With the 21st century’s change in utilization of technology within school, students’ ways of learning are also changing. However, the way that the majority of teachers are still trying to teach is not helping these students.
Laurie Campbell, a writer for “Science Teacher,” an education journal, states that “technology-based activities and tools help students learn science content, increase academic vocabulary, build background knowledge, and foster 21st-century skills. Students tend to interact with each other when using technology, so these tools and subsequent assignments can also help students increase their communications skills.”
Technology is also thought to be helping students build more confidence because it is a common outlet for them. Sarah McNicol, writing for “Mathematics Teaching”, an education journal, said that, “some of the students with iPhones are not particularly skilled in mathematics, but they are highly skilled in the use of a smartphone. The ability to use a smartphone effectively was acknowledged as an important skill to have in the group.”
At our school, each academic room has a Smart Board and access to either computers or laptops. However, are these tools the best way for each department or individual to teach?
“Technology to Best Fit the Need”, an article in “Science Children”, an education journal, states that teachers should “select the technology to best fit the need. Research indicates that this fit is the critical element in attaining academic performance.”
SMARTBoards are not always the “best fit” of technology because some classrooms operate different than others. With the majority of Smart Boards within the range of $4,000 to $7,000 dollars, there are other opportunities for this money to be invested in.
“For the same price as a SMARTBoard, I could have purchased high quality speakers, and a Large T.V. with an Apple T.V. device so that I could stream videos more easily,” stated Mr. Bradley, the Orchestra Director.
In a survey conducted about technology in the classroom, 92% of students stated that technology does help them learn. But are the majority of teachers satisfying this need?
“Most teachers use SmartBoards as white boards, but I believe that there should be more student interaction,” senior Ryan Radina said.
A possible reason this is occurring is because there is no required technology training for teachers, but there is training that is offered. Perhaps there should be a few intensive sessions during late starts or early releases to help teachers incorporate more technology into the classroom. Despite this predicament, there are some teachers finding ways to still incorporate the technology provided.
“I use my overhead projector to introduce new projects or show the image of the week, as well as showing students how to use different art techniques or designs,” said art teacher Cara Deffenbaugh.
In the words of Stephanie Boles, an author for “Science Scope,” an education journal, “because so much of students’ time is spent alone on a computer or video game, it is important for us to create opportunities for social interaction within the learning environment.”
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Jon Gunasingham teaches about ionic compounds using the SMARTBoard. Photo by JP Byrne.