Effects of Technology in the Classroom to Education Essay Example
In his public address, the president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, introduced a domestic agenda last year. This agenda focuses on vital issues like affordable college, healthcare, and maternity leave. Notably, one error stood out: he pledged to offer education for all American children as preparation for our competitive world.
The promise of ensuring Internet accessibility and expanding its availability to all communities and schools as a policy solution includes the use of technology in classrooms. Nonetheless, evidence indicates that students from low-income families may encounter difficulties adapting to this new educational system. Consequently, divisions within the classroom can emerge and exacerbate the existing educational gap attributable to technology (Abbey, 2000).
The question of whether the influence of technology on our education system or school programs is advantageous or harmful is a topic that raises debate. In today's world, daily technol
...ogical advancements bring both positive and negative consequences to our education system, impacting individuals regardless of their attendance at school.
Technology has greatly influenced our culture and standards, particularly in the field of education. When it comes to integrating technology into schools, we will prioritize the advantages that have the most impact on students. It is crucial to acknowledge how technology affects both teachers and students. A noteworthy benefit is that technology enables students to conduct research more conveniently, especially when they come across outdated or inadequate library resources that may impede their ability to gather essential information for assignments.
Equipped with computers and internet access, students can complete assignments efficiently, saving time. While concerns exist about students' access to information, many schools have restricted certain websites to ensure the legitimacy of content. Additionally, institutions utilize
Encyclopedia Britannica software to aid in research. Technology also promotes globalization in education, allowing schools to connect and engage in discussions about school life and work.
Online websites are available for pairing teachers with students from different countries. In this scenario, students are not required to physically attend classes; instead, they can take exams online, submit them to their tutors, and book their exams through these websites. Additionally, technology offers the advantage of introducing educational games to young children in lower grades.
Instead of instructing students on how to play board games, they can be introduced to computers that will help them learn skills such as counting, spelling, and other educational lessons at a young age. These computer games make learning fun for children and every school should incorporate this technology into their education system. By doing so, children will grow up knowing that education is not difficult but rather enjoyable.
Many schools face limitations in resources and budget that prevent them from organizing field trips. However, thanks to technology, students no longer have to worry as they can learn about these trips online. Virtual school seminars on websites have made education fun and easy to learn (Hutchby & Moran-Ellis, 2001). While rich children can afford the necessary gadgets to embrace the new technology in education, poor children cannot. In the early 2000s, economists Hellen Ladd and Jacob Vigor from Duke University surveyed almost one million disadvantaged children attending middle schools. They compared the academic progress of these students with the time they were provided with new networked computers. The survey revealed that students who had access to computers experienced a continuous decline in their scores in Mathematics
and reading.
The issuance of a license permitting students to surf significantly impacted their academic performance, leading to a decline in their grades. This decline caused the students to experience feelings of depression due to the pressure they faced from their peers and the need to express their opinions. Furthermore, the African American students specifically experienced a more pronounced decrease in scores compared to their peers.
The decrease in student scores is due to the implementation of computers in schools, with lack of adult supervision being the primary reason for this failure. Numerous kids spent their time on computers playing games and participating in non-academic activities. It is crucial to acknowledge that if given the option, even adults would partake in similar conduct.
The unequal impact of technology on children from low-income families is a significant concern. In comparison to their peers from middle-class or wealthy backgrounds, these children spend more time on computers, which negatively affects their test scores. Moreover, children from poor families face additional challenges such as food scarcity and limited affection compared to their privileged counterparts. The quality of interaction with parents or society is crucial in determining success in vocabulary development and academic performance.
The videos and apps children interact with while surfing on computers do not provide much help. Children who spend more time on computers also do not sync with the behavior of their peers and schoolmates. These children would never consider their school days to be a good idea. I believe they think the teachers are wasting their time because they think what they learn from the internet is sufficient. However, this is not true because teachers are responsible for teaching
and guiding other morals. Education alone cannot make a person's life complete.
The development of responsibility is crucial for a child's future as an accountable adult, both in the home and at school. However, the widespread acceptance of children using electronic devices has posed educational challenges. An instance of this is seen in the "One Laptop per Child" project initiated in 2006. This project sought to equip all children aged 6 and older around the globe with laptops, aiming to grant even underprivileged children access to online education without requiring them to pay school fees.
The availability of knowledge anywhere and anytime diminished the importance of teachers to students. Numerous individuals voluntarily donated money to procure these laptops (Abbey, 2000). So, why didn't these sponsors allocate funds for purchasing books and enhancing classrooms? This implies that people have grown excessively dependent on technology and perceive life as unable to function normally without these electronic devices. Yet, the project fell short of achieving anticipated success or generating excitement. The main cause behind this failure was the utilization of substandard materials in manufacturing the devices.
Morgan Ames and Mark Warschauer argue that the laptops provided to underprivileged students did not meet their needs, leading them to find alternative ways of using the devices, primarily by playing games instead of focusing on school work. The donors who generously contributed the laptops had a genuine passion for education but lacked the time to oversee how the children were utilizing them in school. Consequently, there has been a rise in student engagement with academic tasks due to the more enjoyable nature of interactive applications compared to traditional study methods (Henningfeld, 2012).
From my perspective,
technology has a substantial influence on education. When utilized efficiently, it can yield favorable outcomes in the educational field. It is especially advantageous for students with disabilities and highly skilled teachers. Furthermore, incorporating technology into classrooms can simplify the teaching process by eliminating the requirement for teachers to manually transcribe all lesson material on the board for students to replicate.
This technology is time-saving for both students and teachers as it allows children to learn more in the same timeframe as traditional classroom work. However, to fully incorporate these technologies into the school curriculum, well-trained teachers are essential. They must possess a comprehensive understanding of which applications are appropriate for each student and different age groups.
The success of classroom technology lies solely with teachers who implement it. Currently, there is no evidence that the technology used in schools or the technology skills acquired by students will transfer to other industries. While we await answers to these questions, it would be wise to use the funds allocated for classroom wiring to provide training and mentoring to students. This program will help students understand their responsibilities and encourage positive behavior. Technology should not hinder students' education, but rather assist them in achieving their life goals and aspirations (Chen, 2010).
References
- Abbey, B. (2000). Instructional and cognitive impacts of Web-based education. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Pub.
- Chen, M. (2010). Education nation: Six leading edges of innovation in our schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Henningfeld, D. A. (2012). Education. Detroit, MI: Greenhaven Press.
- Hutchby, I., & Moran-Ellis, J. (2001).
"The impacts of technologies in children's everyday lives" is a book titled Children, Technology, and Culture by Routledge/Falmer in London.
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