Yes and no. I do think that we need to adapt to the coming generation where technology plays a huge part in everything we do, and I don't necessarily agree with the "multiple choice/lecture" approach, but I do think that teachers should still hold the most important role in the classroom.
I thought it was interesting the comparison the article made between American students and Japanese students, basically saying that the Japanese are better students because they put more emphasis on examining problems, analyzing, and discussing/debating with their teachers, rather than dealing with PDA's and laptops.
Personally, I think that there can be a harmonious mix of the two in the classroom. :) I think that we should embrace and USE the new technology that we have available to us these days to enhance our lessons to the fullest extent. Its our job as teachers to go above and beyond the call of duty and plan engaging, meaningful, interactive, and INTERESTING lessons for our kids, so yes, we need to adapt to our times and use what we have. That also means though, that WE as teachers have to put that effort into planning those lessons and TEACHING our students, rather than letting a computer solely do the job for us.
I definitely think that as teachers, we should not act like technological dinosaurs and realize that we have to learn about things new things our students are using. It's weird being 21 years old and feeling like an old fogey but I do sometimes! I had to wait until I got to high school to get my first cell phone and now many kids leave elementary schools with one. I think we would be missing out on a huge eduacational opportunity to ignore the way our students function outside of school.
I do not, however, think that computers and other technological devices should replace the other teaching tools that have been used in the past. There should be a balance for everything to work well. Like Albrecht said in the article about "Ten-Dollar Technology", educational technology isn't just computers and software. He used a collection of dice and fold-out measuring sticks to engage students and allow them to explore a new tool that will help them learn.
Also, it engages your students to see that you, their teacher, knows how to use the same kind of technology that they do. To create this respect and excitement for the learning you can give them is probably irreplacable.
Finally, I definitely am not for the use of computers instead of textbooks. Just reading this article on the computer made my eyes go all crossed and my head hurt. Call me old fashioned but, I just can't learn as much from reading off a screen than I can reading from a book. Yes, it is exciting and different but, it just doesn't really work for me all the time. What about the kids that learn by writing? I know that is one of the main ways I study. You can always print things out I suppose but isn't that wasting as much paper as you're supposedly saving by not buying textbooks?
Reading the article, there were several good arguements for using computers as way of replacing textbooks. I think good and bad could come from this.
I think incorporating laptops into the leasons is a great idea. I would first go over the topic in the textbook though. I would go on with my lesson from the textbook and use the laptops as a way of researching some of the differences that have occured.
I do think that starting the students in a computer class early is also a good idea. I didn't have my first real computer class til eighth grade and that was because I didn't want to take shop class. High school was just a keyboarding class and then I got to college and had to do all this stuff and was lost. Students would benefit from using computers on a daily basis.
I do think that we need to be able to adapt to include more technology in the classrooms. The young students in the classrooms today were born in the era of internet, cellphons, and high def media. I do thinkg that we need to be able to incorporate as much technology into the class as possible. Studetns today understand technology and are very accepting of learning it in even more depth. I still think that the ways of the old need to be used, but why not use technology to suplement the textbook, or to teach a lesson on fractions. Transparancies are so 20th century, students today need ways to become engaged in different ways. computers. projectors, smartboards, these are all wonderful interactive technologies that I would love to be able to share with my students.
I am not so sure that I want all of my students to have PDAs, but it would be wonderful to be able to constatnly have access to a computer for every single student. I really do not want students to have cell phones in my classroom. Ther has to be a nice compromise between technology, and doing things to old way. The more ways you can present a topic to a student, the more likely they are to undersand it.
I think we should for the most part try to adapt to these technological advances in the classroom. The evidence is pretty straight forward that if the children are interested in what they are studying they will learn more. Using technology in the classroom could help the students learn and achieve more then they ever have before. Like the article stated, technology is a vital part in the students life outside of school so why shouldn't it be a part of their life in the school? We have to try as educators to keep up with technology. If we adapt and use technology on a daily basis in our classrooms, I believe that we have a greater chance to gain the attention of the students.
I for one would like to use as much technology in my classroom as possible. Using various means of technology is so much more fun than doing paperwork all day. I look forward to a time when paper and pencils are banished from the classroom. Picture this: Students take their tests online. If they miss one it tells why they missed it and provides the correct answer. Then they submit it and it goes to the teacher. She/he doesn’t have to waste the ink grading papers but she/he can still assess the students progress. I guess I am exaggerating a little bit. Kids need hands on learning and opportunities to develop their handwriting; however, I do think stepping it up in the technology department would be beneficial for both the student and teacher.
A question I've been asking myself ever since I started college as an English Education major is "How can I make kids as excited as I am about literature?" The process of reading, as I know better than anyone, is tedious when you are reading works from history, or from another country, or that do not relate to your life experiences. After reading this article, I feel like I have some new ideas that will enrich the education of students who already like reading and literature, while also pulling in those students that can't quite get into it. That is, if I continue to use some aspects of conventional teaching, but also concentrate on adding in technological elements.
I feel that the most important aspect of teaching to keep in mind is what Ryan Ritz said in the article -- "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved". I think, like most, that there has to be a balance when using technology. As a teacher, you have to consider your students and use the most developmentally appropriate practices for them. This may not mean a wide array of technology for some while it may be the only way to keep another set of students engaged. For me personally, I like Hawthorne and would have no problem reading his work straight through. But that isn't typical of students today. Bringing in the technology to help those students see the moral issues and uniqueness of authors such as Hawthorne is very important and I feel that it should be implemented where possible. I love what the teacher in the article did to help her students' understanding. Overall, I think that it goes back to us, as teachers, to have our students best interests in mind and for us to be diligent in planning and strategizing so that using technology, or not using technology, will make our students have more meaningful learning experiences.
I believe strongly in technology. Generations are changing and technology is advancing. Children growing up now are learning how to use computers long before our generations even knew how to turn one on! Laptops, handheld computers, powerful cell phones, the same inescapable computing devices frequently bemoaned as weapons of mass DISTRACTION, can now be used in an advantage to education. Teachers should have a strong role of leadership in the classroom and technology should never come to a point of taking over the teacher's role. I strongly believe that not every child learns the same in the classroom and every method of learning should be essential. Multiple choice and lecture methods may be more efficient for other children not every child may adapt well to technology. Therefore, I am a strong believer of advancing technology and allowing it to become a big part of the classroom to use it as an advantage to some children but I don't think completely taking out paper and pen methods, that has been used our entire lives is going to be a good idea. I think its hard to only agree with one answer because no one person learns the same.
I think using technology in the classroom is a great idea. I think that it supports the idea that all students learn differently. We all have different learning styles and I think that this just adds to the way that the students can access and learn the information.
I don't think that this should replace the standard teaching styles altogether. As one of the articles stated, there are cheap, inexpensive ways to make the lessons more hands on. I think that an effective teacher would be able to take both ideas and together create a great learning experience for their students.
I personally do not think it should even be thought about if computers should replace textbooks. There is already too much technology in the classrooms. I will use my 15 year old daughter as an example. She asked for my help as she studied for a math test last year. It was a distribution equation and she had to use a calculator to multiply 8 times 5. Now don't get she wrong, she is not going to work for NASA, but she has never had to learn math; all she has done is had to know how to plug it into what you folks call technology. O hell yeah it upset me and the teacher told me that is how she teaches. I will admit that there is a lot of information on the internet and I think the students should use the web to study homework if applicable. More can be learned the ole fasioned way of using a chalk board. Who do you think designed computers anyway?... it was the old people that didn't have them yet. Technology has came a long way since I was a kid, but a computer will not build you a house, unclog your toilet on a stormy night, change the flat tire on your car, or any of the finer things like that. I don't know my space from your space on these computers. If I need to talk to you, I can call you on a thing that has been around for a long time called a phone. What I am saying is that a chalk board, a piece of chalk, a pencil, and paper will always work when your technology crashes, shuts down, catches a virus, or any of that other stuff that happens to them.
If the school has the technology or is willing to buy it for you, then I am all for it. Teachers have to understand that we have grown up in a different generation that what they did twenty to lets say forty years ago. Most of our time is spent using technology, so why can they not use it in class. I feel, just like the article said, that we will have more participants if we use things that are say "cool." Using technology will make learning fun, and I believe that if we make learning fun more children will succeed.
Yes, I think we definitely need to adapt to these changes because the world is changing to this. If students are not interested in what they are learning they do not want to learn. I know I loved using technology when I was going thru school. I feel that teachers need to learn and adapt to these changes. The state of TN realized that we were being left behind in standards so we changed them, and this is what we should do with technology. I do think some things can stay the same like math, but everything else can be done on a computer. Children have grown up using all of these gadgets and if they are not in their school then they may think school isn't fun or "cool." I would love for my school to be up to date with technology when I start teaching, but with it being expensive I doubt that it will happen. I do think teachers need to take an active role it getting their school up to date with technology and be open to what the technological world has in store for us.
I agree with most of the statements made by my classmates regarding this article. It is very important for teachers to realize how important technology is in today's society. We should be more than willing to adapt and embrace these changes. Although it will cost large amounts of money to bring certain types of technology into the school systems, it will only help students get more involved and become willing to participate in the lessons. Anything to help enhance a student's ability is worth it to me!
I definitely think we need to adapt to the technological changes all around us in our world today, especially in our classrooms. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe we should completely get rid of the multiple choice/lecture method however, I feel it should be modified according to the advances that have been made in technology.
Using technology in school systems has so many more advantages than disadvantages when compared to one another. Regardless of the age, any range from 3 years to 53 years, technology, computers, and other digital devises get the individual's attention and keeps them interested. What better way to apply this than to apply it to an educational purpose. As mentioned in the article, programs such as iMovie help to express children or adult's creativity and imagination. Students are more likely to complete assignments if they are using a computer or other technological device as opposed to having to use paper, pencil, encyclopedia, etc. In my opinion, the most important thing to focus on as an educator is interesting lesson plans and activities. I feel the only effective way to really successfully teach something to someone is to keep them involved. Today, with all the advancements in technology, most everyone is familiar with computers therefore it is just practical that if will be effective.
One part of the article I found very interesting was the high school in Arizona that is going without text books. Since students can get all they need from their laptops my question was what's the point in using text books? Since our society keeps getting more and more technologically advanced, students are going to be expected to become more high tech as well so, why shouldn't we advance as our technology advances?
I definitly agree with using technology in the classroom. Too many kids get "left behind" because they are not challenged enough. Technology in the classroom would not only challenge students but allow them to explore opportunities and thier own creativity. For agriclutural students technology would be a huge plus.Things are constantly changing in the world and it is hard to keep up with those in the classroom if you do not have access to the technonogy.
I understand that there could be problems with allowing each student to have a computer, but it would teach them so much more. For example: a student interested in landscaping could create a landscapre through a program and find out if he really enjoys it. Plus using bogs with in the classroom would allow the teacher ot establish a relationship with each student and monitor progress.
In this world we cannot settle for the just the old/popular ways of teaching, but its easy to do because it is so easy to get to a certain level of technological proficiency and stay there. All my life I've been learning and it feels like I've been climbing up this mountain to become a teacher. Here I am two semesters away from graduation, and just when I think I'm almost at the top I realize I've got a lot more climbing to do. Just when I think I've mastered how to use my computer or how to use a program like powerpoint, when I think I'm the expert at something (or at least more of an expert than my parents and those who would be my students), its pointed out to me that I have fallen behind. I think that is one of the most difficult parts of integrating technology. I can look for new technology, but googling it rarely gives me what I'm really looking for.
When someone stays at that one level of technological proficiency it can be maddening to students. Think about how many teachers show videos ad nauseum in their classes! I don't want to be that teacher, I want to be the teacher who has the right balance: the balance between new and engaging technologies and using low tech methods that are more effective for certain lessons.
I think that we should definitely step up our tactics in educating our young people. There is no telling how many time we have heard from students that school is boring for them. We often think that it is because they do not like to learn but in many cases they are not challenged enough. Using technology in education could help with this. For instance having them do more research at a younger age. They know how to surf the web so you could have them looking up different subjects and find recent things that are happening around them. There is also something about computer screens that is catching to the eye. This is great for teaching kids with learning disabilities. They can be more focused on there work if it is more interesting to them. The problem now is how do we get the technology into the schools. This could be a problem because of the huge difference in funds to schools ranging from private schools to inner city schools because they are all tested on the same scale.
I thought that this article had a lot of good points, especially about the way kids' minds work. They have grown up using this technology, where I can remember a time when I didn't know how to use a computer. I definitely think that technology should be used in the classroom, and as teachers we need to constantly be looking for new and interesting ways to teach. I think we should also be aware of the new technologies and try our best to incorporate new things in the classroom. At the same time, I do think there are things that children need to experience first-hand and not digitally. Some science experiments if done electronically would leave out important experiences. I also really liked how the article talked about how with older kids the technology might be more useful, because younger kids really need the concrete actions in front of them. I really think it is all about finding a balance, because not one thing will always work.
As educators, we need to continuously learn new ideas or ways to help keep the kids interested in what we are teaching. No, we shouldn't completely rule out the old methods, but we should find new ways to incorporate the old with the new. There are so many applications and programs available for the computer or ipod. It is just expanding the knowledge our future students can obtain. I think just by having so many options available, our classrooms will be bigger learning stations than before. As the article said, "The key to teaching is keeping the kids involved." Well, what better way to keep them involved than by using games and applications on the computer to help them learn? We, the teachers, need to learn how to adapt and expand our curriculum with the growing changes of technology. One of the best examples I found in the article was using blogging to talk about books (or perhaps articles we read). It can open up new doors as an outlet for opinions without fear of backlash.
I believe we should adapt to some of these methods. I do not think the method with the school getting rid of textbooks would work as planned. Personally, certain subjects should be taught using technology. Geography, math, even a foreign language. Learning a different language while using technology is a must!
History could be fun to learn if you could use a comouter or even an iPod. Maybe students can listen to speeches or music of the time and watch videos of specific events.
It is important to also continue to use the current method of teaching without technology. Methods of teaching have improved overtime but they have been successful and students have done well with that method. So I suppose both methods could be used while teaching. Both can be used to teach and have fun in the classroom.
I think we are over due for a big change in the classroom. The teaching methods we see now have stood the test of time but the materials we use are now antiquated at best. The textbook is in my opinion a dinosaur. With the ease of use with PDFs, I think we are poised to remove the cost and upkeep of textbooks from all classrooms. We can use a simple ereader to keep and update books for students of all levels. I don’t think we should cater to short attention spans I just feel the delivery system need an overhaul. Asking questions and interacting with students will always be an important part of teaching. I feel that the room for improvement lies within the tools and avenues we use to make those interactions
Connie Strong said... I do believe teachers should use every resource available to them to help their students learn. Some subjects need many different resources to help or get students involved. Computers are great resources, but should not be the sole tool used. Not all students have the same learning style, and what ever it takes to help each student excel to achieve their best should be used.
I completely agree with the article. We are in a technological based society now. Everything we do all day every day is based around it. Kids enjoy working on comupters and would much rather be more interactive with cmoputers and learning then my lectures and books. Not to menion think about allof the trees we would be saving by not using books for every class of our entire lives!! Interaction between students are a necessity but i think that it would be a huge benefit for teachers and students if we went to more technological methods.
Our world is rapidly changing and our students are changing with it. We all thought of our own teachers as out-of-date and we will soon be thought that of our students. It is up to us to facilitate learning in our classrooms and we do that by gaining interest from our students. We have to hone in on their interests (technology) and common ways of expression if we want success. If we do not use all resources that are available to us then we are not being great teachers. We need to reach all of our learners and do it through a medium that is familiar to them. Although I have never been a tech junkie and prefer reading to video games and TV, I understand that I must change if I want my students to learn. I also think it is important not to forget some traditions in the classroom. Computers have not completely replaced paper and pen and these resources are not readily available to all. If we work hard we can surely find a balance that is beneficial to our students.
As teachers we should try to incorporate any kind of new techniques to get the information our students need to learn across to them. We all learn in different ways and the more ways we can teach the more success we will have as teachers. I believe the use of technology can be very helpful and cause students to look at things more in-depth.
Allowing access to technology will allow us to create more critical thinking short answer tests that we can expect students to answer in a class period given the use of computers for research. These type questions will make for a better basis of assesing what our students actually know as opposed to what they have just memeorized ten minutes before the test.
Technology is here to stay and the sooner we learn to make it an ally and not a foe the sooner we can grow as teachers.
We are in a technology based society now and I don't see how we wouldn't have technology in our classrooms. We can't base all of our teaching and learning from technology we also need books for those who don't have access to computers and other technology. We need to have every resource avaiable to every student. Like I said though we are in a technology base society so we have to have technology in our classroom, students will be more active in class and in the learning process if computers are available for them to use in class for tests, classwork, and just daily activities that we would like to add to our style of teaching. As the society grows with technology we should also grow using it in our classroom and be more aware of it as our students will be using.
As I was reading the article, I personally could not see how technology could NOT be included in the classroom. After having so many classes at TTU where we are given examples of how to make the classroom more interactive, I honestly cannot seeing conducting my classroom without technology. We are all so tech based that we as teachers will not be able to the connect/communicate with our students without technology. Like Brad M said, technology is here to stay. We may as well use it our advantage and allow our students to gain the best educational experience possible
Technology is a large part of today's society, with every passing moment, newer, faster and more high tech devices are being introduced. For today's student, technology plays a major role in their lives, both educationally and socially. It is almost rare to find a family that does not own a computer or ipod or DVD player or etc.. I feel that if we as teache mus keep up with the demands of society or we will be doing our students a diservice.
I feel the question to tech? or not to tech? should not up to the discresion of a teacher. As a future educator who will educate the 'future of tommorow' it is important to keep students up to date with current technology. It is important for Americans to harvest a society that is just as or more capable than other students abroad. In the coming years, an education is not only going to be about the basic, read, writing, arithmetic, but computers and computer science. Even in the current job market is unlikely to find a job if you are computer illiterate; this will only worsen with time.
I think computers have the ability to make learning fun and more interactive. I believe technology can further an education to produce super intelligent children who will grow to be capable, well educated members in society.
While I feel technology is a crucial aspect to the learning envoronment, I do feel there is much to be gained from old fashioned paper and pencil learning. The moral of this being that we should not put all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak, but teach using traditional methods while intergrating technology based lessons.
I feel that technology is very important. Technology changes so fast that it is hard to keep up with all of it, but it is very important. I thought that it was cool to read all of the things that you can do with the technology and it doesn't have to be expensive either like the last article talking about the base ten blocks, protractors and such. I think that it is important for students do do things hands on with the technology that is available because there is just going to be more and more of it around.
I do still think that the paper, pencil and book are important. Sometimes it is good to just hold something in your hand rather then looking at it on a screen. I think that it is good to have balance of this and technology.
Overall I think that it is very important for teachers to try and stay current as much as they can with the technology so they can use it to the best interest of their students and for themselves.
I think there needs to be a good combination of both technology and paper and pen methods in the classroom. Completely taking away one of these methods would be a bad idea because children learn in so many different ways. Children are being introduced to technology at such a younger age than we all did. There are smart boards and MAC's in most classrooms now. When I was going through elementary school we were lucky if we had one computer in each classroom. As I got older computers became more popular and started showing up a lot more.
If I had these technological resources available I would definitely use them in my classroom. There are a lot of cool things you can do and ways to help your students learn. Plus now that technology does play such a large role in our society you need to kind of prepare them. It is very important to stay current. Does this mean you need to completely take out paper and pen? Of course not. Both methods are beneficial and their needs to be a balance. Rachel Lewis
I beleive we need to adapt to these changes. Kids are involved in the technology age and love it. Using technology to teach just makes sense. Although, we still need to be able to lecture and do things on paper because not everyone learns the same way. Using technology just gives us a way to reach some on that level.
Tiffany Lesko I think that technology in the class can be a good thing to some degree. Learning about technology needs to be learned in the classroom but it should not replace paper and pencils and the other teaching methods. I mean it is cool and up to date knowing how to work all the new gadgets but there are kids that need more attention on learning how to become better readers and understanding subjects better like math. More hands on is what needs to happen and less multiple choice and lecture. Engage the children in activities that help them learn and want to learn more.
I agree that there needs to be technology available to students in our classrooms today. As the articles noted, today's students are accustomed to dealing with technology in most of their out-of-classroom experiences. No wonder they have a hard time paying attention and thriving when they sit still for hours on end listening to what must seem like a monotone drone (similar to Charlie Brown's teacher) in comparison to their exciting video games and Ipods.
I also agree that students must be taught basic educational skills and knowledge. The question lies in whether the educational system can accomplish the fine line necessary between basic knowledge and technological advancement.
If schools want to use technology, they need to be organized, thorough, and thoughtful. They don't need to simply throw a roomful of technology at a class and expect results. Having a school-wide plan on how to use the new software, hardware, or equipment would improve consistency between classes and grades, show the students that the school system is commited to them, and allow for struggling students and faculty to have additional resources to rely on for assistance.
I have seen and taught in classrooms both with and without technology. When used properly and with a purpose, there is no doubt the difference in the faces, expressions, and interest level of the students when they have an opportunity to use technology to learn! I would not recommend completely removing texts, pen, and paper as I feel people need to have certain skills in communication beyond technology. I would definitely support the maximum amount of technology that could be reasonably used in any school system. As Ryan Ritz stated in "Synching Up With The iKid", "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved." I think they would tend to be more involved if they had the chance to use technology at least now and then!
I think technology has its rightful place in the classroom. Kids respond to technology, and they love their gadgets and gizmos. Using technology in the classroom can keep their attention and capture there interests. The world as whole is becoming more and more technologically advanced. We must incorporate this into the classroom to give exposure to our students, especially the ones who may not have the technology at home because their parents can't afford it. The danger comes when teachers rely on computer generated instruction to run their classrooms. The purpose of technology is to be a supplement to class instruction. I also think it is a teacher's job to teach kids how to work and function without technology. I like the portion of the article dealing with calculators. Students need to know how to think critically. Feeding numbers and formulas in to a calculator does not achieve this, but omitting some numbers from the calculator and coming up with 2,321 (or whatever the number was) does take some consideration. My point is, yes technology needs to be incorporated in the classroom, but only if it is done correctly.
I for one, not very technologically advanced. I do feel that teachers/schools need to brush up on their technology. Although, I am not a fan of high tech, I still need to learn more technology for my students. In the article it mentions that kids learn better through computers/internet/advanced technology because that is what their generation is all about- technology. Although, it seems that every year there is something different with technology and as adults it is hard to keep up with it and even harder to learn how to adapt, but you have to keep up with your students and how they learn better with the new technology. I feel that computers/internet is not a good thing to have in an elementary setting. I feel you need traditional learning with books, paper, and pencil. If there were just laptops everywhere, how could a kid be able to learn to write if they are just typing all day? I agreed with the article to have laptops at a junior high school and up, nothing lower than that setting. With this article, I learned that kids learn better with the internet instead of a standard book. As much as I hate it, I know when I have my classroom, I am going to have to suck it up and just learn the technology my students know to keep them interested in my classroom!!!!!
I believe that it would be (for the lack of a better word) stupid to not use technology in the classroom. Technology is what gets stundents interested and keeps them interested outside of school so why would you not use it in school? I do not believe in using technology to replace teachers getting up and actual teaching it should be used as a helping tool to make what the teacher is saying easier to understand or more engaging.
At first I did not think that I would like having digital books instead of a paper book but the more I think about it the better it sounds. It would help my back out a lot and it would make it so much easier to find topics you were discussing and it would save trees.
There are many, many, many ways to use technology to make our lives better so why would we pass on the chance?
I agree with the article and with some of the other comments. I can't imagine how I'd run my classroom without technology. Technology helps interaction and understanding in so many ways that it almost seems foolish to not use it. I understand that many are worried about kids not getting basic requirements like reading and writing but I don't believe this should be the main worry. With all of the technology it is much easier for the students to cheat but I think that's a risk that the teacher has to be willing to take. This also shows trust to the students, which trust between a student and the teacher is crucial. Overall, I would say that we should adapt and regularly allow technology throughout the classroom.
I personally do not think that we should adapt to these changes. There were some good and bad points in this article. I think technology is important but not so important that we need to replace our textbooks with it. I know for me I am not technologically advanced in a lot but children should be and I should be too. Pornography and other things on the internet are too tempting for children especially teenagers. Also, it would be easier for the students too cheat. I am not totally against technology I just don't agree with some of the things in this article. If schools use technology they should be organized about it. I as a future teacher would be willing to learn more about technology and use it in my classroom but not all the time. I do like educational technology games for children such as leapfrog or books. I believe that children benefit from this but not to do certain schoolwork. Hands on activities are more important than computers because I feel like the students benefit from this better. I think technology should be used but to an extent. Kate Burroughs
I do not think just the standard multiple choice/lecture methods will work with the generations to come. I agree that we should introduce and use technology in the classroom. The possibilities with technology these days are pretty much endless and technology provides so many wonderful resources that we as teachers just cannot bring into the classroom with pen and paper. Kids these days need to be challenged in their curriculum and I just don't feel as though the old methods do that anymore. I have mixed feelings about doing away with textbooks. I think a labtop for every child would be very nice, but is that really realistic? If you have to buy your own some children are just not going to be able to afford that. I don't see the school systems paying out all that money to pay for every child to have a labtop. I also have mixed feelings about this because there are just some things that need to be done on paper. Certain math problems, children's drawings, and the process of writing. Children are always going to have to write and if we completely do away with the whole pencil and paper method imagine trying to read something a child has written. We as teachers need to keep up with the times and use what resources we have available to us, but should keep in mind the strategies some of our "great teachers" in the past have used. We can always take those strategies and spice them up with a little technology.
Technology is seen more and more in classrooms today. I am for having technology in the classroom but to an extent. Homework assignments might be beneficial if posted online since students spend much of their time in cyber space. Journal entries could also be typed up instead of written down in a spiral notebook. I tend to write more when typing than when writing because it's quicker and my thoughts flow faster. Things like reading novels and doing math homework and even the traditional subjects should be kept in the non-technological form. Current event assignments and projects on the other hand might benefit better with technology. Either way, I believe that technology should be implemented in some classrooms but to a definite extent.
I believe that technology is a must in today's classrooms! This generation of children do not know of a time without computers, ipods, and cell phones. I have a kindergartener at home and he absolutely loves the Smartboard in his classroom. He thinks its "cool"! Technology such as Smartboards get the children more involved in their learning experience. However, I do not believe that we should do away with textbooks. There is just something about reading out of a book that is special. My eyes get crossed just sitting here reading these blogs. So, a electronic textbook may not be the best idea. "Old school" teaching and "modern" teaching methods should be mixed to get the best educational environments out there!
Carla Konik say... I really enjoyed reading this article. I am not a very techonolgical person, so it take me some time to work my way around the computer, but I believe that if I had been exposed to technology within the classroom as a learning technique then I might be better at it. I think that technology can really help facilitate learning with students especially this day in age. I mean a seventeen year believed in it so much that he proved that you could increase grade point averages by using technology. I think that as teachers we should welcome technology in the classroom.
Michael Whitehead says..... In reading this article, I agree and disagree with some of the uses of technology in the modern classroom. I do believe that technology is a very important component in the modern classroom, since most children as the article states have ipods, cell phones, laptops etc. And I also agree that in order for the children of The United States to compete in the modern world, technology should be a main part of a child's education. On the other hand I disagree with Technology being the center of attention in the classroom as well, with all advances something must be paid in return. As stated in the article almost all children beween the ages of 8 and 18 have have an ipod or a computer or some other piece of technology, but we also have one of the highest percentages of obese children, no more physical activities just sitting in a room or sitting in a chair looking at a screen or a smart board. Dont get me wrong, I do believe that Technology is so VERY important, I just dont believe that we should forget the past ways of studying and learning. Many great men and women who contributed to Modern Technology started out in a classroom with just a chalkboard and a book.
As i was reading this article, one sentence in particular really stood out to me. "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved." I love this quote because it is so true. If we just stand behind our desk and lecture from a textbook all day the kids will totally tune us out. The key to getting children to learn is engaging them in the material. In todays society this mean integrating technology. "Kids are bombarded by media," stated in the article is something to really think about. For example, students are going to find it more fun to blog about a topic rather than write a journal entry which they will half do. As teachers, we have to constantly be finding ways to engage our students and this means keeping up with everyday technology. I strongly believe that technology in the classroom is an amazing tool for teaching.
I agree with teaching students with the most up-to-date technology that schools can provide. Technology will continue to expand and so will jobs that use technology. The best example is computers in the classroom. In middle school we didn't have computers in most classrooms, nor were they accessible in the library. I think technology is also good for holding kids attention for a longer time than reading from a book. However, i do not think technology should be the main "teacher" in the classroom. I believe the teacher should still be very effective and use technology to help teach. I do not think an effective way to teach a student is to be isolated at a computer watching a video. I believe a teacher should be more involved. Over all, technology has to be apart of learning in the classroom.
I do believe we need to adapt our way of teaching to the new influx of technology. Children don't learn the traditional way anymore. There are so many distractions that can't be controlled: cell phones, pda's, laptops, ipods. With children learning how to run a computer before they enter kindergarten there is no way we can not adapt our teaching strategies. Children are tech savy, more than most adults, they learn through a computer, not a book. My niece is three years old and can operate a DVD player and her brother's Wii with almost flawless ease. One thing i don't agree with is allowing laptops to replace textbooks. No matter how easy it would be to sit a child at a computer to learn it shouldn't be done. When you use a computer you're isolated to a certain extent and it makes the teacher have to work harder to gain a child's attention. So, while I believe technology is a great tool that we should utilize to help our children learn to their best capability, we should not forget the "old" methods. Children are adaptable, moldable and we should teach them accordingly. They get enough T.V., internet, and gaming at home; while their at school it should be given out in small doses and moderated.
I guess you could say I am a little old fashioned. I am a paper and pencil guy. I like using computers myself, but I don't like to use them in a classroom. This doesn't mean that I will not use computers or technology in my own classroom though. I do plan on using different forms of technology, because I do realize the world we live in today. Kids are like drones now. They see things through tunnel vision. For goodness sake you can't even talk to people that are from ages 10 to 25 anymore. Half of my friends do nothing but text and unless you are texting them then you are wasting your time trying to talk to them. They don't listen to who is speaking to them and I feel like this is what today's youth is like as well. I just need ways to help communicate to our youth effectively, because I am not sure that I can use technology in the classroom effectively without some help and guidance.
I think that we as teachers should in fact use technology in our classroom every chance we get. The new generation of learners know more about computers and cell phones than any other and it is because they have been taught from the beginning about these devices.
In a classroom were we as teachers want to be engaging we need to use the things that will intrest the learner and that is technology. I liked the idea about the laptops but I think that with the children we will need to monitor and really have rules when using laptops.
I enjoy technology and I love learning new things so I think my classrooom will be full of new technology.
I believe that schools should incorporate technology in their cirriculum. Most kids now days are very proficiant with computers. I definitely think that if you do use computers at your school there should be crash courses on the basics still because some students live in less fortunate homes so they have not grown up with technology. I work at an after school program and most of the time when there's a technocal problem with computers or a game they are the one's to fix it with supervision. I think kids would benefit from using computers in schools and learn more effectively in the long run. This world is turning into a technological world, most places are already there. For kids to start working with computers at an earlier age would be a great asset to them for when they are in the work force. Along with utilizing computers in school i still think we should utilize the old method too. All kids learn differently so some might not so as well with technology therefore they should have the opportunity to use books whenever they can.
Much like most of my peers here, I completely agree that we must incorporate technology in our classrooms. I can not be surprised when I read that this new generation is called the MEdia generation. This concept even involving myself rings true.
I am a little concerned at the the alarming rate of our attention span in this face-paced driven world. In a utopian educational setting I would see technology assist in painting a picture of an idea rather driving the entire force.
Nevertheless, there is no denying that we must act to reach our students. I can still remember technology used in the classroom from middle school. I can attest to the face that it grabs any attention. I suppose I must wonder what is next for the learner when technology of this sort becomes ancient to them as well? Perhaps that is beyond our time though.
While I was reading the article, I found myself thinking, "Wow, Iwish we had stuff like this when I was in middle school and stuff like that." I firmly believe that the more we embrace the way that the minds of students work now, the quicker we can figure out effective ways to reach them. Personally, I get bored if I only have one media outlet going on a once. (Speaking of which, as I read the article and type this response, I am listening to music while also following a basketball game on television. Call me sterotypical i guess.) I know that I am not the only person who does this same kind of thing, and I know what the article was talking about when it talked about kids getting bored while in classrooms where they were talked at and lectured at and not encouraged to use more brain capacity and use their imagination. When we allow ourselves to cater to the students instead of catering to teachers, I believe we will see an increase in student productivity.
Yes. I believe adapted to these changes is a perfect way to capture the interests of students while keeping teachers up to date with new technology. Our culture is changing, and the only way we has a society can keep up is to change with it. Students do not respond to the old fashion multiple choice/lecture methods like they have before. Newer, more fun things are happening and as a teacher you have to be "on your toes."
Coming from the student's perspective, I enjoy technology in the classroom. If a teacher or professor I have just stands in front of me and starts to lecture my mind wonders. I daydream, I get bored, and I lose my train of thought. There are so many ways a teacher/professor can make things new and exciting in the classroom.
Now, from a future teacher's perspective, technology will be my best friend. Not only does tech in the classroom makes things easier but things get done so much quicker! Teachers know they have to compete with technology in the classroom. Why should we as teachers reject the unfamiliar? Why not embrace it? Show our students that we can keep up with the new tech too! Students respond in positive ways when they know they're in a familiar environment with teachers they can relate too.
As a student and a future teacher I will embrace technology.
Yes I think schools and education in general need to keep up with the times around us. Don't get me wrong, lecturing and giving mc tests are still my method of choice and a good source of feed back on students knowledge but integration is important in this day and age. Students need to be able to operate and utilize the things around them. Not to mention it helps most the kids in this generation learn better.
I had the same opinion as Tyler while reading this article: the "Wow wish we had that kind of stuff when I was in school." The only technology I remember teachers incorporating into their classroom was the use of PowerPoint to display lecture notes. When you stop and consider this compared to all the technology that is available now, it isn't really anything impressive. Nor does it really interact with the students like other programs could.
I agree that technology in the classroom should be embraced! As a future teacher I welcome the challenge of becoming acquainted with new technologies so I can not only keep up with my students but also be able to make learning more interesting for them. However I also don't see the harm in a litte traditional book work or research. I believe that reading is power; which makes books powerful objects for learning. I think the best classroom to have would be one that is able to incorporate traditional and new age learning techniques. Everyone would benefit the most from it!
I personally feel that schools are now becoming far too technology-oriented. Sure, technology is convenient and helpful and makes many things easier but is it really in the best interest for the students? Many children grow up typing now rather than writing. If we continue on like this, students won't have a need for pen and paper at all. All work will be done on computers and I'm not sure that is such a great thing. Students have also become a bit lazy when it comes to education. They only show interest when a subject is presented in the form of media but are likely to frown upon opening a book. I feel that letting technology take over our standards will lessen our students' educations and potential for the future. I feel very thankful that I grew up in a time when it was stressed for us to write in journals and not blogs and to read books and not websites. Often times, when technology is used in the classroom the teacher takes a back seat and the computer becomes the teacher. What is the point in going through college and getting your degree if you are going to let this happen in your classroom? I do realize, though, that technology is becoming a huge part of our world so it is absolutely necessary for students to become associated and comfortable with it so that they may utilize it with ease in real-life situations and with their future jobs. Most jobs today involve use with some form of technology - almost all of them, actually!
Please don't get the idea that I am anti-technology! I think it is very helpful, fun, and useful at times - but not all the time. I definitely don't feel it should take over our traditional classroom atmosphere. There should be a balance in the classroom so that students may be educated in a variety of ways and that students of different backgrounds may succeed.
I believe classroom instruction needs to have balance. Teachers need to find ways to engage students, whether through technology or other interactive means. Technology is a great thing for students and teachers, but I do not think it should be the only method for educating students. I do think technology should be used to engage older students because it has become such a major part of their everyday lives.
I am not to familiar with technology in the classroom and I have been going to a technological university for 3 years.I have heard talk about the smartboards and using iPods for class instruction, but I have yet to see it. If I knew more about the newer types of technology available I might have a different opinion about its use in the classroom.
It seems we can all agree that balance is key in the classroom. I imagine we can also all agree that learning is key to the classroom. This learning can address many needs. Everything from how to properly label a tree, diagram a sentence, speak, and use the technology that is important to the student. Teaching is not about what the "teacher" wants. It is about invoking in students a desire to grow while equipping them with the tools necessary. Sometimes that is going to mean giving up the central locus to students, and sometimes it will mean using it to inform. I think that technology in the classroom should be embraced in order to meet the needs of students, without allowing it to become a dictator of what happens in your class. I liked the section where Mizuko Ito said that it could not be a greater distraction than our own minds (or in my case, a piece of paper). So do use technology! There's no excuse for ignoring the potential to help students, or it's key role in their lives. Do not depend on technology. Technology is a tool, not a teacher.
I hope to become a high school English teacher and my students will need to be able to do research using a computer and use it to type up their assignments. Without technology in the class room, students will be unprepared for college or whatever they may do after high school. I agree with most of my class mates answers about balance in the class room. I would hope that most of my students would have already learned how to hand write a paper before they came to my class to type one up. I would also agree with this article in that I think that being completely up to date with technology in the class room is a problem because of the high cost of funding for such items as new technology and also because new technology is constantly changing.
Laura Mullican I definately think technology should be incorporated into the classroom. Students retain more information when the material is relavent and technology is something most students are well versed in. By incorporating technology into the lesson, students see it as more of a fun thing to learn rather than work. I also believe giving students a background in technology early in their education will help them succeed later in life because almost everything now has been touched some way by technology. However, accommodations must be made for those who do not have internet or computer access at home. Meaning, homework will need to be mostly finished in class; also meaning more classtime will need to be devoted to independent work which is something not all teachers have. So, technology in the classroom is something that is happening and should be happening (in my opinion). However, balancing the time to teach students to operate the technology and making accommodations for those students who do not have outside the classroom resources with time devoted to the actual lesson will be the hard part.
I think that technology can be a useful tool in teaching children of all ages. I think that technology can be a very engaging way to involve students in learning. I feel that learning can be made fun, exciting, and adventurous through the use of technology. I think that incorporating technology into our lessons here and there throughout the day, can be a great way to get the children to refocus and gain their interest. Despite all this, I don't think that our teaching instruction should rely solely upon technology. I think that the standard methods to teaching should be used and can be made just as fun and engaging.
I have somewhat of mixed feelings about this certain topic. Using software such as DyKnow Vision I feel is a great way to engage students and keep their attention. But there is another side of me that does not want to promote this strictly electronic devices, Media Generation. If this trend continues what happens when books are no longer used? I feel that would be a very sad day. To encourage our children to feel no excitement by holding a classic book in their hands as opposed to a digital reader. Do not get me wrong I do not think that technological advances are the root of all evil, but I do feel that going strictly mainstream and all media would be a mistake. If we continue to promote this technological society kids will no longer know how to be kids because all they will want to do is stay on their PC's, Ipods, digital readers, etc. I think part of engaging students is variety, so I feel that a little bit of all is better than all of one.
I think that as teachers we are going to have to adapt to some extent. If we don't, I believe that we will loose our audience to teach. Even though I believe we should adapt, I also believe that there is a certain point that we should stop. Some types of learning will never stop being a good way to receive and learn information, such as books. I also believe that at some point kids need to be kids and drop all the electronics and be able to communicate to someone face to face. We need to remember to teach with the technology and use it to our advantage, but not to the point that all other communication skills are lost. When we reach that point, there will be no reason for teachers. All children will need will be electronic devices to tell the children information and completely cut out the people element.
I beleive that integrating technology in the classroom is very important because like this article mentioned we are living in the "media" generation. It seems technology is consuming our children's personal lives so why can it not consume the classroom? Like this article mentioned, children pay attention to technology more than books. This is why I think that technology should be integrated because it keeps the students' attention but more importantly helps them learn. Although this article seems to support technology should replace books, I do not beleive this. Books are the backbone of learning, and they should never be took out of the classroom. I beleive that books should be first and technology should be second in the teaching world.
I feel that technology should be a part of education. Educators can make technology a useful tool in the classroom to keep students engaged and interested. The world is becoming a technological place, and if the educational realm doesn't keep up, the only other option is to fall behind. I feel that sometimes we are afraid of the technology; however, if we can find ways to adapt it into our curriculum I feel that our students will benefit. I believe if we try to use these new tools to stream the information to our students, we will see an improvment in learning.
Teachers are invaluable in any classroom setting, but he/she is slowing sharing this privilege with all the new advances in technology. As educators, our classrooms are constantly evolving from year to year and even day to day, and its important for us to meet the needs of the next generation student. If laptops, through media sharing and quick feedback, make a classroom easier to manage, more intriguing to students, and more enjoyable for teachers, then why not have this technology available for all classrooms. Honestly, if budgeting wasn't an issue for alot of school systems, we'd see an even bigger innovation of technology in the classroom, because it has proven to be a beneficial tool in cognitive development.
Sarah Nix says... I agree with a lot with my classmates. I think that technology is a very important part of our society these days and should be incorporated in the classroom. However, I don't think that we should completely abandon the standard multiple choice/lecture ways of teaching either. Technology is not perfect and there are pieces of technology that break down or don't work correctly when you need them to. Those are the days that our standard way of teaching comes into play.
This is a question that has a yes and no answer. I believe that we need to adapt for the current generation to be able to fit their needs and what they are increasingly becoming familiar with. However, it also crucial that we keep the standard in testing. Multiple choice reflects many areas of life and the professional world in which you have to make an educated guess or make the best decision on the spot. Technology has many benefits, but it can be abused in taking short cuts. Standard teaching needs to extend to the practice of technology as a joint way of presenting information. Personally, I think short answer questions with hypothetical situations that relate to technology, its use, and classroom material should be developed as a learning method.
I think that the way we communicate (Facebook, Twitter, BBM), learn (Wikipedia, google) and buy (amazon) has drastically changed thanks to technology. So we should accept that the way we, as parents and educators, should adjust our teaching styles in order to incorporate technology. Our children have grown up with technology and will be applying to jobs that require an understanding of technology so we must prepare them accordingly. There is a great webinar on my website entitled "Digital Learners - are students tuning out in class?" Check it out under 'Interesting Articles.' http://www.teacherstogoinc.com/
Paper and pencil learning is becoming outdated as technology advances. Personally, I learn better using software available on most PCs and Macs. I can be more creative and appreciate my work. I use software as my main teaching tool when I am presenting a lesson. I feel that students growing up in this time benefit from technology for the same reasons as I do. Young students still need to learn with paper and pencil, but they need a solid grasp on more technical and visual ways to learn. Technology is meant to make things easier for us and to supplement educational strategies. I think that in the not-so-distant future, technology will be the main teaching tool. Also, technology will cut down on paper usage and other expenses that schools have.
I have mixed feelings about this topic. I feel as if I learn better with technology and other students may be the same as me. I definitely believe students should know how to use the technology because it is definitely taking over, but I also feel as if paper and pencils are important as well.
I believe technology is good in moderation. I do not agree with the article on taking textbooks out of the classroom. I think students need to be able to touch the text, write in the margins and flip back and forth through the pages. Yes you can do a lot of these things on a Kindle or Ipad but it is just not the same. I think that technology should only be used after the initial instruction. For example calculators should only be used in the math classroom after the students can do the calculations by hand.
Martin Tomas said.. I believe that technology is useful if used correctly. For example, if students from Pre-K starts using computer, the ability of creative thinking would be lost since computers have already integrated software. However, if students use a paper and crayons their creative thinking is limitless, they can draw whatever they fantasize. In the other hand, computers and other gadgets are useful in the high school level. They can be used to create, and explain some subjects that needs deeper explanations; for example, using a computer to show the anatomy of the body in a complex way. The computers are good, but if we use them all the time, we certainly lose the ability of using creativity. For example, when students study for a test, it will be easier to go online and look up the work than to use a dictionary or book to actually understand the subject. But the way we are going, we will eventually become robots lol.
Yes and no. I do agree that there needs to be more use of technology in the classroom, but I do not think that all learning in the classroom should come from technology. I believe we should use technology to our advantage, but we do not need to abuse it. After awhile the children will start to abuse it. They will use technology to their advantage to find answers that normally they wouldn't have access to. Being in college the use of technology is very high. In most of my classes all of the homework, quizzes, and test are through technology. In some ways I love it, but in ways I hate it. I do not like doing math work on the computer because I believe math is meant to be done with notebook paper and a pencil. If classroom teachers can find a happy medium between the use of technology and the use of paper and pencils I believe test scores will skyrocket.
As educators, if we consciously choose to NOT adapt to the social context (which includes technology), then we choose to shortchange our students and ourselves of a full education. My own admission: I love books. I love that oft-mentioned and highly cliched "new book smell." I like highlighting, dog-earing, and underlining text. I need to have a text in my hands and physically interact with it in order to fully intellectually interact with it. I will be an English teacher. It's going to take a whole lot of effort for me to integrate technology in my classroom, because in my heart I believe a book on its own is more than enough to incite passion and thought. But, quite frankly, the vehicle used to spark passion and thought matters far less to me than the thought itself. So if it takes iPads, iPods, computers, Smartboards, clickers, laptops, PowerPoints, Keynotes - I don't care - I'll do and use whatever it takes to be effective. And if I can use technology to prove to kids that a book is more than enough for some entertainment, then I'm all for it. I think the trick here is to use the very things that we think are "distractors" to our benefit - just as we'd encourage a very active kid to play sports and develop her athletic ability, so should we use the technology kids enjoy to their and our benefit.
I think we definitely need to integrate technology into the classroom. We already know it attracts their attention. So why not use that attraction for educational purposes. They still need to have books and stuff but incorporating different gadgets into the lessons would be a good thing.
Yes. As teachers we need to be able to turn with the tide. As technology grows and becomes more widely used, teachers need to try and embrace it with open arms and use it in their lessons. Children, in my opinion, find it more exciting and interesting to use gadgets, and computers with cool software and interactive activities. I believe they will be more involved in school lessons and learn better. I dont, however, believe we should do away with ALL traditional methods of teaching. After all, its worked for this long. And the old school type of teacher, will probably always use the traditional way of teaching. But our kids are learning this technology as the world evolves, and I think those certain kids that weren't able to embrace school, may have a chance to stay interested and involved.
I believe a balance is key when integrating technology in the classroom. I think that some technology can be a huge advantage for students in today's world. Without any technology students will be far behind there counterparts from other schools where technology is used. On the other hand I think technology shouldn't be over-used. When students stop being able to do simple math because they rely so heavily on a calculator I think technology is now hurting them. Overall technology in the classroom is good teachers just need to know when technology needs to stop and when their teaching needs to start.
Okay... So, I am kind of on the fence here. As a teacher, I like to have the textbook in front of me so that I can jot down notes and ideas. However, as a student in todays world, Technology is key. We are advancing rapidly and I think it's important to be up to date. If I were in administration, I think that having ipads instead of books, would be nice, in the long run because it would turn out to be cheaper and the students would never have to worry about not having their text.
Yes and no. I do think that we need to adapt to the coming generation where technology plays a huge part in everything we do, and I don't necessarily agree with the "multiple choice/lecture" approach, but I do think that teachers should still hold the most important role in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting the comparison the article made between American students and Japanese students, basically saying that the Japanese are better students because they put more emphasis on examining problems, analyzing, and discussing/debating with their teachers, rather than dealing with PDA's and laptops.
Personally, I think that there can be a harmonious mix of the two in the classroom. :) I think that we should embrace and USE the new technology that we have available to us these days to enhance our lessons to the fullest extent. Its our job as teachers to go above and beyond the call of duty and plan engaging, meaningful, interactive, and INTERESTING lessons for our kids, so yes, we need to adapt to our times and use what we have. That also means though, that WE as teachers have to put that effort into planning those lessons and TEACHING our students, rather than letting a computer solely do the job for us.
I definitely think that as teachers, we should not act like technological dinosaurs and realize that we have to learn about things new things our students are using. It's weird being 21 years old and feeling like an old fogey but I do sometimes! I had to wait until I got to high school to get my first cell phone and now many kids leave elementary schools with one. I think we would be missing out on a huge eduacational opportunity to ignore the way our students function outside of school.
ReplyDeleteI do not, however, think that computers and other technological devices should replace the other teaching tools that have been used in the past. There should be a balance for everything to work well. Like Albrecht said in the article about "Ten-Dollar Technology", educational technology isn't just computers and software. He used a collection of dice and fold-out measuring sticks to engage students and allow them to explore a new tool that will help them learn.
Also, it engages your students to see that you, their teacher, knows how to use the same kind of technology that they do. To create this respect and excitement for the learning you can give them is probably irreplacable.
Finally, I definitely am not for the use of computers instead of textbooks. Just reading this article on the computer made my eyes go all crossed and my head hurt. Call me old fashioned but, I just can't learn as much from reading off a screen than I can reading from a book. Yes, it is exciting and different but, it just doesn't really work for me all the time. What about the kids that learn by writing? I know that is one of the main ways I study. You can always print things out I suppose but isn't that wasting as much paper as you're supposedly saving by not buying textbooks?
Reading the article, there were several good arguements for using computers as way of replacing textbooks. I think good and bad could come from this.
ReplyDeleteI think incorporating laptops into the leasons is a great idea. I would first go over the topic in the textbook though. I would go on with my lesson from the textbook and use the laptops as a way of researching some of the differences that have occured.
I do think that starting the students in a computer class early is also a good idea. I didn't have my first real computer class til eighth grade and that was because I didn't want to take shop class. High school was just a keyboarding class and then I got to college and had to do all this stuff and was lost. Students would benefit from using computers on a daily basis.
I do think that we need to be able to adapt to include more technology in the classrooms. The young students in the classrooms today were born in the era of internet, cellphons, and high def media. I do thinkg that we need to be able to incorporate as much technology into the class as possible. Studetns today understand technology and are very accepting of learning it in even more depth. I still think that the ways of the old need to be used, but why not use technology to suplement the textbook, or to teach a lesson on fractions. Transparancies are so 20th century, students today need ways to become engaged in different ways. computers. projectors, smartboards, these are all wonderful interactive technologies that I would love to be able to share with my students.
ReplyDeleteI am not so sure that I want all of my students to have PDAs, but it would be wonderful to be able to constatnly have access to a computer for every single student. I really do not want students to have cell phones in my classroom. Ther has to be a nice compromise between technology, and doing things to old way. The more ways you can present a topic to a student, the more likely they are to undersand it.
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ReplyDeleteI think we should for the most part try to adapt to these technological advances in the classroom. The evidence is pretty straight forward that if the children are interested in what they are studying they will learn more. Using technology in the classroom could help the students learn and achieve more then they ever have before. Like the article stated, technology is a vital part in the students life outside of school so why shouldn't it be a part of their life in the school? We have to try as educators to keep up with technology. If we adapt and use technology on a daily basis in our classrooms, I believe that we have a greater chance to gain the attention of the students.
ReplyDeleteI for one would like to use as much technology in my classroom as possible. Using various means of technology is so much more fun than doing paperwork all day. I look forward to a time when paper and pencils are banished from the classroom. Picture this: Students take their tests online. If they miss one it tells why they missed it and provides the correct answer. Then they submit it and it goes to the teacher. She/he doesn’t have to waste the ink grading papers but she/he can still assess the students progress. I guess I am exaggerating a little bit. Kids need hands on learning and opportunities to develop their handwriting; however, I do think stepping it up in the technology department would be beneficial for both the student and teacher.
ReplyDeleteA question I've been asking myself ever since I started college as an English Education major is "How can I make kids as excited as I am about literature?" The process of reading, as I know better than anyone, is tedious when you are reading works from history, or from another country, or that do not relate to your life experiences. After reading this article, I feel like I have some new ideas that will enrich the education of students who already like reading and literature, while also pulling in those students that can't quite get into it. That is, if I continue to use some aspects of conventional teaching, but also concentrate on adding in technological elements.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the most important aspect of teaching to keep in mind is what Ryan Ritz said in the article -- "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved". I think, like most, that there has to be a balance when using technology. As a teacher, you have to consider your students and use the most developmentally appropriate practices for them. This may not mean a wide array of technology for some while it may be the only way to keep another set of students engaged.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, I like Hawthorne and would have no problem reading his work straight through. But that isn't typical of students today. Bringing in the technology to help those students see the moral issues and uniqueness of authors such as Hawthorne is very important and I feel that it should be implemented where possible. I love what the teacher in the article did to help her students' understanding.
Overall, I think that it goes back to us, as teachers, to have our students best interests in mind and for us to be diligent in planning and strategizing so that using technology, or not using technology, will make our students have more meaningful learning experiences.
I believe strongly in technology. Generations are changing and technology is advancing. Children growing up now are learning how to use computers long before our generations even knew how to turn one on!
ReplyDeleteLaptops, handheld computers, powerful cell phones, the same inescapable computing devices frequently bemoaned as weapons of mass DISTRACTION, can now be used in an advantage to education. Teachers should have a strong role of leadership in the classroom and technology should never come to a point of taking over the teacher's role. I strongly believe that not every child learns the same in the classroom and every method of learning should be essential. Multiple choice and lecture methods may be more efficient for other children not every child may adapt well to technology.
Therefore, I am a strong believer of advancing technology and allowing it to become a big part of the classroom to use it as an advantage to some children but I don't think completely taking out paper and pen methods, that has been used our entire lives is going to be a good idea. I think its hard to only agree with one answer because no one person learns the same.
I think using technology in the classroom is a great idea. I think that it supports the idea that all students learn differently. We all have different learning styles and I think that this just adds to the way that the students can access and learn the information.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that this should replace the standard teaching styles altogether. As one of the articles stated, there are cheap, inexpensive ways to make the lessons more hands on. I think that an effective teacher would be able to take both ideas and together create a great learning experience for their students.
I personally do not think it should even be thought about if computers should replace textbooks. There is already too much technology in the classrooms. I will use my 15 year old daughter as an example. She asked for my help as she studied for a math test last year. It was a distribution equation and she had to use a calculator to multiply 8 times 5. Now don't get she wrong, she is not going to work for NASA, but she has never had to learn math; all she has done is had to know how to plug it into what you folks call technology. O hell yeah it upset me and the teacher told me that is how she teaches.
ReplyDeleteI will admit that there is a lot of information on the internet and I think the students should use the web to study homework if applicable.
More can be learned the ole fasioned way of using a chalk board. Who do you think designed computers anyway?... it was the old people that didn't have them yet.
Technology has came a long way since I was a kid, but a computer will not build you a house, unclog your toilet on a stormy night, change the flat tire on your car, or any of the finer things like that.
I don't know my space from your space on these computers. If I need to talk to you, I can call you on a thing that has been around for a long time called a phone.
What I am saying is that a chalk board, a piece of chalk, a pencil, and paper will always work when your technology crashes, shuts down, catches a virus, or any of that other stuff that happens to them.
If the school has the technology or is willing to buy it for you, then I am all for it. Teachers have to understand that we have grown up in a different generation that what they did twenty to lets say forty years ago. Most of our time is spent using technology, so why can they not use it in class. I feel, just like the article said, that we will have more participants if we use things that are say "cool." Using technology will make learning fun, and I believe that if we make learning fun more children will succeed.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think we definitely need to adapt to these changes because the world is changing to this. If students are not interested in what they are learning they do not want to learn. I know I loved using technology when I was going thru school. I feel that teachers need to learn and adapt to these changes. The state of TN realized that we were being left behind in standards so we changed them, and this is what we should do with technology. I do think some things can stay the same like math, but everything else can be done on a computer. Children have grown up using all of these gadgets and if they are not in their school then they may think school isn't fun or "cool." I would love for my school to be up to date with technology when I start teaching, but with it being expensive I doubt that it will happen. I do think teachers need to take an active role it getting their school up to date with technology and be open to what the technological world has in store for us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the statements made by my classmates regarding this article. It is very important for teachers to realize how important technology is in today's society. We should be more than willing to adapt and embrace these changes. Although it will cost large amounts of money to bring certain types of technology into the school systems, it will only help students get more involved and become willing to participate in the lessons. Anything to help enhance a student's ability is worth it to me!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think we need to adapt to the technological changes all around us in our world today, especially in our classrooms. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe we should completely get rid of the multiple choice/lecture method however, I feel it should be modified according to the advances that have been made in technology.
ReplyDeleteUsing technology in school systems has so many more advantages than disadvantages when compared to one another. Regardless of the age, any range from 3 years to 53 years, technology, computers, and other digital devises get the individual's attention and keeps them interested. What better way to apply this than to apply it to an educational purpose. As mentioned in the article, programs such as iMovie help to express children or adult's creativity and imagination. Students are more likely to complete assignments if they are using a computer or other technological device as opposed to having to use paper, pencil, encyclopedia, etc. In my opinion, the most important thing to focus on as an educator is interesting lesson plans and activities. I feel the only effective way to really successfully teach something to someone is to keep them involved. Today, with all the advancements in technology, most everyone is familiar with computers therefore it is just practical that if will be effective.
One part of the article I found very interesting was the high school in Arizona that is going without text books. Since students can get all they need from their laptops my question was what's the point in using text books? Since our society keeps getting more and more technologically advanced, students are going to be expected to become more high tech as well so, why shouldn't we advance as our technology advances?
I definitly agree with using technology in the classroom. Too many kids get "left behind" because they are not challenged enough. Technology in the classroom would not only challenge students but allow them to explore opportunities and thier own creativity. For agriclutural students technology would be a huge plus.Things are constantly changing in the world and it is hard to keep up with those in the classroom if you do not have access to the technonogy.
ReplyDeleteI understand that there could be problems with allowing each student to have a computer, but it would teach them so much more. For example: a student interested in landscaping could create a landscapre through a program and find out if he really enjoys it. Plus using bogs with in the classroom would allow the teacher ot establish a relationship with each student and monitor progress.
In this world we cannot settle for the just the old/popular ways of teaching, but its easy to do because it is so easy to get to a certain level of technological proficiency and stay there. All my life I've been learning and it feels like I've been climbing up this mountain to become a teacher. Here I am two semesters away from graduation, and just when I think I'm almost at the top I realize I've got a lot more climbing to do. Just when I think I've mastered how to use my computer or how to use a program like powerpoint, when I think I'm the expert at something (or at least more of an expert than my parents and those who would be my students), its pointed out to me that I have fallen behind. I think that is one of the most difficult parts of integrating technology. I can look for new technology, but googling it rarely gives me what I'm really looking for.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone stays at that one level of technological proficiency it can be maddening to students. Think about how many teachers show videos ad nauseum in their classes! I don't want to be that teacher, I want to be the teacher who has the right balance: the balance between new and engaging technologies and using low tech methods that are more effective for certain lessons.
I think that we should definitely step up our tactics in educating our young people. There is no telling how many time we have heard from students that school is boring for them. We often think that it is because they do not like to learn but in many cases they are not challenged enough. Using technology in education could help with this. For instance having them do more research at a younger age. They know how to surf the web so you could have them looking up different subjects and find recent things that are happening around them.
ReplyDeleteThere is also something about computer screens that is catching to the eye. This is great for teaching kids with learning disabilities. They can be more focused on there work if it is more interesting to them. The problem now is how do we get the technology into the schools. This could be a problem because of the huge difference in funds to schools ranging from private schools to inner city schools because they are all tested on the same scale.
I thought that this article had a lot of good points, especially about the way kids' minds work. They have grown up using this technology, where I can remember a time when I didn't know how to use a computer. I definitely think that technology should be used in the classroom, and as teachers we need to constantly be looking for new and interesting ways to teach. I think we should also be aware of the new technologies and try our best to incorporate new things in the classroom. At the same time, I do think there are things that children need to experience first-hand and not digitally. Some science experiments if done electronically would leave out important experiences. I also really liked how the article talked about how with older kids the technology might be more useful, because younger kids really need the concrete actions in front of them. I really think it is all about finding a balance, because not one thing will always work.
ReplyDeleteAs educators, we need to continuously learn new ideas or ways to help keep the kids interested in what we are teaching. No, we shouldn't completely rule out the old methods, but we should find new ways to incorporate the old with the new.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many applications and programs available for the computer or ipod. It is just expanding the knowledge our future students can obtain.
I think just by having so many options available, our classrooms will be bigger learning stations than before. As the article said, "The key to teaching is keeping the kids involved." Well, what better way to keep them involved than by using games and applications on the computer to help them learn?
We, the teachers, need to learn how to adapt and expand our curriculum with the growing changes of technology.
One of the best examples I found in the article was using blogging to talk about books (or perhaps articles we read). It can open up new doors as an outlet for opinions without fear of backlash.
I believe we should adapt to some of these methods. I do not think the method with the school getting rid of textbooks would work as planned. Personally, certain subjects should be taught using technology. Geography, math, even a foreign language. Learning a different language while using technology is a must!
ReplyDeleteHistory could be fun to learn if you could use a comouter or even an iPod. Maybe students can listen to speeches or music of the time and watch videos of specific events.
It is important to also continue to use the current method of teaching without technology. Methods of teaching have improved overtime but they have been successful and students have done well with that method. So I suppose both methods could be used while teaching. Both can be used to teach and have fun in the classroom.
I think we are over due for a big change in the classroom. The teaching methods we see now have stood the test of time but the materials we use are now antiquated at best. The textbook is in my opinion a dinosaur. With the ease of use with PDFs, I think we are poised to remove the cost and upkeep of textbooks from all classrooms. We can use a simple ereader to keep and update books for students of all levels. I don’t think we should cater to short attention spans I just feel the delivery system need an overhaul. Asking questions and interacting with students will always be an important part of teaching. I feel that the room for improvement lies within the tools and avenues we use to make those interactions
ReplyDeleteConnie Strong said...
ReplyDeleteI do believe teachers should use every resource available to them to help their students learn. Some subjects need many different resources to help or get students involved. Computers are great resources, but should not be the sole tool used. Not all students have the same learning style, and what ever it takes to help each student excel to achieve their best should be used.
I completely agree with the article. We are in a technological based society now. Everything we do all day every day is based around it. Kids enjoy working on comupters and would much rather be more interactive with cmoputers and learning then my lectures and books. Not to menion think about allof the trees we would be saving by not using books for every class of our entire lives!! Interaction between students are a necessity but i think that it would be a huge benefit for teachers and students if we went to more technological methods.
ReplyDeleteOur world is rapidly changing and our students are changing with it. We all thought of our own teachers as out-of-date and we will soon be thought that of our students. It is up to us to facilitate learning in our classrooms and we do that by gaining interest from our students. We have to hone in on their interests (technology) and common ways of expression if we want success.
ReplyDeleteIf we do not use all resources that are available to us then we are not being great teachers. We need to reach all of our learners and do it through a medium that is familiar to them. Although I have never been a tech junkie and prefer reading to video games and TV, I understand that I must change if I want my students to learn.
I also think it is important not to forget some traditions in the classroom. Computers have not completely replaced paper and pen and these resources are not readily available to all. If we work hard we can surely find a balance that is beneficial to our students.
As teachers we should try to incorporate any kind of new techniques to get the information our students need to learn across to them. We all learn in different ways and the more ways we can teach the more success we will have as teachers. I believe the use of technology can be very helpful and cause students to look at things more in-depth.
ReplyDeleteAllowing access to technology will allow us to create more critical thinking short answer tests that we can expect students to answer in a class period given the use of computers for research. These type questions will make for a better basis of assesing what our students actually know as opposed to what they have just memeorized ten minutes before the test.
Technology is here to stay and the sooner we learn to make it an ally and not a foe the sooner we can grow as teachers.
Jessica Potts said...
ReplyDeleteWe are in a technology based society now and I don't see how we wouldn't have technology in our classrooms. We can't base all of our teaching and learning from technology we also need books for those who don't have access to computers and other technology. We need to have every resource avaiable to every student. Like I said though we are in a technology base society so we have to have technology in our classroom, students will be more active in class and in the learning process if computers are available for them to use in class for tests, classwork, and just daily activities that we would like to add to our style of teaching. As the society grows with technology we should also grow using it in our classroom and be more aware of it as our students will be using.
Elizabeth Dyer says....
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the article, I personally could not see how technology could NOT be included in the classroom. After having so many classes at TTU where we are given examples of how to make the classroom more interactive, I honestly cannot seeing conducting my classroom without technology. We are all so tech based that we as teachers will not be able to the connect/communicate with our students without technology. Like Brad M said, technology is here to stay. We may as well use it our advantage and allow our students to gain the best educational experience possible
Technology is a large part of today's society, with every passing moment, newer, faster and more high tech devices are being introduced. For today's student, technology plays a major role in their lives, both educationally and socially. It is almost rare to find a family that does not own a computer or ipod or DVD player or etc.. I feel that if we as teache mus keep up with the demands of society or we will be doing our students a diservice.
ReplyDeleteI feel the question to tech? or not to tech? should not up to the discresion of a teacher. As a future educator who will educate the 'future of tommorow' it is important to keep students up to date with current technology. It is important for Americans to harvest a society that is just as or more capable than other students abroad. In the coming years, an education is not only going to be about the basic, read, writing, arithmetic, but computers and computer science. Even in the current job market is unlikely to find a job if you are computer illiterate; this will only worsen with time.
I think computers have the ability to make learning fun and more interactive. I believe technology can further an education to produce super intelligent children who will grow to be capable, well educated members in society.
While I feel technology is a crucial aspect to the learning envoronment, I do feel there is much to be gained from old fashioned paper and pencil learning. The moral of this being that we should not put all of our eggs in one basket, so to speak, but teach using traditional methods while intergrating technology based lessons.
I feel that technology is very important. Technology changes so fast that it is hard to keep up with all of it, but it is very important. I thought that it was cool to read all of the things that you can do with the technology and it doesn't have to be expensive either like the last article talking about the base ten blocks, protractors and such. I think that it is important for students do do things hands on with the technology that is available because there is just going to be more and more of it around.
ReplyDeleteI do still think that the paper, pencil and book are important. Sometimes it is good to just hold something in your hand rather then looking at it on a screen. I think that it is good to have balance of this and technology.
Overall I think that it is very important for teachers to try and stay current as much as they can with the technology so they can use it to the best interest of their students and for themselves.
Rachel Lewis said...
ReplyDeleteI think there needs to be a good combination of both technology and paper and pen methods in the classroom. Completely taking away one of these methods would be a bad idea because children learn in so many different ways. Children are being introduced to technology at such a younger age than we all did. There are smart boards and MAC's in most classrooms now. When I was going through elementary school we were lucky if we had one computer in each classroom. As I got older computers became more popular and started showing up a lot more.
If I had these technological resources available I would definitely use them in my classroom. There are a lot of cool things you can do and ways to help your students learn. Plus now that technology does play such a large role in our society you need to kind of prepare them. It is very important to stay current. Does this mean you need to completely take out paper and pen? Of course not. Both methods are beneficial and their needs to be a balance.
Rachel Lewis
I beleive we need to adapt to these changes. Kids are involved in the technology age and love it. Using technology to teach just makes sense. Although, we still need to be able to lecture and do things on paper because not everyone learns the same way. Using technology just gives us a way to reach some on that level.
ReplyDeleteTiffany Lesko
ReplyDeleteI think that technology in the class can be a good thing to some degree. Learning about technology needs to be learned in the classroom but it should not replace paper and pencils and the other teaching methods. I mean it is cool and up to date knowing how to work all the new gadgets but there are kids that need more attention on learning how to become better readers and understanding subjects better like math. More hands on is what needs to happen and less multiple choice and lecture. Engage the children in activities that help them learn and want to learn more.
I agree that there needs to be technology available to students in our classrooms today. As the articles noted, today's students are accustomed to dealing with technology in most of their out-of-classroom experiences. No wonder they have a hard time paying attention and thriving when they sit still for hours on end listening to what must seem like a monotone drone (similar to Charlie Brown's teacher) in comparison to their exciting video games and Ipods.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that students must be taught basic educational skills and knowledge. The question lies in whether the educational system can accomplish the fine line necessary between basic knowledge and technological advancement.
If schools want to use technology, they need to be organized, thorough, and thoughtful. They don't need to simply throw a roomful of technology at a class and expect results. Having a school-wide plan on how to use the new software, hardware, or equipment would improve consistency between classes and grades, show the students that the school system is commited to them, and allow for struggling students and faculty to have additional resources to rely on for assistance.
I have seen and taught in classrooms both with and without technology. When used properly and with a purpose, there is no doubt the difference in the faces, expressions, and interest level of the students when they have an opportunity to use technology to learn! I would not recommend completely removing texts, pen, and paper as I feel people need to have certain skills in communication beyond technology. I would definitely support the maximum amount of technology that could be reasonably used in any school system. As Ryan Ritz stated in "Synching Up With The iKid", "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved." I think they would tend to be more involved if they had the chance to use technology at least now and then!
I think technology has its rightful place in the classroom. Kids respond to technology, and they love their gadgets and gizmos. Using technology in the classroom can keep their attention and capture there interests.
ReplyDeleteThe world as whole is becoming more and more technologically advanced. We must incorporate this into the classroom to give exposure to our students, especially the ones who may not have the technology at home because their parents can't afford it.
The danger comes when teachers rely on computer generated instruction to run their classrooms. The purpose of technology is to be a supplement to class instruction.
I also think it is a teacher's job to teach kids how to work and function without technology. I like the portion of the article dealing with calculators. Students need to know how to think critically. Feeding numbers and formulas in to a calculator does not achieve this, but omitting some numbers from the calculator and coming up with 2,321 (or whatever the number was) does take some consideration.
My point is, yes technology needs to be incorporated in the classroom, but only if it is done correctly.
I for one, not very technologically advanced. I do feel that teachers/schools need to brush up on their technology. Although, I am not a fan of high tech, I still need to learn more technology for my students. In the article it mentions that kids learn better through computers/internet/advanced technology because that is what their generation is all about- technology. Although, it seems that every year there is something different with technology and as adults it is hard to keep up with it and even harder to learn how to adapt, but you have to keep up with your students and how they learn better with the new technology. I feel that computers/internet is not a good thing to have in an elementary setting. I feel you need traditional learning with books, paper, and pencil. If there were just laptops everywhere, how could a kid be able to learn to write if they are just typing all day? I agreed with the article to have laptops at a junior high school and up, nothing lower than that setting. With this article, I learned that kids learn better with the internet instead of a standard book. As much as I hate it, I know when I have my classroom, I am going to have to suck it up and just learn the technology my students know to keep them interested in my classroom!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe that it would be (for the lack of a better word) stupid to not use technology in the classroom. Technology is what gets stundents interested and keeps them interested outside of school so why would you not use it in school? I do not believe in using technology to replace teachers getting up and actual teaching it should be used as a helping tool to make what the teacher is saying easier to understand or more engaging.
ReplyDeleteAt first I did not think that I would like having digital books instead of a paper book but the more I think about it the better it sounds. It would help my back out a lot and it would make it so much easier to find topics you were discussing and it would save trees.
There are many, many, many ways to use technology to make our lives better so why would we pass on the chance?
I agree with the article and with some of the other comments. I can't imagine how I'd run my classroom without technology. Technology helps interaction and understanding in so many ways that it almost seems foolish to not use it. I understand that many are worried about kids not getting basic requirements like reading and writing but I don't believe this should be the main worry. With all of the technology it is much easier for the students to cheat but I think that's a risk that the teacher has to be willing to take. This also shows trust to the students, which trust between a student and the teacher is crucial. Overall, I would say that we should adapt and regularly allow technology throughout the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not think that we should adapt to these changes. There were some good and bad points in this article. I think technology is important but not so important that we need to replace our textbooks with it. I know for me I am not technologically advanced in a lot but children should be and I should be too. Pornography and other things on the internet are too tempting for children especially teenagers. Also, it would be easier for the students too cheat. I am not totally against technology I just don't agree with some of the things in this article. If schools use technology they should be organized about it. I as a future teacher would be willing to learn more about technology and use it in my classroom but not all the time. I do like educational technology games for children such as leapfrog or books. I believe that children benefit from this but not to do certain schoolwork. Hands on activities are more important than computers because I feel like the students benefit from this better. I think technology should be used but to an extent.
ReplyDeleteKate Burroughs
I do not think just the standard multiple choice/lecture methods will work with the generations to come. I agree that we should introduce and use technology in the classroom. The possibilities with technology these days are pretty much endless and technology provides so many wonderful resources that we as teachers just cannot bring into the classroom with pen and paper. Kids these days need to be challenged in their curriculum and I just don't feel as though the old methods do that anymore.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about doing away with textbooks. I think a labtop for every child would be very nice, but is that really realistic? If you have to buy your own some children are just not going to be able to afford that. I don't see the school systems paying out all that money to pay for every child to have a labtop. I also have mixed feelings about this because there are just some things that need to be done on paper. Certain math problems, children's drawings, and the process of writing. Children are always going to have to write and if we completely do away with the whole pencil and paper method imagine trying to read something a child has written.
We as teachers need to keep up with the times and use what resources we have available to us, but should keep in mind the strategies some of our "great teachers" in the past have used. We can always take those strategies and spice them up with a little technology.
Technology is seen more and more in classrooms today. I am for having technology in the classroom but to an extent. Homework assignments might be beneficial if posted online since students spend much of their time in cyber space. Journal entries could also be typed up instead of written down in a spiral notebook. I tend to write more when typing than when writing because it's quicker and my thoughts flow faster. Things like reading novels and doing math homework and even the traditional subjects should be kept in the non-technological form. Current event assignments and projects on the other hand might benefit better with technology. Either way, I believe that technology should be implemented in some classrooms but to a definite extent.
ReplyDeleteI believe that technology is a must in today's classrooms! This generation of children do not know of a time without computers, ipods, and cell phones. I have a kindergartener at home and he absolutely loves the Smartboard in his classroom. He thinks its "cool"! Technology such as Smartboards get the children more involved in their learning experience. However, I do not believe that we should do away with textbooks. There is just something about reading out of a book that is special. My eyes get crossed just sitting here reading these blogs. So, a electronic textbook may not be the best idea. "Old school" teaching and "modern" teaching methods should be mixed to get the best educational environments out there!
ReplyDeleteCarla Konik say...
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this article. I am not a very techonolgical person, so it take me some time to work my way around the computer, but I believe that if I had been exposed to technology within the classroom as a learning technique then I might be better at it. I think that technology can really help facilitate learning with students especially this day in age. I mean a seventeen year believed in it so much that he proved that you could increase grade point averages by using technology. I think that as teachers we should welcome technology in the classroom.
Michael Whitehead says.....
ReplyDeleteIn reading this article, I agree and disagree with some of the uses of technology in the modern classroom. I do believe that technology is a very important component in the modern classroom, since most children as the article states have ipods, cell phones, laptops etc. And I also agree that in order for the children of The United States to compete in the modern world, technology should be a main part of a child's education. On the other hand I disagree with Technology being the center of attention in the classroom as well, with all advances something must be paid in return. As stated in the article almost all children beween the ages of 8 and 18 have have an ipod or a computer or some other piece of technology, but we also have one of the highest percentages of obese children, no more physical activities just sitting in a room or sitting in a chair looking at a screen or a smart board. Dont get me wrong, I do believe that Technology is so VERY important, I just dont believe that we should forget the past ways of studying and learning. Many great men and women who contributed to Modern Technology started out in a classroom with just a chalkboard and a book.
Myra Conley Says...
ReplyDeleteAs i was reading this article, one sentence in particular really stood out to me. "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved." I love this quote because it is so true. If we just stand behind our desk and lecture from a textbook all day the kids will totally tune us out. The key to getting children to learn is engaging them in the material. In todays society this mean integrating technology. "Kids are bombarded by media," stated in the article is something to really think about. For example, students are going to find it more fun to blog about a topic rather than write a journal entry which they will half do. As teachers, we have to constantly be finding ways to engage our students and this means keeping up with everyday technology. I strongly believe that technology in the classroom is an amazing tool for teaching.
I agree with teaching students with the most up-to-date technology that schools can provide. Technology will continue to expand and so will jobs that use technology. The best example is computers in the classroom. In middle school we didn't have computers in most classrooms, nor were they accessible in the library. I think technology is also good for holding kids attention for a longer time than reading from a book.
ReplyDeleteHowever, i do not think technology should be the main "teacher" in the classroom. I believe the teacher should still be very effective and use technology to help teach. I do not think an effective way to teach a student is to be isolated at a computer watching a video. I believe a teacher should be more involved. Over all, technology has to be apart of learning in the classroom.
Emily Reuter- FOED 3010
ReplyDeleteI do believe we need to adapt our way of teaching to the new influx of technology. Children don't learn the traditional way anymore. There are so many distractions that can't be controlled: cell phones, pda's, laptops, ipods. With children learning how to run a computer before they enter kindergarten there is no way we can not adapt our teaching strategies.
Children are tech savy, more than most adults, they learn through a computer, not a book. My niece is three years old and can operate a DVD player and her brother's Wii with almost flawless ease.
One thing i don't agree with is allowing laptops to replace textbooks. No matter how easy it would be to sit a child at a computer to learn it shouldn't be done. When you use a computer you're isolated to a certain extent and it makes the teacher have to work harder to gain a child's attention.
So, while I believe technology is a great tool that we should utilize to help our children learn to their best capability, we should not forget the "old" methods. Children are adaptable, moldable and we should teach them accordingly. They get enough T.V., internet, and gaming at home; while their at school it should be given out in small doses and moderated.
I guess you could say I am a little old fashioned. I am a paper and pencil guy. I like using computers myself, but I don't like to use them in a classroom. This doesn't mean that I will not use computers or technology in my own classroom though. I do plan on using different forms of technology, because I do realize the world we live in today. Kids are like drones now. They see things through tunnel vision. For goodness sake you can't even talk to people that are from ages 10 to 25 anymore. Half of my friends do nothing but text and unless you are texting them then you are wasting your time trying to talk to them. They don't listen to who is speaking to them and I feel like this is what today's youth is like as well. I just need ways to help communicate to our youth effectively, because I am not sure that I can use technology in the classroom effectively without some help and guidance.
ReplyDeleteAshley Smith
ReplyDeleteI think that we as teachers should in fact use technology in our classroom every chance we get. The new generation of learners know more about computers and cell phones than any other and it is because they have been taught from the beginning about these devices.
In a classroom were we as teachers want to be engaging we need to use the things that will intrest the learner and that is technology. I liked the idea about the laptops but I think that with the children we will need to monitor and really have rules when using laptops.
I enjoy technology and I love learning new things so I think my classrooom will be full of new technology.
I believe that schools should incorporate technology in their cirriculum. Most kids now days are very proficiant with computers.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that if you do use computers at your school there should be crash courses on the basics still because some students live in less fortunate homes so they have not grown up with technology. I work at an after school program and most of the time when there's a technocal problem with computers or a game they are the one's to fix it with supervision. I think kids would benefit from using computers in schools and learn more effectively in the long run. This world is turning into a technological world, most places are already there. For kids to start working with computers at an earlier age would be a great asset to them for when they are in the work force.
Along with utilizing computers in school i still think we should utilize the old method too. All kids learn differently so some might not so as well with technology therefore they should have the opportunity to use books whenever they can.
Much like most of my peers here, I completely agree that we must incorporate technology in our classrooms. I can not be surprised when I read that this new generation is called the MEdia generation. This concept even involving myself rings true.
ReplyDeleteI am a little concerned at the the alarming rate of our attention span in this face-paced driven world. In a utopian educational setting I would see technology assist in painting a picture of an idea rather driving the entire force.
Nevertheless, there is no denying that we must act to reach our students. I can still remember technology used in the classroom from middle school. I can attest to the face that it grabs any attention. I suppose I must wonder what is next for the learner when technology of this sort becomes ancient to them as well? Perhaps that is beyond our time though.
While I was reading the article, I found myself thinking, "Wow, Iwish we had stuff like this when I was in middle school and stuff like that." I firmly believe that the more we embrace the way that the minds of students work now, the quicker we can figure out effective ways to reach them. Personally, I get bored if I only have one media outlet going on a once. (Speaking of which, as I read the article and type this response, I am listening to music while also following a basketball game on television. Call me sterotypical i guess.) I know that I am not the only person who does this same kind of thing, and I know what the article was talking about when it talked about kids getting bored while in classrooms where they were talked at and lectured at and not encouraged to use more brain capacity and use their imagination. When we allow ourselves to cater to the students instead of catering to teachers, I believe we will see an increase in student productivity.
ReplyDeleteKari Hensley FOED 3010
ReplyDeleteYes. I believe adapted to these changes is a perfect way to capture the interests of students while keeping teachers up to date with new technology. Our culture is changing, and the only way we has a society can keep up is to change with it. Students do not respond to the old fashion multiple choice/lecture methods like they have before. Newer, more fun things are happening and as a teacher you have to be "on your toes."
Coming from the student's perspective, I enjoy technology in the classroom. If a teacher or professor I have just stands in front of me and starts to lecture my mind wonders. I daydream, I get bored, and I lose my train of thought. There are so many ways a teacher/professor can make things new and exciting in the classroom.
Now, from a future teacher's perspective, technology will be my best friend. Not only does tech in the classroom makes things easier but things get done so much quicker! Teachers know they have to compete with technology in the classroom. Why should we as teachers reject the unfamiliar? Why not embrace it? Show our students that we can keep up with the new tech too! Students respond in positive ways when they know they're in a familiar environment with teachers they can relate too.
As a student and a future teacher I will embrace technology.
Yes I think schools and education in general need to keep up with the times around us. Don't get me wrong, lecturing and giving mc tests are still my method of choice and a good source of feed back on students knowledge but integration is important in this day and age. Students need to be able to operate and utilize the things around them. Not to mention it helps most the kids in this generation learn better.
ReplyDeleteI had the same opinion as Tyler while reading this article: the "Wow wish we had that kind of stuff when I was in school." The only technology I remember teachers incorporating into their classroom was the use of PowerPoint to display lecture notes. When you stop and consider this compared to all the technology that is available now, it isn't really anything impressive. Nor does it really interact with the students like other programs could.
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology in the classroom should be embraced! As a future teacher I welcome the challenge of becoming acquainted with new technologies so I can not only keep up with my students but also be able to make learning more interesting for them. However I also don't see the harm in a litte traditional book work or research. I believe that reading is power; which makes books powerful objects for learning. I think the best classroom to have would be one that is able to incorporate traditional and new age learning techniques. Everyone would benefit the most from it!
Tabitha McBroom
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that schools are now becoming far too technology-oriented. Sure, technology is convenient and helpful and makes many things easier but is it really in the best interest for the students? Many children grow up typing now rather than writing. If we continue on like this, students won't have a need for pen and paper at all. All work will be done on computers and I'm not sure that is such a great thing. Students have also become a bit lazy when it comes to education. They only show interest when a subject is presented in the form of media but are likely to frown upon opening a book. I feel that letting technology take over our standards will lessen our students' educations and potential for the future. I feel very thankful that I grew up in a time when it was stressed for us to write in journals and not blogs and to read books and not websites. Often times, when technology is used in the classroom the teacher takes a back seat and the computer becomes the teacher. What is the point in going through college and getting your degree if you are going to let this happen in your classroom? I do realize, though, that technology is becoming a huge part of our world so it is absolutely necessary for students to become associated and comfortable with it so that they may utilize it with ease in real-life situations and with their future jobs. Most jobs today involve use with some form of technology - almost all of them, actually!
Please don't get the idea that I am anti-technology! I think it is very helpful, fun, and useful at times - but not all the time. I definitely don't feel it should take over our traditional classroom atmosphere. There should be a balance in the classroom so that students may be educated in a variety of ways and that students of different backgrounds may succeed.
I believe classroom instruction needs to have balance. Teachers need to find ways to engage students, whether through technology or other interactive means. Technology is a great thing for students and teachers, but I do not think it should be the only method for educating students. I do think technology should be used to engage older students because it has become such a major part of their everyday lives.
ReplyDeleteI am not to familiar with technology in the classroom and I have been going to a technological university for 3 years.I have heard talk about the smartboards and using iPods for class instruction, but I have yet to see it. If I knew more about the newer types of technology available I might have a different opinion about its use in the classroom.
It seems we can all agree that balance is key in the classroom. I imagine we can also all agree that learning is key to the classroom. This learning can address many needs. Everything from how to properly label a tree, diagram a sentence, speak, and use the technology that is important to the student.
ReplyDeleteTeaching is not about what the "teacher" wants. It is about invoking in students a desire to grow while equipping them with the tools necessary. Sometimes that is going to mean giving up the central locus to students, and sometimes it will mean using it to inform. I think that technology in the classroom should be embraced in order to meet the needs of students, without allowing it to become a dictator of what happens in your class. I liked the section where Mizuko Ito said that it could not be a greater distraction than our own minds (or in my case, a piece of paper).
So do use technology! There's no excuse for ignoring the potential to help students, or it's key role in their lives. Do not depend on technology. Technology is a tool, not a teacher.
Melissa Jones
ReplyDeleteI hope to become a high school English teacher and my students will need to be able to do research using a computer and use it to type up their assignments. Without technology in the class room, students will be unprepared for college or whatever they may do after high school. I agree with most of my class mates answers about balance in the class room. I would hope that most of my students would have already learned how to hand write a paper before they came to my class to type one up.
I would also agree with this article in that I think that being completely up to date with technology in the class room is a problem because of the high cost of funding for such items as new technology and also because new technology is constantly changing.
Laura Mullican
ReplyDeleteI definately think technology should be incorporated into the classroom. Students retain more information when the material is relavent and technology is something most students are well versed in. By incorporating technology into the lesson, students see it as more of a fun thing to learn rather than work. I also believe giving students a background in technology early in their education will help them succeed later in life because almost everything now has been touched some way by technology. However, accommodations must be made for those who do not have internet or computer access at home. Meaning, homework will need to be mostly finished in class; also meaning more classtime will need to be devoted to independent work which is something not all teachers have. So, technology in the classroom is something that is happening and should be happening (in my opinion). However, balancing the time to teach students to operate the technology and making accommodations for those students who do not have outside the classroom resources with time devoted to the actual lesson will be the hard part.
I think that technology can be a useful tool in teaching children of all ages. I think that technology can be a very engaging way to involve students in learning. I feel that learning can be made fun, exciting, and adventurous through the use of technology. I think that incorporating technology into our lessons here and there throughout the day, can be a great way to get the children to refocus and gain their interest. Despite all this, I don't think that our teaching instruction should rely solely upon technology. I think that the standard methods to teaching should be used and can be made just as fun and engaging.
ReplyDeleteI have somewhat of mixed feelings about this certain topic. Using software such as DyKnow Vision I feel is a great way to engage students and keep their attention. But there is another side of me that does not want to promote this strictly electronic devices, Media Generation. If this trend continues what happens when books are no longer used? I feel that would be a very sad day. To encourage our children to feel no excitement by holding a classic book in their hands as opposed to a digital reader. Do not get me wrong I do not think that technological advances are the root of all evil, but I do feel that going strictly mainstream and all media would be a mistake. If we continue to promote this technological society kids will no longer know how to be kids because all they will want to do is stay on their PC's, Ipods, digital readers, etc. I think part of engaging students is variety, so I feel that a little bit of all is better than all of one.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Reeder
I think that as teachers we are going to have to adapt to some extent. If we don't, I believe that we will loose our audience to teach. Even though I believe we should adapt, I also believe that there is a certain point that we should stop. Some types of learning will never stop being a good way to receive and learn information, such as books. I also believe that at some point kids need to be kids and drop all the electronics and be able to communicate to someone face to face. We need to remember to teach with the technology and use it to our advantage, but not to the point that all other communication skills are lost. When we reach that point, there will be no reason for teachers. All children will need will be electronic devices to tell the children information and completely cut out the people element.
ReplyDeleteI beleive that integrating technology in the classroom is very important because like this article mentioned we are living in the "media" generation. It seems technology is consuming our children's personal lives so why can it not consume the classroom? Like this article mentioned, children pay attention to technology more than books. This is why I think that technology should be integrated because it keeps the students' attention but more importantly helps them learn. Although this article seems to support technology should replace books, I do not beleive this. Books are the backbone of learning, and they should never be took out of the classroom. I beleive that books should be first and technology should be second in the teaching world.
ReplyDeleteI feel that technology should be a part of education. Educators can make technology a useful tool in the classroom to keep students engaged and interested. The world is becoming a technological place, and if the educational realm doesn't keep up, the only other option is to fall behind. I feel that sometimes we are afraid of the technology; however, if we can find ways to adapt it into our curriculum I feel that our students will benefit. I believe if we try to use these new tools to stream the information to our students, we will see an improvment in learning.
ReplyDeleteTeachers are invaluable in any classroom setting, but he/she is slowing sharing this privilege with all the new advances in technology. As educators, our classrooms are constantly evolving from year to year and even day to day, and its important for us to meet the needs of the next generation student. If laptops, through media sharing and quick feedback, make a classroom easier to manage, more intriguing to students, and more enjoyable for teachers, then why not have this technology available for all classrooms. Honestly, if budgeting wasn't an issue for alot of school systems, we'd see an even bigger innovation of technology in the classroom, because it has proven to be a beneficial tool in cognitive development.
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ReplyDeleteThe above post was made by Kevin Moss...and this one too!
Sarah Nix says...
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot with my classmates. I think that technology is a very important part of our society these days and should be incorporated in the classroom. However, I don't think that we should completely abandon the standard multiple choice/lecture ways of teaching either. Technology is not perfect and there are pieces of technology that break down or don't work correctly when you need them to. Those are the days that our standard way of teaching comes into play.
This is a question that has a yes and no answer. I believe that we need to adapt for the current generation to be able to fit their needs and what they are increasingly becoming familiar with. However, it also crucial that we keep the standard in testing. Multiple choice reflects many areas of life and the professional world in which you have to make an educated guess or make the best decision on the spot. Technology has many benefits, but it can be abused in taking short cuts. Standard teaching needs to extend to the practice of technology as a joint way of presenting information. Personally, I think short answer questions with hypothetical situations that relate to technology, its use, and classroom material should be developed as a learning method.
ReplyDeleteI think that the way we communicate (Facebook, Twitter, BBM), learn (Wikipedia, google) and buy (amazon) has drastically changed thanks to technology. So we should accept that the way we, as parents and educators, should adjust our teaching styles in order to incorporate technology. Our children have grown up with technology and will be applying to jobs that require an understanding of technology so we must prepare them accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThere is a great webinar on my website entitled "Digital Learners - are students tuning out in class?" Check it out under 'Interesting Articles.'
http://www.teacherstogoinc.com/
Paper and pencil learning is becoming outdated as technology advances. Personally, I learn better using software available on most PCs and Macs. I can be more creative and appreciate my work. I use software as my main teaching tool when I am presenting a lesson. I feel that students growing up in this time benefit from technology for the same reasons as I do. Young students still need to learn with paper and pencil, but they need a solid grasp on more technical and visual ways to learn. Technology is meant to make things easier for us and to supplement educational strategies. I think that in the not-so-distant future, technology will be the main teaching tool. Also, technology will cut down on paper usage and other expenses that schools have.
ReplyDeleteI believe we should adapt as often as necessary. New technology being introduced will only benefit children in the future.
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about this topic. I feel as if I learn better with technology and other students may be the same as me. I definitely believe students should know how to use the technology because it is definitely taking over, but I also feel as if paper and pencils are important as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe technology is good in moderation. I do not agree with the article on taking textbooks out of the classroom. I think students need to be able to touch the text, write in the margins and flip back and forth through the pages. Yes you can do a lot of these things on a Kindle or Ipad but it is just not the same. I think that technology should only be used after the initial instruction. For example calculators should only be used in the math classroom after the students can do the calculations by hand.
ReplyDeleteMartin Tomas said..
ReplyDeleteI believe that technology is useful if used correctly. For example, if students from Pre-K starts using computer, the ability of creative thinking would be lost since computers have already integrated software. However, if students use a paper and crayons their creative thinking is limitless, they can draw whatever they fantasize.
In the other hand, computers and other gadgets are useful in the high school level. They can be used to create, and explain some subjects that needs deeper explanations; for example, using a computer to show the anatomy of the body in a complex way.
The computers are good, but if we use them all the time, we certainly lose the ability of using creativity. For example, when students study for a test, it will be easier to go online and look up the work than to use a dictionary or book to actually understand the subject. But the way we are going, we will eventually become robots lol.
Yes and no. I do agree that there needs to be more use of technology in the classroom, but I do not think that all learning in the classroom should come from technology. I believe we should use technology to our advantage, but we do not need to abuse it. After awhile the children will start to abuse it. They will use technology to their advantage to find answers that normally they wouldn't have access to. Being in college the use of technology is very high. In most of my classes all of the homework, quizzes, and test are through technology. In some ways I love it, but in ways I hate it. I do not like doing math work on the computer because I believe math is meant to be done with notebook paper and a pencil. If classroom teachers can find a happy medium between the use of technology and the use of paper and pencils I believe test scores will skyrocket.
ReplyDeleteAs educators, if we consciously choose to NOT adapt to the social context (which includes technology), then we choose to shortchange our students and ourselves of a full education.
ReplyDeleteMy own admission: I love books. I love that oft-mentioned and highly cliched "new book smell." I like highlighting, dog-earing, and underlining text. I need to have a text in my hands and physically interact with it in order to fully intellectually interact with it.
I will be an English teacher. It's going to take a whole lot of effort for me to integrate technology in my classroom, because in my heart I believe a book on its own is more than enough to incite passion and thought. But, quite frankly, the vehicle used to spark passion and thought matters far less to me than the thought itself. So if it takes iPads, iPods, computers, Smartboards, clickers, laptops, PowerPoints, Keynotes - I don't care - I'll do and use whatever it takes to be effective. And if I can use technology to prove to kids that a book is more than enough for some entertainment, then I'm all for it.
I think the trick here is to use the very things that we think are "distractors" to our benefit - just as we'd encourage a very active kid to play sports and develop her athletic ability, so should we use the technology kids enjoy to their and our benefit.
The career path we have chosen is constantly changing , and I believe in order to keep up we will have no choice but to adapted to these changes.
ReplyDeleteI think we definitely need to integrate technology into the classroom. We already know it attracts their attention. So why not use that attraction for educational purposes. They still need to have books and stuff but incorporating different gadgets into the lessons would be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteYes. As teachers we need to be able to turn with the tide. As technology grows and becomes more widely used, teachers need to try and embrace it with open arms and use it in their lessons. Children, in my opinion, find it more exciting and interesting to use gadgets, and computers with cool software and interactive activities. I believe they will be more involved in school lessons and learn better.
ReplyDeleteI dont, however, believe we should do away with ALL traditional methods of teaching. After all, its worked for this long. And the old school type of teacher, will probably always use the traditional way of teaching. But our kids are learning this technology as the world evolves, and I think those certain kids that weren't able to embrace school, may have a chance to stay interested and involved.
I believe a balance is key when integrating technology in the classroom. I think that some technology can be a huge advantage for students in today's world. Without any technology students will be far behind there counterparts from other schools where technology is used. On the other hand I think technology shouldn't be over-used. When students stop being able to do simple math because they rely so heavily on a calculator I think technology is now hurting them. Overall technology in the classroom is good teachers just need to know when technology needs to stop and when their teaching needs to start.
ReplyDeleteOkay... So, I am kind of on the fence here. As a teacher, I like to have the textbook in front of me so that I can jot down notes and ideas. However, as a student in todays world, Technology is key. We are advancing rapidly and I think it's important to be up to date. If I were in administration, I think that having ipads instead of books, would be nice, in the long run because it would turn out to be cheaper and the students would never have to worry about not having their text.
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