Technology in
Education
Emily Barnes
University of Alabama
CAT 200
Technology has become a major part of the world we
live in today. From smart phones to smart boards, we are seeing technology more
and more in education. It’s now a huge part of the classroom.
I have seen the different uses of technology in
classrooms throughout the years. Smart Boards and IPads are being used now. I
was in tenth grade when I saw my first Smart Board. My teachers didn’t know how
to use it. We were the ones having to tell them how to use the eraser and that
you can’t pick up two markers at one time. To say the least, the next few years
were an adventure. I had no idea how much technology was being used in the
schools until I moved to Mobile and went to South Alabama. I took a class much
like CAT 200. I learned all about the different uses of the Smart Board, how to
use a green screen, how to create book trailers, and much more. I saw how
teachers across the country were incorporating technology into their
classrooms. They would have class websites for the students to ask questions. I
learned that there is a way to have the students each read a sentence in a
book, and you can create a sort of interactive story. You have to record them
while they are reading, but it turned out pretty interesting. I’ve seen the use
of book trailers and how that gets the students excited about reading a book.
As a student-teacher, I have had the privilege of getting to see a teacher use
technology first hand in her classroom. She only used the Smart Board, but it
was very beneficial. She used the board during spelling, reading, and social
studies. She would put a paragraph up for the students to read and they would
either read it together or she would choose someone. The students could come up
and match words to pictures, and even write the correct spelling of the words.
Educational technology is the use of technology in
an educational setting. It is supplemental in helping students, as well as
teachers, learn. Technology plays a big role in a student’s learning. Everyone
knows what Google is. Students can use it to find answers and do research.
There are encyclopedias and textbooks online as well. Students can use Twitter
to stay up to date with recent events. Students learn so much through the Web
2.0 tools. They can learn writing and organization skills from having a blog.
Teachers can use technology to teach, too. They can teach responsibility by
having students turn in assignments online. Teachers use Smart Boards to
animate math problems and keep students interested. Just knowing how to use a
computer is beneficial now in the job market.
Technology in education does have pros and cons. Some
instances of cyberbullying can discourage the use of technology in the
classroom. It has gotten to be more of a problem recently than in past years.
Students like to pick on the weird kid or the nerd. They can take to making fun
of him or her on the internet through a class blog or a school Facebook group.
There is also the possibility that some students might not have the resources
to use the technology at home or away from school. There might be homework
required such as writing a paper or even googling something. Some students
might not have a home computer or smart phone to be able to look that up. I
have a hard time paying attention to my teacher if I have a computer sitting in
front of me. I love Pinterest and it’s a struggle to stay off of it during
class. This could be a problem, too, for other students. If a teacher is trying
to teach and a third grader has a computer with him or her, most likely her or
she will not be paying attention. However, there are some positives to having
technology in the classroom. A student might have a question that the teacher
doesn’t know the answer to. The teacher could use the Smart Board or the
students could use whatever kind of technology they have to find the answer.
This is great collaboration for the students and the teacher. This promotes
working together. Having technology in the classroom helps students be familiar
with it for the future. Jobs today require at least some sort of computer
skills. Having this interaction on a daily basis can prepare them for the
future and possibly make them a step ahead. I believe having all of this
technology makes us have to think outside of the box sometimes, too. It teaches
responsibility and organization. It teaches time management as well. All of
these skills are necessary to be successful in life.
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