I used Facebook in School Today! (Blog #7)

Technology has affected various parts of our society. People around the world would like to think that we are not changing with the development of technology. Yet, as technology becomes more integral in our day-to-day routine, the impact is more serious than many imagined. All of our resources from clothes, food, and even education can be found online. Today, more people are taking online classes or using online tools to enhance the learning experience. Even at Juniata, there are many online sites such as Moodle to submit work and get our assignments. Juniata has its own network where students, faculty, and professors have different drives to use for classes and other information. Technology has been proven to offer better opportunities. On the other hand, is technology hurting or harming the educational system around the world and how students learn?

            For the student, using technology in education is requiring him or her to become more independent and become more active in their learning.

“This means that the student must take a greater responsibility for his/her own learning and the teacher becomes more of a tutor than a lecturer. Today there is plenty of literature, and new electronic programmes are continually appearing on the market so that access to teaching material is adequate within most areas.” (Eide and Johannesen, European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning)

     

With Principles of IT, I realize that this is true. Although we are required to come to class every day and participate in class, we have to submit all of our assignments online. This means that we have to be responsible for our own work more so because we have to check and see when everything is due. I do not think that this class is extremely independent as other online classes tend to be where there will be hardly any interaction with the professor. For me, I think that it would be harder learning in online class because I value that interaction that I get from the professor. As an article found in Education Week points out, students benefit more from teachers and technology working hand-in-hand together.

“In addition to courses that offer an online instructor, some researchers say students have had the most success with hybrid or blended education. That can mean that students use digital content with a face-to-face instructor, or an online instructor and an in-class teacher may work together to assist students. Hybrid charter schools, which use mostly digital curriculum with face-to-face support and instruction—sometimes even combined with an online teacher—are gaining a foothold in K-12.” (No author, Education Week)

I am grateful that at Juniata most of our classes are like that. I would have struggled trying to finish many of the labs in this class with Professor Mickel. I appreciate the explanation that is provided for many of the PowerPoint presentations. In fact, digital simulations enhance how students are learning. “Digital simulations and models can help teachers explain concepts that are too big or too small, or processes that happen too quickly or too slowly to demonstrate in a physical classroom,” (Kessler, Mashable Tech ). This concept has to force teachers to figure out creative methods to keep students interested in the material and stretch beyond the material.

“Technology is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways. Its role in schools has evolved from a contained “computer class” into a versatile learning tool that could change how we demonstrate concepts, assign projects and assess progress.” (Kessler, Mashable Tech)

Juniata students are very lucky to attend this school. If a student needs a computer, there are many locations that he or she can go from P107 to Beeghly Library. However, many schools cannot afford to keep up with the expensive costs of technology. The constant additions to technology are not manageable for many school budgets especially in our current economic state.

“Schools are forever playing technological catch up as digital innovations emerge that require upgrading schools’ technological infrastructure and building new professional development programs. Some schools have been adept at keeping up with those changes, while many others are falling far behind, creating a digital divide based largely on the quality of educational technology, rather than just simple access to the Internet.” (No Author, Education Week)

                Technology is slowly becoming attached with education. No longer is a computer an extra tool but required by many schools even some giving laptops to their students. No longer is e-books frowned upon but encouraged to get along with tablets and other e-readers. Education is shifting to match the need for technology in classrooms. Is technology harming or helping us in our learning? I think that as one of the articles discusses, teachers need to be one step ahead of technology and students need to not rely heavily on electronics in classrooms. If we can find a balance between both, I think that technology and education can work well together.

Works Citied

No author. “Technology in Education.” Education Week. Pub. 01 Sept. 2011. Accessed. 07 Oct. 2012.  http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/technology-in-education/

Else Margrethe Eide and Tove Johannesen. “The role of the student in the age of technology: Will the role change with use of Information- and communication technology in education?” European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning. Pub: 23 Nov. 2000. Accessed:  07 Oct 2012 http://www.eurodl.org/index.php?article=82

Sarah Kessler. “8 Ways Technology Is Improving Education.” Mashable Tech. Pub: 22 Nov. 2010. Accessed: 07 Oct 2012. http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/