Technology in education is a touchy subject in the United States. Many parents believe that technology will only hurt their child in future, while some believe that technology will help their child. Parents have to be open and must allow themselves, to see what is happening before they make their decision.
As a college student who would like to become a teacher, I believe that technology will help a child. All children learn differently, and technology is to help the children who have no other place to go. Some children are just unable to learn from a teacher, that is when technology plays a big role. Some children have to show themselves how to do things and technology will allow that.
Technology has many different effects on education, one of them being enhancing the students learning. Technology may enhance the students learning and may assist most students in achieving their academic standards. When technology and appropriate teaching methods are combined, technology may increase the academic achievement. Positive effects have been found in all major subject areas, from preschool to higher education, both regular and special needs students. Educational technology has been found to have a positive effect on a student’s attitude toward learning and on self-concepts. The introduction of technology into the learning environment has allowed the learning to be more student-centered, to encourage group learning, and helps to stimulate an increase in the student-teacher interaction. Technology has shown a shift from a focus on a student’s memorization to their problem solving. Through technology’s use, learning opportunities have become unrestricted by time or place, allowing lifelong learning. Student use of technology through communications can also help to enhance access to a career and continued education. Students are more likely to use a computer to get help because they can to it themselves. Technology is helping students to become independent.
Due to the technology increase many schools are reporting higher test scores. One example is Northbrook Middle School in Houston Texas. The school is largely made up of minorities with low socioeconomic statuses. The students at this school recorded test scores that were sharply improved due to the involvement of technology.
Technology in education helps with communication issues also. Nine out of every ten children have access to the Internet. A child can get on a computer and talk to a friend or family member. You can do the same thing with a phone, but talking on a computer is much cheaper. There is email, instant messaging, and chatting. A child can use this to help them even further their education. They can get a message to a school they wish to attend, in just minutes. Email allows that to happen, it also allows students to talk to each other without having to buy an envelope or stamp. The first graph shows what both children and adults are using the Internet for. The second graph shows how many children have access to a computer.
Teachers in elementary and secondary teaching are being pressured to make technology part of their classrooms. The reason for this is to prepare them for college. The students are required in college to have an email address so they are able to send information to their professors. Email allows the professor to use the reply function to email any comments or corrections. The professor may also send all his students assignments through email allowing less copies of paper to be used. By using email, it allows the professor to see how each student replies to his statements. The advantage of this is, in a regular classroom there may be some students we are shy and don’t wish to respond. Having assignments through email allows the shy students to reply with no worry of how other students will reply. It allows students to open up more. The Internet is used now more than ever before and the following chart below shows just that.
Technology also helps to enable students to get assignments online. The advantage of this is that if a student is sick or may even be on a vacation, they are still able to go online and look at what they are missing. By having all assignments posted online, students can go back and see what they had done previously.
Technology also helps people who wish to attend college. There are some people out there who can’t afford to go to a big college and who can’t afford to commute. These people have an opportunity to take courses over the Internet. The Internet allows them to learn about a subject and take tests over the subject’s material. The tests are automatically recorded and cannot be changed. There are no schedules to work around; tests can be completed at any time of day. This works out great for working people because they are able to work, come home and relax. They are able to complete a course from the luxury of their own home. No traveling or moving is involved.
Though there is not always good information found on the Internet, a student is still able to find some reliable sources. There are many of today’s biggest magazines and newspapers posted on the Internet. This allows student to go online and search for items in old magazines or newspapers. Students don’t have to worry about whether or not a library carries the magazine or newspaper they need, they can just go online and look it up in the archives. Most libraries are now found online, so the student may see if the library carries a certain book instead of trying to find a way to get down there to look.
At the elementary or secondary level, technology may allow a student to see places they have never seen. It also allows them to learn more about that place. Children are able to see what else is out there, just by looking it up online. They can find out things that they never thought possible.
Technology is good thing in children’s education today. Technology has a great impact on a student’s education allowing them to do better things and make it easier on them. Technology should be welcomed not pushed away.