The Break Evens

In today’s classrooms students are reaping the benefits of technology from an early age. There still is much to be said for the tried and true methods of teaching, however technology is effective as a means to augment the educational process. Today’s world is rife with technology and incorporating it in the school setting simply prepares students more fully for what lies ahead outside the classroom. Studies have been done to determine the overall success of technology in school and some very interesting findings point out that we are definitely headed in the right direction.

Technology provides better simulations and models of theoretical situations thus better allowing students to internalize abstract lessons. Also some processes happen so fast that it is impossible to study with the naked eye. Through the use of slow motion technology, these processes can be studied part by part for a better overall understanding.

Global learning is achieved through the use of technology. In language for example, young students learning a foreign language can actually interact with students from another country to gain first-hand knowledge of their native tongue. Virtual pen pals are quite common in today’s classrooms and this allows a student to actually interact with the language on a personal level.

Creating virtual situations which highlight a particular lesson has been a godsend to teachers. Today through the use of technology, it is quite simple to manipulate a virtual situation to concertize the concept being studied. This allows the student to actually see the lesson rather than having to simply visualize it in their mind.

Probes and sensors have a wide range of educational applications. Collecting real time data through probes and sensors allows the student to actively participate in experiments that used to be strictly theoretical.

Through the use of technology, teachers have a much more effective tool in assessment of students. Verbatim recitations of facts and theories do not necessarily mean the student understands the underlying concept. By actually manipulating virtual processes, the student can easily demonstrate their full understanding.

Games and e-books are all the rage both in and outside the classroom. The natural affinity of students to these techno gadgets maintains a high degree of motivation and yields a better learning curve. Just try to keep young students away from educational games and e-books! The reward is inherent in the use of the technology. What a great benefit.

There is no doubt that technology is a great addition to the classroom of today. Teachers must be conversant in its use and applications to take advantage of these great new tools.

Teaching in today’s classroom is dramatically different when the use of technology is incorporated into the educational process. Instead of a teacher lecturing a classroom where the students simply take a passive role in listening to their instructor and trying to internalize the lesson, using technology by the students allows them to take an active role in their own education. In this manner the student is actively making choices as how to generate, garner, facilitate and display information germane to their lesson. Technology allows students to take a more active role in completing their tasks, determining their educational goals, and evaluating their progress.

The most exciting element of this strategy is that the teacher is no longer the focus of attention. They simply become a facilitator and adviser while the student actually travels the path of finding their own solutions and answering their own questions by trying to ferret out the correct assumptions through the use of their own technology-supported product or device.

By far the most common positive feedback from teachers involves the increase in student motivation. Many kids today already have a natural affinity to laptops, computers, notebooks and pads. Many times, they denote these devices as objects of fun and entertainment. Thus their use in this capacity is overwhelmingly accepted by the student base as a whole.

Educational feedback is also a great by-product of this approach. Students, especially younger kids, prefer instant feedback. By the use of technology this is easily achieved and becomes more meaningful for the students. Studies have found that kids are using their work-related devices during study breaks and even during recess. Many less verbal kids find a new source to develop their confidence. Also it is widely know that different individuals use different learning modalities for true learning. Kinetic skills develop for those kids that learn more through touching than verbal or sight.

Finally- the technical skills developed by simply using various devices and software packages are a tremendous boon to kids getting ready for higher education or the workforce. As they peruse the internet they become quite proficient in basic skills pertinent to all walks of life.