EDL 635 Technology and Student Learning
What is there to be afraid of? Why are people afraid of technology? Maybe people in general are not afraid of technology; maybe it’s just some educators that are afraid of something they don’t fully understand, technology. In today’s 21st century classroom, the integration of technology is extremely important, because it brings relevance to the classroom, and it reflects the real world of the students.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Technology in the classroom is important because it supports learning, by enabling students to collaborate, communicate, think critically, solve problems and create. These five activities are of paramount importance in enhancing student learning. When students work as a collaborative learning group, it is amazing to observe what they can produce. “The use of mobile learning devices is becoming more and more prominent in society as it also paves the way for learning at the school site level. …. Applications and software are being developed at a fast rate to accommodate the needs of both teachers and the general public. Participatory devices have also opened the way for collaborative learning, where students can engage with one another in a group investigation. This is important because many of the lifelong skills we learn and use in adulthood while working in teams, can be garnered from these types of collaborative activities”.
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(Roschelle, 2003) Clearly, technology allow students to be more engaged, and to innovate and share ideas more readily, hence increasing their productivity.
RESEARCH IN REAL TIME
Technology facilitates research in the classroom. Gone are the days when students had to go to a physical library to conduct research for assignments. Students can conduct research in real time, using information that is current, and readily accessible. They can easily share best practices and demonstrate their learning, which also serves as a means of exchanging information among themselves, locally, nationally or globally.
THE DIGITAL AGE
Modern kids are digital learners; they use technology in all aspects of their lives outside of school, at home, while travelling, to communicate, to socialize. Why should school be different? Should school be the only place they are prevented from doing what comes naturally? No. If school leaders wish to create schools that work for kids, technology should be incorporated in their curriculum, not just as a content area, but as the primary means of enabling kids to personalize their learning. Do we as educators want students to grow and improve? Do we want our students to keep pace with the rest of the world and break the cycle of ‘coming up short’? Then our answer should be a resounding yes ! Yes to new opportunities for students and teachers to embrace the change to a tech-rich learning environment. “ This revolutionary opportunity for change is driven by the continuing push of emerging technology, and the pull of the critical national need for new strategies to turn around a P-12 system, that is failing to adequately prepare young Americans for post-secondary education and the workforce.” (US Department of Education, 2010)
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TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE
School is the place that prepares children to become productive adults that can contribute to society. When children are exposed to technology at a very early age, it helps to prepare them for the future, where using technology in all aspects of society will be the norm and not the exception. Teaching students how to navigate the commonly used software, should be a core subject for all students, and not just an elective or optional content area. These skills are extremely necessary for entrance to the job market, and crucial to succeed in college. It is beneficial for students to acquire these skills very early, so they can utilize the benefits of technology during their K-12 years. When students apply trial and error while using technology, or are encouraged to play around with different options while solving problems, that process opens up the possibility for the creation of impressive artifacts and tremendous inventions.
Administrators, Teachers, Parents, let us listen to our kids. Let us provide them with the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century. Let us promote digital learning, let us empower them to research for solutions to the problems they chose to solve. Let us allow them to collaborate, communicate, think critically, solve problems, create and innovate what is required to survive, and thrive, in the world they will be asked to navigate and occupy as adults.
References
Casap, J., (2015) Saving the Silver Bullet. TEd Talks, Google Inc.
Garland, V.E. Tajeda, C. (2013) Education Leadership and Technology: Preparing School Administrators for a Digital Age.
Sheninger, E., Schools that Work for Kids. TEd Talks.
US Department of Education, The Condition of Education, (2010) Page 52