Kim Mazza
Ed Ps 6151
Barron: Technologies for Education: A Practical Guide
Question 3: What are the benefits of technology in education?
According to Barron, the benefits of technology in education encompass many realms; such as learning to find and analyze information on the internet, “increase in student achievement”, technology provides “stimulating environments”, “increase in logical thinking”, diversified learning and communication. The use of modern day technology stretches into the very core of society and the child who is not taught how to use it will be left far behind. The teacher who cannot or will not use technology in the classroom will alienate themselves and their students from experiences that will aide them in their marketable skills latter in life. Teachers that use technology in their classroom allow for the student to increase their potential in critical thinking skills, being part of a larger environment where they share and disseminate information. Those teachers who use technology as a tool allow for children to learn how to communicate in various ways. Students can work collaboratively on projects where each contributes to the project, they can video conference with students in other parts of the country or world, they can learn to use a variety means to chat or find information with cell phones, computers, and other interfaces to enhance their learning environment. With that said, there is a potential for the wrong kind of learning to take place as well. If teachers are not prepared with skills to use the technology successfully, then there is the potential for that teacher not to reap the benefits that can come with proper use of it.
Barron makes the point that while technology in the classroom has many benefits for the children, it can also be frustrating and expensive to bring to every classroom. However, she makes no mistake to state straight forward that the school community is often “disappointed when they find that measuring the effectiveness of new technologies in education is more complicated that giving standardized tests” (Barron, 3).
Through the use of multimedia technology it has been reported, that students that used one or more of the following showed an increase in achievement in national standardized tests, those technologies are: computer assisted instruction, integrated learning systems technology, simulations and software that teaches higher order thinking, collaborative networked technologies, and design and programming technologies (Barron, 4). Barron proposes that the use of technology creates “new learning environments” and “linked with strategies that promote student involvement and active learning in the educational process” (Barron, 4). Isn’t that the focus of education that we give our students the opportunity to be active in their learning instead of passive listeners.
I think that it is true that integrating technology increases the higher order thinking necessary for success not just in the classroom but in the work place. It is important to be able to think of multiple things at once in order to accomplish a task, I think that technology helps enhance this.
ReplyDeleteTeachers definitely need to be trained to use technology in an effective manner, otherwise the use of such instruction will result in, as Barron quotes, "the billions of dollars invested in educational technology initiatives [being] wasted" (pg. 8).
ReplyDeleteWhen teachers are aware of the impact of their use of technology and use it in a way that creates the most effective and efficient learning environment, then students will be positively impacted and will be more apt to actively learn. I think a major aspect of the research findings is that ALL students benefit; technology is a very inclusive approach to education and it is amazing that it can be so useful for all students!
There are benefits to the carefully planned use of technology in classrooms. It is, however, also true that bringing technology in classrooms is not necessarily simple. The latest technology is also the most expensive technology. Using older technology is not always as effective as using what is newer because students are most familiar with the most current forms. When budgets are cut, technological resources do not seem to be very high on the list of priorities. It can be challenging to gain the materials teachers desire for their classrooms, but when they can get the materials and use them effectively, their students are more engaged in learning.
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