Khaled Abed                                                                                                             
Professor Lawson
February 14 2012
English 113B

Technology in the Classroom

We are living in the 21^st Century, and everything we use is based on the latest versions of technology. These past few years technology has become an even bigger part of our everyday lives. According to match.com; one in every five relationships start online. Technology has come a long way in the past century; it’s just incredible how you can face-time your uncle that lives thousands of miles away with a simple click of a button. Many high school teachers argue that technology in schools cause huge distractions on student’s education and concentration in class. Books are now being read on kindles and iPads making it more budget friendly and efficient for students to carry around hundreds of books with the portability of an electronic device and the quarter of the weight of a textbook. Technology also plays a huge role in our future. How can we prepare our students best for the future other than teaching them the value of technology in our schools? Technology in schools is the key to a student’s success; students are kept motivated to learning with the newest versions of technology, which explains why the number of college students enrolling in online courses has been soaring in the last 6 years.

Technology has become part of our everyday lives. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski claims that “Global mobile penetration now tops 80%, and itrecently passed 100% in the U.S.” (Genachowski#1). Cellphones are the principle of technology in America. Technology has grown significantly since the 90’s. Now in 2012, technology is starting to make its way into our schools. LAUSD is providing schools with laptops and smart-boards, instead of basic overhead projectors. Students are getting more involved and engaged into learning with the newest technologies. By using technology in schools we are preparing them for their future. The outlook of computers and technology is promising, there has been many breakthroughs involving technology in the past decade. An example of this is the iPhone which was first released in 2007.  Seven years later five different iPhones have come out implying that many improvements from the processing system to enlarging the memory capacity and double-sided cameras; which have proven to be successful in our vogue society. In the article, “Digital Education” Marcia Clemmitt says, “experts say schools must prepare young people not only to use digital technology but also to understand how to program it, how it shapes culture and behavior and how it can be harnessed to perform tasks once considered the sole realm of humans” (Clemmitt#4). And by allowing students to use these devices we are preparing them for the imminent.

Thirty years ago, students did all their learning in the classroom and got all their information from encyclopedias, libraries, and textbooks. Today we can search anything on the web and have results within seconds. Today we have a technological system that can be tailored to each and every student to fit their lifestyle. High school students should provide practice for their future. In Clemmitt’s article she states that students in Idaho are now required to complete a minimum of two online courses to receive a high school diploma, which accustoms them to the future. She also tells us “Computers can never replace the human touch in elementary and high school classrooms” (Clemmitt#11).

In the article “Mobile learning Technologies for 21^st Century Classrooms” Jonathan Wylie informs us that “In June of last year, GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger announced a digital makeover for California’s schooltextbooks. The future, as he saw it,was ebooks” (Wylie#9). School districts need acknowledge this informed of this incredible breakthrough in technology which could save them thousands of dollars a year. If schools were provided with eBooks to issue to students they would also be able to control the apps and content by setting restrictions on the device limiting what the students can and can’t view on their eBook. Students would be provided with an eBook preloaded with all the books and texts required for that school year. Student would be way more motivated to turn one of the most advanced technological devices than open up a dusty 6 year old textbook. Schools would benefit greatly by encouraging students to open up the book and actually read and by spending their saved funds on after school programs and other beneficial programs.

While some teachers argue that cellphone use in the classroom is distracting, many teachers oppose and tell us technology is providing students with a more flexible approach towards learning. In “Mobile Learning Technologies for 21^st Century Classrooms” Wylie states that “touch-screen devices are easy for children to use, and come with built inWi-Fi and have the ability to access thousands of apps for instance a thesaurusor dictionary.” This may be true for many of us; while reading in class and I don’t recognize a word I pull out my iPhone and look it up on the dictionary app in about 5 seconds, with an actual dictionary it would at least take two minutes. In the article “Mobile Learning Technologies for 21st Century Classrooms” Wylie talks about portable devices in the classroom and says. “They are portable, easy to update,and cost-effective, and more”. Which means technology is now part of education and sooner than ever your children will come home with an eBook instead of a backpack full of books, and learning the newest and most updated facts and info.

In the article “Online class enrollment climbing” Lauren Foreman was interviewing Nancy Meddings the academic dean at Hancock College, she tell us “thenumber of students enrolled in online classes has more than doubled since 2005” (Foreman#2). Amy Henry, 44, works as a freelance writer and helps at home as a caregiver. This requires people with job responsibilities and family obligations to maintain a flexible approach towards education. In the article Forman tells us “Amy Henry, A mother of two has also taken more than 20 onlinecourses at Hancock.” This is just one example of many that demonstrates how we can all fondle between school, work, and our everyday commitments, thanks to our most advanced technologies.

Online education has increasingly changed in American schools in latest years. The advancement of technology has allowed us to do the undoable. Technology has made it affordable for students to purchase books with the portability of an eBook. Online learning has become so advanced making it flexible for student’s schedules allowing them to hold and attend school full time as well as online courses. Using technology in schools is preparing our student and us for future success. We’re heading in a future which relies on technology allowing people to do more.

Work Cited

Clemmitt, Marcia. “Digital Education” CQ Researcher, Dec. 2011.
Foreman, Laura. “Online class enrollment climbing” Santa Maria Times, Feb.2013.
Marshall, Patrick. “Artificial Intelligence” CQ Researcher, Apr.2011.
Wylie, Jonathan. “Mobile Learning Technologies for 21st Century Classrooms” Scholastic.
“The Future of Digital Education”. YouTube, 9 October 2012. Web 24 February 2013.
“Chairman Julius Genachowski Speech at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress”. Federal Communications Commission, 16 November 2011. Web 27 February 2013.