Support the Use of Technology

Technology in Schools

The use of information technology has a great impact in improving the level of learning in academic institutions. In today’s schools, there is an increased access to the internet and computer based programs which have improved the academic level in learning institutions (HubPages, 2010). From my own perspective, technology is becoming a key component of transformation on how people communicate, think and manage their daily life. In order for people to be conversant with this digital age, they must be thought on how to apply it in their daily life. This is made achievable through learning institutions thus making technology to be vital in life.

Importance of technology in schools

There is increased number of students who enroll in various academic programs to improve on their level of education (Zhao & Frank, 2009). This is achieved through an e-learning program which enables students to get education without having the need to travel to their respective institutions.
There is improved teaching among the academic institutions. This is because the teachers are adequately prepared on how to teach with modern technology (Schofield, 1995). This enables students to be conversant on how to use technology in order to improve learning.
There is an effective communication among the people through the use of modern technological advanced equipment. These equipments include: personal digital assistant (PDAs), cell phones, MP3 players and computers.
The students are equipped with knowledge on how to analyze and interpret data of various kinds.
There are increased applications of what is thought in class to the real life situation. These have enabled education to be very relevant to the society at large.
There is a reduction in technology illiteracy among students thus enabling them to be very relevant globally.
There is economic viability of students. This is because most of the jobs are done through an online program thus enabling students to team up and improve productivity (Mosenson & Johnson, 2008).
It provides feedback about student progress to both students’ and teachers.
There is extension of program content beyond the classroom.
There is advanced application of critical and creative thinking in the students and teachers fraternity.

Technology trends impacting education

The emerging of new technologies every year is making a great impact in education. In order to adequately prepare the future generation, the society should be ready to accept these new changes and integrate them in their teaching program (Schofield, 1995). This can be achieved through updating teachers on current technological changes so that they become conversant and implement them in their teaching program.

For the teachers to be efficient in using technology for their teaching programs, they should meet the following credentials:

They are illustrate a good knowledge of technology in operations and concepts.
They are supposed to be in a position to implement curriculum plans and strategies for the application of technology so as to optimize on student learning.
They are supposed to be in a position to plan and design for an efficient learning environment which upholds technology.
The teachers are set to apply technology in the assessment and evaluation

In summary, the teachers should demonstrate their ability in the use of various computer applications and advanced technology in their teaching programs (Tornatzky, 1982).

The students should be ready to acquire this new technology and apply it in their real life situation in problem solving and making informed decisions.

Technology enhances critical thinking.

Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with an aim of improving on it. The use of technology has enhanced student thinking and learning especially when teachers want students to generate ideas in solving a certain problem.

These have helped the students in the following ways:

Which brings forth critical questions that involves implementing them efficiently.
Enable students to come up with good reasoned solutions and conclusions concerning a particular problem.
Students are able to communicate effectively with others by finding out solutions to critical problems.

The explosion of technology has bombarded us by information from all corners of the world. This has lead to exponential growth of knowledge with a high rate of change that requires us to think critically about the information we access from the internet.

In summary technology has enhanced critical thinking in that it has caused the student to examine the information and search for the truth.

Role of technology in today’s life

With the incoming of new technological gadgets, life is getting simplified day by day. Technology is likely to rule our present and future life thus it’s better to expose children to these technological trends at an early age. If the children are trained during their time in school, it is easy for them to adapt to these technological trends thus becoming beneficial to the society in the long run.

According to researchers, it’s believed that children who are exposed to technology show a great improvement in their reading, writing and math skills (Tornatzky, 1990). Technology has reduced school dropout rates among students by improving on their school attendance and learning abilities. This has laid a great foundation of success in their individual life.

The use of software computer based programs has simplified learning in classroom by helping students to absorb materials very easily (Rogers, 1995). For example, the use of projector in class is very useful to visual learners. Students can also access notes as the teacher is lecturing thus making the session to be interesting.

Technology has also simplified the school administration process in that the information regarding teachers, students and school employees are efficiently managed by the use of advanced technology. The information regarding them is stored in the school database for easy retrieval at any time. The school library has also a management system for easy management of library information.

The schools have also gone to the extent of hosting their own website that has information regarding the school (Tyack & Cuban, 1995). This has helped the students to learn more concerning the school progress.

Ethical Issues Surrounding Technology

There is a great concern by the society on how young people use the internet. The society has come up with an initiative regarding internet safety that helps young people to use technologies in a manner that is responsible. There is filtering software that has been developed for effectively protecting students from inappropriate and harmful materials on the internet.

Conclusion

There is a great effort that has been made to provide access to technology in school but it is not being utilized to the fullest in helping students. The teachers require proper preparation in their teaching procedures in situations that involve the inclusion of technology in the teaching process. This is efficiently done in the following manner:

By having a strategy on how to integrate technology from one class to another as the student progresses.
By measuring trends of each and every student on how he/she is progressing in the use technology.

Some people believe that technology has spoiled the young generation but according to my own view, technology is doing more good than harm.

Regardless of this argument, technology is playing a very important role in today’s society (Smerdon, et al, 2000). Through incorporation of technology in school curriculum, students will be well equipped with technical knowledge that will transform them from the classroom to the work place.

It’s therefore better for the government to take an initiative of investing in technology in all academic institutions for the benefit of the young generation.

References

HubPages. (2010). Technological Gadgets in Learning. Retrieved June 6, 2011, from HubPages: http://hubpages.com/hub/Use-Of-Technology-In-Education

Mosenson, A. B., & Johnson, J. M. (2008). Instructional Strategies and Resources: Exploring the Use of Technology. Journal of Family Consumer Science Education, 26 , 17-35.

Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations (4th ed.). New York: Free Press.

Sandholtz, J. H., Ringstaff, C., & Dwyer, D. C. (1997). Teaching with Technology:

Creating Student-Centered Classrooms. New York: Teachers College Press.

Schofield, J. W. (1995). Computers and Classroom Culture. New York: Cambridge

University Press.

Smerdon, B., Cronen, S., Lanahan, L., Anderson, J., Iannotti, N., & Angeles, J. (2000).

Teachers’ Tools for the 21 st Century: A Report on Teachers’ Use of Technology.

Tornatzky, L. G. & Fleischer, M. (1990). The Process of Technological Innovation.

Lexington Books.

Tornatzky, L.G.; Klein, K.J. (1982). Innovation characteristics and innovation adoption –

implementation: a meta-analysis of findings. IEEE Transactions on Engineering

Management, 29, 28-45.

Tyack, D. B., & Cuban, L. (1995). Tinkering toward utopia : a century of public school

preform. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Zhao, Y., & Frank, K. A. (2009). Factors Affecting Technology Uses in Schools.

Michigan State University, 1-51.

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