decisions and evaluating their own progress.

The teachers role changes as well.  The teacher is no longer the center of attention as the dispenser of information but rather plays the role of facilitator, setting goals and providing guidelines and support for a new activity.  The use of technology stimulates so much active mental work on the part of students.

“Kids like the immediate results.  It’s not a result that you can get anywhere else except on the computer….for them, it is really a big deal.  Much more so than I ever thought it was going to be.”

Elementary school teacher

“Technology is the ultimate carrot for student’s, it’s something they want to master.  Learning to use it enhances their self-esteem and makes them excited about coming to school.”

Fifth grade teacher

 

Another effect of technology cited by a great many student’s, is the inclination on the part of the students to work cooperatively and provide peer tutoring.  Student’s ability to collaborate on substantive content can be further enhanced thru the use of software applications specifically designed for that purpose.

The con’s of technology in the classroom in general is expansive and takes an inordinate amounts of money to acquire and operate.  Schools with minimal technology resources can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

Classroom technology, especially laptops for individual use, must be replaced every two ro three years.  Tech staff is required for a school with technology in the classroom.  The more technology the more people will be needed to keep it running.

Use of technology can be a distraction.  A common complaint among educators is that social media is distracting in the classroom.  Instructors maintain that tools like Facebook, Twitter and even spell check divert student’s attention away from what is happening in class and are ultimately disruptive to the learning process.

The use of technology also discourages face to face communication.  Some educators are concerned that while real-time digital stream may create a “safe harbor” for students who are uncomfortable with expressing themselves.  Students can miss valuable lessons in real-life social skills.  At social gatherings and in personal relationships, they need to be able to effectively express themselves and connect with others.

Ultimately, while the debate continues over the role of technology in the classroom, no one can argue that the influence that social media and technology has on today’s student’s.  This tech savvy generation conducts much of their life though social media channels and technology.  With this in mind, it seems prudent for today’s schools to get on the technology and social media train and find ways to successfully integrate these tools into the classroom.