Technology in the Classroom….why not?

Technology…Technology…Technology! You cannot go a single day without encountering some form of technology. Automobiles, cellphones, tablets, droids, smart tv’s the list goes on and on. Honestly, every part of our life is in some way affected by technology. Although, some may argue that the use of technology in our everyday lives has gotten way out of hand, we must admit that most technological advances has helped increase our overall quality of life. Some may think integrating technology into the classroom would not help promote academic success amongst students, I beg to differ. I am a firm believer in “Meeting the students where they are” and in my years of observation, it does not matter what level the students are on (i.e. Autism Spectrum, EBD, IND, Asperger, or mainstream) put them in front of some form of technology (i.e. Computer, tablets, cell phones etc.) and they will blow your mind.

Growth in learning does not typically occur through technology used in isolation. It’s when instructional strategies and human interaction are used simultaneously with digital tools that learning experiences are best seeded for growth (Kolb, 2017). For instance, putting a student on the computer to do drills and practices and rewarding him when he is finished does not mean he has a deeper understanding of the material, he could simply be clicking through the program to get to the end and receive his reward. However, the article states if the teacher integrates sound instructional choices to support the student when they are using the software, it is more likely that growth will occur (Kolb, 2017). The teacher could pair the student with another student and have them discuss possible problem-solving techniques. Removing the reward would take the focus off the reward and place it on the actual drills and practices. This would be the perfect time for the teacher to model how to efficiently navigate the software to better engage learning.

As instructors, I am sure that we can come up with several ways to effectively integrate technology in our classrooms. Here are three ways according to Kolb. First, Guided practice and release of responsibility, with this strategy the students usually observe teacher as she does a run through of the software and answers questions about what they are observing. The next way is the switcheroo, in this Students begin a switcheroo by doing individual work in the software (such as writing a story, working out a math problem, coming up with a hypothesis for a scientific experiment, etc.) About halfway through the time, the teacher asks students to do a “switcheroo”—exchanging devices with another student. Students look over each other’s work and provide feedback (Kolb, 2017). Finally, Reflective thinking, students are encouraged to reflect on their experience and are encouraged to make a connection between the technology they are using and their everyday experiences.

According to the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) finds that technology – when implemented properly -can produce significant gains in student achievement and boost engagement, particularly among students most at risk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Kolb, L. (2017, May 12). Students’ Best Tech Resource: The Teacher. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/students-best-tech-resource-teacher-liz-kolb?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjtToyM-W1QIVxySBCh27_APgEAAYAyAAEgJ6A_D_BwE

 

Technology can close achievement gaps, improve learning. (2014, September 10). Retrieved from https://ed.stanford.edu/news/technology-can-close-achievement-gaps-and-improve-learning-outcomes