Emerging Issues - Technology and More

                                                        

                                                Introduction 

  

Schools are becoming very cognizant in this  global connecting world. The push to provide technology in schools has been successful in recent years. Most schools have computers, computer labs and more over, most schools are connected to the internet.  The school that I am currently employed, has at least ten (10) smart boards, three (3) desk top computers in each classroom, at least fifty document cameras, one mini lap top in each classroom,  two(2) computer labs and one projector in each classroom.

With all these technology in place, students, teachers, teacher assistants, administrative staff and even custodians are exposed to the 21^st century emerging technologies. My county continues to invest in technology. The vision is, by the year 2015 all educators and students will become well equipped, in the field of technology.  This vision has boosted my school to promote technology and definitely move forward with emerging technology.

                            Technology Brings Success

The PTA body has collaborated with the teachers and administrators in conducting series of training and workshops (in technology) for parents and students. A technology driven school will allow students to work on authentic, meaningful and challenging problems. In the classroom, teachers can develop a myriad of technology-supported engaged learning projects that enable students to solve real world problems, retrieve information from online resources, and connect with experts. Such subjects can be acclimated to all grade levels.

Various tools help schools govern their ability in using technology for engaged learning. Therefore schools that are ensuring that the technology supports the education goals for students, will have a smooth transition process, in welcoming new and improved technology.

            I was driving with a friend of mind and we were actually looking for a restaurant. Both of us were not familiar with the place so we had to rely on technology to help us locate restaurants in that particular area. The fascinating part was literally speaking to the phone to help us locate restaurants. In less than a minute a list of restaurants “popped up” that were in that particular area or in close proximity. I thought about my own students and how the use  this tool will help promote learning and spark their interest. For example; this would be an ideal tool to use in Social Studies especially introducing the topic Landforms across the United States.  Students would become so intrigued to know that they can speak in a phone to locate landforms across the United States.

            Technology integration brings changes to teachers’ instructional roles in the classroom. The teacher’s roles in a technology- infused classroom often shift to that of a facilitator or coach rather than a lecturer (Henriquez & Riconscente 1998). Technology use also tends to nurture collaboration among students. Students become self- directed and their level of curiosity accelerates.

                             Moving Forward

One might say why do we need to implement emerge technologies in schools. I do believe that it is very important to include various types of technology and web tools in schools. Students are very much exposed to blogs, text messages, RSS, social networks, and web pages; therefore incorporating some of these in the classroom will be very effective. The teacher’s responsible is to closely monitor how these tools are used by the students. It is time for us as educators to move forward and focus more on the positive influence technology has on education rather  than dwell on the negatives. Statistics have shown that students, who are engrossed in technology at an early age, tend to become successful business entrepreneurs, politicians, and also engineers.

            Teachers need large blocks of time to gain initial familiarity with new hardware or software, learning and practicing for sustained periods. The integration of technology into the curriculum will not succeed without giving teachers ample time to practice, explore, conceptualize and collaborate. Many teachers crave for time to interpret or translate new ideas and strategies into the practical classroom lessons and unit plans.

Our classrooms are filled with “Wendys”, Therefore as educators let us not be distracted by teaching for the End of Grade Test, Standard of Learning or the End of Course, but let us adapt some valuable pointers from Vicki Davis (a teacher in a rural area in Southern Georgia) who continues to use cell phones and other web tools  in a positive way to promote learning. http://www.coolcatteacher.com/

Some schools across the United States have purchased iPads to help students in the teaching /learning environment. Students have come out and said they were more engaged in class and it also helped them to focus because there was no barrier between the student and the iPad, compared to when a student would use a laptop on their desk.

http://smithtown.patch.com/articles/the-introduction-of-ipads-in-the-classroom-will-help-students

Green Bay-area school districts are beginning to change long-standing bans on handheld technology, such as cell phones and iPods, after realizing they are increasingly part of students' everyday lives. The Pulaski School District, for example, now encourages middle and high school students to bring their cell phones to class. They're also welcome to carry other electronic gadgets such as netbooks, which are a bit smaller than laptop computers; iPads, handheld tablet computers; or electronic-book readers

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20101208/GPG0101/12080815/iPods-iPads-cell-phones-welcome-in-area-schools

                                             Conclusion

   Technology works best in the classroom when it is seen as part of the normal way of working rather than a temporary add-on. As well as making for more rigorous and relevant assessment, technologies such as whole-class voting systems help to provide teachers with instant feedback on how everyone in the room is doing and can revisit concepts if necessary so that no one is left behind.

             With multi-touch devices and ultra-portable netbooks now reaching prices that allow bulk purchasing realistic, the possibilities to embed ICT further into everyday learning has never been more achievable.