Educational Innovations
Everyday technology pushes us a step forward into the future. In just this century technology has contributed a considerable amount to the educational system in the United States. Whether in a classroom, Starbucks, or sitting in a living room at home; the opportunity to learn is endless allowing students to engage with learning materials in new efficient ways. New learning tools, online resources, and assistive technologies are some to many of the technological innovations done to education.
Since the 1970 when the personal computer became introduced, computers have been thriving in the classroom. Some schools that can afford to do this, issue personal laptops or tablets to the students and staff. This allows every student to engage in active learning and conduct personal research. According to Technology and Education, “some students may learn more from playing video games that focus on math or writing skills than from a more traditional lesson”. This gives the student a more personal opportunity to learn and educate themselves by engaging in various topics in a more entertaining way. Also, students can view 3-D computer models enable them” to observe the same life functions as they would encounter when dissecting an animal”. Having computer models of the desired specimen provide the same benefits as if it were in hand without having to sacrifice an animal of any sort.
The worldwide flood of technology in schools has no sign of slowing down, pouring billions of dollars into this technological investment. Why invest so much into technology? The first reason is the vision of the workplace and implications that it has for student preparation. Preparing students for the information society a presidential advisory panel in the United States stated that, “information technologies have had an enormous impact within America’s offices, factories, and stores over the past several decades” (President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, 1997, p. 4). This shows how technology and education go hand in hand. Students are preparing themselves for the future and possibly their careers using technology in their education. While one can be learning, at the same time they could be gathering knowledge to become technologically literate.
Connectivity plays a major role in schools. Connectivity allows the availability of educational resources online, but it can be something rather difficult for some schools. That’s why According to Technology and Education , ”The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has repeatedly set connectivity goals for schools and libraries to ensure that students can use high-speed Internet and wireless access as part of the Schools and Libraries Program”. If students are taught the proper way to verify the authenticity of the information they find, then the internet and connectivity flourish together giving anyone the opportunity to connect from wherever they please.
Day by day technology is going to keep pushing education and many other things forward. These advances have been astonishing and will keep on improving throughout the years. Providing students with an easy, quick, and efficient way of gathering knowledge and education has never been so easy.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
“Technology and Education.” Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2018. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/PC3010999175/OVIC?u=lincclin_ecc&sid=OVIC&xid=39f5461d. Accessed 3 Nov. 2018.
President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. (1997). Report to the President on the use of technology to strengthen K-12 education in the United States. Washington, DC: Author.
Computing, Academic. “Morrill Computer Classroom.” Flickr, Yahoo!, 17 Oct. 2008, www.flickr.com/photos/teachoit/2950259218/in/photolist-5uGRhf-eSeUzP-pjXjNV-5U5JgF-airmgH-brxYfD-f2e5A9-bYeMF-qTnRcc-aiu9Vy-ePBLUC-pipvNk-ok3tSz-pedTLW-qxQSdp-82ZtQo-9SS9Sn-grGaBv-9oX3WJ-fUNapE-2e71Fr-72Qq3g-grFVcP-4M51Gf-7yUafX-c3uudb-2TDPTB-dZLVpj-gV3pAv-6Bhadi-93X9kR-cMygMj-a1rG4U-eMBvwe-Nz82nz-aGQtGx-2C7o6y-8uqTyT-2MzQqC-NvVNjG-ceLdcE-f2qJBa-9YZa3P-7zeVM-5qDGmT-8Bip1D-8NPuzS-7vu71o-aFGTb2-6S5WkL.
Cifuentes, Eric. “Teclado.” Flickr, Yahoo!, 27 Apr. 2013, www.flickr.com/photos/ericcifuentes/8684437141/in/photolist-eeq1AR-9vsPTT-6GXFmR-4BcTXk-4v81B5-MTKMc-292m4n-KWDHT-6NVh6n-eWeYS-cvokB-YuWTr-6KHBcF-4iwkmb-7Eu9UE-5LwqM5-mcSv2-5X5GmP-8i11kB-9GiRaS-2pkMzg-pmPJzF-Lw64i-N4cnr-dho5p-4UJG8a-7qfZh8-82iQc-2FVbQu-nyzg44-9VwGe2-51QVc-7frJPC-bp58gn-eypRs-bPLmbg-HMBfV-8HQVTF-9PZHsg-dPKXrn-9zSUST-5DCaS-28gP8DW-9kU9ir-E6cWv-mp7gTh-pxgAJ-34KHNL-ukGEm-5cXH3f.
