We live in a world of expanding technology and a dependence on technology like never before. The powers and abilities of technology are constantly improving thus as teachers in the 21st century we need to embrace technology in our classrooms. As teachers we not only need to be keeping up with this technology we need to be teaching our students how to appropriately and effectively use all of these great tools. Technology should be present in our classrooms to enhance the learning experience of our young students. While textbooks and like materials should not be overlooked, they should rather been seen as one of many components that are used to contribute to a students overall understanding.
Technology has revolutionized the field of education. The importance of technology in schools cannot be ignored. In fact, with the onset of computers in education, it has become easier for teachers to impart knowledge and for students to acquire it. The use of technology has made the process of teaching and learning enjoyable. Researchers have also found that games and simulations may help students learn by helping them visualize processes they otherwise could not see, such as the flow of an electron or the construction of a city. Games can also promote higher-order thinking skills, such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork (MIT, 2009; National Academies Press 2011).
At-risk students show substantial improvement when technology is introduced into their curriculum. Experts believe the reason for this is that technology provides educators with a way to individualize and customize the curriculum to match learners’ developmental needs and also provide a nonthreatening and motivating environment for repetitious learning tasks. (Valdez. G, McNabb, M., Foertsch, M., Anderson ,M., Hawkes, M. and Raack, L. 2000).
One of the most common questions the students in math classes ask is what are we going to do with this stuff? Well, there's going to be oftentimes which you'll be asked that, but here's some ways for you to really think about that. One of the things to consider is the applications. Whatever ideas you're studying, think about where the concepts are used, what kind of areas are going to be using what it is that you're be studying from day to day. But the important thing here is, see if you can come up with a connection between the concepts and the students. Money is something that everyone as well as students can relate to. The more you can relate to money, perhaps the more successful that you'll be. But if you start each lesson by making a real world connection, you might have a chance to get the students to relate to what it is that you're about to study. And lastly, if the concepts are not going to be related to what you're studying right away, then give them a long term picture as to where they'll be using this in the near future.
Another way that technology can be successfully integrated in the classroom, especially for mathematics, is to make real world connections. Students learn much easier when they can relate information to something they already know. For example, teachers can make short videos using Voki, or Animoto, in order to introduce a topic that is more visual, and a real life scenario. By making these connections to the students this will also make the content of the lessons seem more meaningful to them.
In the classroom I will use technology will entice the students with math and learning skills. Smart board is a great way to get students engaged in the activity. If you get students involved in the process of math then they will remember. Old Chinese Proverb: I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand. Isn't that is what we want our students to do? We want them to get involved in the process of learning and understanding.
Technology in the classroom can be gauged from the fact that it offers an experience to students similar to the working environment that one sees in offices. In technology savvy classroom a teacher acts as a facilitator who sets project goals fro the students and provides them the necessary resources and guidelines to reach those goals. The student themselves make decisions with regards to design choices, the information they want to use and display, the resources with they will use. Besides these days most students may even know more than the teachers themselves. So, there is a constant exchange of information between the students and the teachers. By using computers and technology on a daily basis, this helps the students in developing an understanding of the various computer tools and software. This kind of education prepares the students and makes it easier for them to learn about the various software applications in the future. This very well defines the importance of technology in the classroom. The importance of technology in education cannot be stressed enough. The introduction of technology in the educational field has made the process of learning and knowledge sharing, a more interactive and pleasurable experience. Perhaps, the greatest impact of technology on education is the change in perspective. The paradigm shift in thinking from local to global can be attributed to technology.
References:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “Moving Learning Games Forward: Obstacles, Opportunities, and Openness,” 2009.
NCREL-Published Research—Source: Computer-Based Technology and Learning: Evolving Uses and Expectations, Valdez, Gilbert, McNabb, Mary, Foertsch, Mary, Anderson, Mary, Hawkes, Mark, and Raack, Lenaya, 2000, www.ncrel.org/tplan/cbtl/toc.htm
Old Chinese Proverb. 1996 AIMS Education Foundation.ISBN: 1-881431-63-0
National Academies Press, “Learning Science Through Computer Games and Simulations,” 2011.
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