Christian
Martinez
ENG
113b
Prof.
Lawson
2/26/13
Making Use of Tech in Class
Schools today should start utilizing
modern technology in the classroom to not only help students learn in a faster
pace but also to get students used to using technology in an early age.
Incorporating technology in the classroom has many benefits, such as preparing
elementary and middle school students by teaching them how to use computers and
the Internet so that by the time they get to high school they will already know
all the basics. If the internet and other technology are used within the
classroom it can benefit students and teachers a lot more than it can harm
them.
Some teachers say that Technology will
replace them. Teachers have a reason to be concerned because it is a big change
and it might seem like with technology doing all of the work then teachers will
be left out. Teachers that believe that they will be replaced by technology
actually have it backwards, “teachers will not be replaced by technology, but
teachers who don’t use technology will be replaced by those who do” (SherylNussbaum-beach). Teachers have a lot of classes to deal with and using
technology will help to reduce the work load by staying organized via apps
found on the internet. Usually naysayers argue that technology is distracting
for students and lowers their attention spans, and others say that the internet
is only for wasting time on social networks such as Facebook, Tumblr, and
Twitter. Though it may be true that there is a temptation to use these social
networks but instead of restricting them we should use them to our advantage
and use these social networks for educational purposes (Teachers). With the
help of technology students will be able to search for current information and
take notes at the same time in the classroom. Professors and teachers usually
spend a lot of time grading essays, and with the use of technology students can
just do their essays and tests on their computers and just send it to their
instructors. Peakview elementary is a good example that we should all
eventually work up to following one day, “Peakview is
a new school that is implementing a number of…teaching strategies…Among those
strategies is the infusion of more than 80 networked microcomputers and related
technology and software” (Wilson)A good example of a successful integration
between technology and schools is Peakview Elementary School in Aurora
Colorado.
This type of technology may not be
accessible to students with low income but there are ways we can make it
accessible to them. In the documentary Zeitgeist: Addendum it is explained that
most of the money that the government has and is spent on is in the military
(Zeitgeist). When the U.S. goes to war the first thing they cut in budgets are
schools and hospitals (Zeitgeist). Instead of wasting money in the military we
could be spending it on making technology accessible to every student in school.
This movie explains how it’s the fault of corporations and the elite for budget
cuts on Education and Health Care.
One benefit to using technology such as
the Internet in schools is that students would not only learn what they need
but also acquire computing skills that will be needed in the future. Teachers
would be killing two birds with one stone if they would just incorporate computer
use for kids into their everyday lessons. Important computer skills that one
needs to know in order to get a job in today’s technology based society is to
know how to use Microsoft word, PowerPoint, and Excel. These are just a few
examples of what employers are looking for in an employee. It is believed that
while students are developing their minds for the future “they also become
active learners as they become proficient in gathering, organizing, and
publishing knowledge” (Conte). Learning these skills at an early age will
actually make it easier when those students are in college and need these
skills every day for projects and homework. If we can make this technology
accessible to students then we can just get that out of the way in the very
beginning so that students don’t have to suffer in the future.
Other
technologies such as the new Smart-board that can be used to engage students in
class as well as computers or laptops for example “It can store teachers’ written notes, show a video, and allow
students to express their own ideas in class” (DiPardo).
There are many different apps and organizers such as calendar, planners, memo
pads, and even post it notes, found in the internet that can help teachers and
professors keep track of what they’re doing, and with the help of technology
teachers can vary the activities of the day so that students can pay attention
and not be bored. There are also tablets that are specifically made for
certain activities such as the nook or kindle. These can be used for reading
instead of carrying heavy books on your back. Teachers can also use technology
to help kids that have A.D.D by using different teaching methods and activities
to keep the students engaged.
Schools should be taking advantage of
modern technology and using it to help students become active learners. In
today’s society it is becoming mandatory that a student knows how to navigate
the web whether it’s in elementary, middle school, high school or college. We
might as well just get students started on using today’s technology at an early
age so that when they get older they will already be tech savvy. Teachers will
always be needed for teaching positions but not in the same way as they are
needed now. With technology in schools students will become super learners and
will raise the standard for everyone in the world. Technology might be
distracting for some kids but if teachers and parents use these as tools to
help them stay focused then possibilities are endless. We don’t always have to
make education sound boring, we can find ways to make it enjoyable. Schools
should be viewed as an excellent opportunity and a privilege. With the help of
technology we can get students to develop a hunger for knowledge.
Work Cited
Conte, Christopher. "Networking the
Classroom." CQ
Researcher 20 Oct. 1995:
921-44. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
DiPardo, Liz. “Functions and Benefits of the Smartboard,” eHow. 5
July. 2012. Web 27 Feb. 2013.
Top 10 Reasons to Use Technology in Education: iPad, Tablet, Computer,
Listening Centers. YouTube. YouTube, 31 Oct. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
“Teachers
& Technology." Education Week 17 Mar. 2011: 40. Opposing
Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Wilson, Brent G. “Successful Technology
Integration in an Elementary School: A Case Study,” Denton TX: Texas Center for Educational Technology 1995. Web. 27
Feb. 2013.
Zeitgeist: Addendum. Dir. Peter joseph. GMP LLC. Oct, 2008. Film.


