Month: June 2021

In the 21st-century classroom, technology is becoming more and more predominant as a primary teaching tool. We are using technology instead of textbooks and even allowing students to look up information on their smartphones. Social media has become a fixture within the classroom. Because of COVID-19, the use of technology in the school has transformed brick-and-mortar classrooms into virtual classrooms. Educators today know the importance of developing students’ technical skills to be able to be effective in the workplace. “The widespread adoption of technology has completely changed how teachers teach, and students learn” ( Cox, 2019). 

The use of technology and specific applications like grade books portals have many advantages.  One advantage of an electronic grade book is that parents and students can access it at any time. This allows them to monitor the student’s progress by giving them the ability to check on their grades periodically. It also allows parents to see if any assignments are missing to help their children make the missing assignments to meet assignment deadlines successfully.  

Technology has enhanced a student’s learning preference because it allows students to learn at their own pace. It also allows students to work at their own pace. Most apps automatically allow for differentiated instruction and can be modified to meet the students’ abilities in individualized learning styles. 

 Another advantage of the use of technology is that it allows students and teachers to be connected. “By integrating technology in the classroom, teachers are changing the way they teach and providing students with tools that will take them into the 21st Century” (Cox, 2019).   Because technology is changing continually, students who use technology can adjust to the ever-changing world that we live in. When teachers integrate technology in the classroom, it has many benefits. Traditional learning methods are replaced, and technology has profoundly impacted the students’ learning abilities (Cox, 2019).

The use of technology allows students to collaborate and have more extensive social interactions on a global scale. It also will enable students to interface and expand their friendship circles. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram also allow students to openly communicate and then send any issues that they are experiencing” (Writer, 2019). “Plus certain types of Technology tools like a podcast or video streaming platforms can help meet the unique learning styles of your cohort” (Best, 2021) 

Another advantage of using technology in the classroom is that it makes learning more engaging. which would you instead prefer, a battered textbook or a colorful interactive computer screen?  “ Technology can hook students with the fun, bright learning experiences we often struggle to create on paper” (Best, 2020).   By bringing technology into the classroom, students are engaged in learning because it is Interactive.

 Technology also can save teachers time. One way technology saves  time is that the grading is automated and feedback immediate  when you use an online curriculum. In my own experience with Google Classroom, you can link it to your grade book so that the grades from the assignments are automatically uploaded into the Gradebook immediately. Thus freeing up time for teachers so that they have time to contact parents or provide extra support for a struggling student (Best, 2020). 

In conclusion, you can see that now the use of technology in the classroom has enhanced The Learning Experience.  It allows parents to monitor the progress and grades of their students. It also allows students to learn at their own pace while differentiating instruction to meet their different learning styles.  Technology prepares students to be successful and their workplace. And it also allows students to collaborate and interface by using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  The adoption of technology in the classroom has “changed the way that teachers teach and students learn “(Cox, 2019). 

Works Cited

Best, J. (2021, April 6). 13 Pros and Cons of Technology in the Classroom Teachers Need to Know. 3P Learning. https://www.3plearning.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-technology-in-the-classroom/. 

Cox, J. (2020, November 30). Benefits of Technology in the Classroom. TeachHUB. https://www.teachhub.com/technology-in-the-classroom/2019/11/benefits-of-technology-in-the-classroom/. 

Writer, N. W. C., W., N., Writer, C., author, A. the, & Nina is a writer and children’s rights advocate with a passion for education and creative expression. She believes that respectful nurture of children as whole people from early on is the key to building healthy relationships with learning. (2019, March 11). 9 Unique Ways to use Technology in the Classroom. Go Guardian. https://www.goguardian.com/blog/technology/9-unique-ways-to-use-technology-in-the-classroom/. 

There are many issues that come into play when students are expected to continue learning outside of the classroom with their technology. The school creates a process on how students can access homework, extra learning and communication with parents from online sources, but do not know how to access them. Students can log in during school hours because they are provided with a one way login and can access their learning apps easily. Whereas at home, they may be logging in from home computers that are not setup the same way and students and families are unfamiliar on how to access the same things.

There needs to be a some way for parents and other members of the community to be able to understand how to access these helpful tools. There should be and online workshop or videos for stakeholders to be able to easily access things for their children’s education. Often times if people do not know how to use it they just won’t do it. We need to make sure things are easily assessible for all members who should require it. If we are requiring any type of formal education it should be accessible. It would be helpful if the technology department could hold parent classes that would teach parents how to access these materials for their students. Often times parents feel that their students are struggling and do not know how to help their child. Showing these members of the community what they have access to can change a student’s life! Parent feel that they can only rely on expensive tutors to help their child when the district has plenty of resources available to them.

Principals should be active in helping students at their school with these technology issues. The principals have access to budgets that can provide students with materials that are needed. If their attending a school with Title I funding this can also be used to help these students. There are also programs that principals can give to their students and families so that they can get these materials. Not only is this a principals job, but it should also be the teacher’s job to help students succeed. Communication about these needs should be discussed with the appropriate school members to help. Often times parents are unwilling to share this information about their needs- feeling embarrassed asking for help or support. Teachers should communicate these things with parents and families throughout the year to make sure students are progressing and can discuss specific options with each family. Communication about these conditions are important or nothing can be done to solve these problems from the school side.

In addition to accessing the material, members of the community do not have at home access to the internet and the district can play a role in this. We are expecting things but not providing it to the members who require it. More recently, districts are giving out laptops and hotspots for students-during the pandemic. Are they still going to give out these materials after the pandemic or is it too expensive? We should provide these items and if not we need to figure out how students can still access the materials needed for learning. School districts could work with local libraries or create programs that can give free access to these. Currently, there is nothing like this. Most of these families have just had students come to school and complete it there and learning is done for the day. This even occurs if students do not have pencils as home! The district needs to come up with a plan to help all students as well as principals, parents, teachers and community members.