It’s everywhere. It consumes our lives. Technology is fueling our society in every aspect. We rely on technology to better our lives, and yet there is much controversy about integrating it into our schools.
Teaching For The Future
The youth today are constantly being exposed to media and it excites many of them. The world is an evolving planet and we must evolve with it. We live in a society made up of digital learners. According to Madden and colleagues (2013), a study of 802 teenagers showed that 78% have cellphones and 93% of teens have access to a computer at home. Those numbers are huge; almost every student is using and accessing electronics at home. As crazy as it sounds, it is not actually that outrageous. If you think about your daily routine, it’s possible you use a plethora of electronics throughout the day; cell phones, laptops/desktops, tablets, cameras, webcams, and the list goes on. As adults, our lives are full of different forms of media, why should it be any different for them? Madden and colleagues (2013) say that,
“Media education has become a priority today because we have discovered the extent of the media’s importance in people’s lives. Just as we now know about the importance of nutrition and the need to preserve the environment-also matters whose awareness has developed recently-we have recognized that the media is not just a source of entertainment and information, but an experience that defines our lives.”
It wouldn’t make sense to exclude integrating technology into the curriculum, because once children get into the real working world, they are constantly exposed to all sorts of digital media and technology. We teach to prepare students for future education and for functioning in a future society, both of which are completely consumed with technology.
Myths About Technology in Schools
With new ways of teaching come many critics. There are parents and educators that believe that technology is more of a distraction in the classroom than a resource. There are also those who think that the use of technology takes away from learning and that students are loosing out on quality learning time to play games. Sackett (2014) says,
“One of the biggest problems surrounding technology in education is that new developments and products are often over-hyped, due to the thought that technology should immediately “disrupt” current operations.”
Some educators turn to technology as a way to take over classroom instruction or to “fix” the children that are struggling. New programs are being developed and some educators are under the impression that the programs will teach their students for them.
With children spending more and more time using electronics, a myth has arisen that students are loosing their ability to interact socially. Plowman and McPake (2012) share the concern of others that children using so much technology has lead to less time spend face to face. Since there is so much more time spent using technology, there is also the argument of leading children to become involved in technology conduct issues much sooner.
Plowman and McPake (2012) state that,“Cell phones, e-mail, social networking sites, webcams, and digital cameras have revolutionized young children’s experiences with long-distance and remote communication, prompting them to address issues of audience at a much earlier age than was the case in the past.”
You have all seen it. That 3 year old that knows how to use the computer better than you do. Children spend a lot of their day accessing and learning about technology. There are people that believe there should not be time spent accessing and learning about technology in schools.
The Advantages of Technology Integration in the Classroom
Cleaver (2014) discusses that, technology allows for individualized learning. Students are able to be working on different activities to fit their specific needs. Many times playing an educational game is more interesting to students than reading a textbook, especially at younger ages. Students are able to receive answers straight from an iPad, play a game that changes for their needs, or even read a book or have a book read to them electronically.
In the study by Plowman and McPake (2012), over 50 3 and 4 year-olds in Scotland were interviewed and studied regarding the effects of technology in the classroom. Along with confirming many other myths, the study proved that the concerns that technology was interfering with social interaction was a myth. They found that the children who were watching TV often engaged in social interaction with those they were watching the show with. Plowman and McPake stated,
“With the right support, digital
media can open up avenues of communication over
time and distance and provide new and intriguing
possibilities for the development of young children’s
communicative skills.”
Done are the days that teachers stand in front of the classroom and teach lectures to the students all day. Teachers implement workshops that allow for individual work, mini-lessons and conferences. If you have set foot into a classroom where individual work is happening, you may also notice some children busy at work and others completely off topic. The students staring at the ceiling and coloring on the walls are the students that could benefit from use of technology in the classroom. By using a more engaging resource for individual work time, you are able make learning more engaging which helps many students focus.
“Media literacy is not a rejection of TV or e-mail. It is a set of skills and attitudes, knowledge and insights. Media literacy enables us to ask questions, to challenge assumptions, to make choices, to both critique and appreciate the media.” (Schwartz, 2001) Media literacy is all around us. When you drive down the highway, you hear the radio talk show discussing global issues, you look down at your tablet and begin reading a website or begin watching a YouTube video, you constantly come in contact with media, which is why children should be taught how to navigate and assess this new media. Technologically is a newer aspect of our society that needs to be addressed in schools, it’s only going to continue to become a bigger part of our everyday lives.
Examples of Technology in the Classroom
There is a plethora of different iPad apps that can be used in the classroom. For math, Math Easy HD allows for kids to play educational games to practice their math skills. Games can be a great way for kids to get extra practice in subjects without feeling like they are doing extra work. The Green Eggs and Ham- Dr. Seuss app helps beginning and struggling readers by highlighting the words while the students listen to a recording of the reading.
Cameras and/or Video cameras can also be a great way to Integrate Technology Into the Classroom. By filming and recording themselves, students are able to hear how they speak, practice work for teacher review and practice their presentation skills. Allowing for student creativity though acting, singing, and producing (to name a few) will help students to utilize technology tools they will likely use later in life as well as create an engaging learning environment.
The use of computers can be engaging for both students and teachers. Students can use technology to blog, post to forums or even create websites. Similar to the website medium.com, students can create their own website and blog on Weebly, that can be managed by the teacher and shared with the whole class. (Genre 1 see here). Students can also use projectors to make learning a hands on activity. Technology can help teachers reach all types of learners; auditory, visual and kinesthetic.
Not only are there advantages for students in the classroom, there are advantages for teachers as well. While many teachers use to assess children’s abilities by handwriting notes, teachers can use iPad’s to take notes and store them electronically, using apps such as Easy Assessment and GoClass. Teachers can also network and read other teachers social media to learn about and to discuss current issues. To the right is a picture of a twitter account related to technology in the classroom (Genre 2 see here).
Conclusion
Technology is a growing part of our society. We teach children to be successful later in their lives, meaning we need to teach them based on what is going to be useful in 10 years. It is teacher’s jobs to become educated about the correct way to integrate education into existing lesson plans. By showing children that learning can be fun though technology, children are more likely to become engaged in classroom learning. Students are able to make connections and connect with the world through technology. Through studies and practice, it is easy to see that technology is both beneficial to the class but also very easy to integrate into many different subjects.
