Tuesday, May 5, 2009

What impact does technology have on students?



Teaching students who are growing up during the midst of a technological revolution can be quite challenging at times. Students are constantly distracted and bombarded by the latest and newest technologies around. It amazes me how a student may walk into my classroom without the proper supplies ( because they have no money) but yet they have the latest new cell phone or ipod! In all honesty I am only 28 years old and am no stranger to the technology of today but I did not grow up with all the same technology as my students. I never heard of social networking sites such as MySpace until I began teaching 3 years ago! My question is how much does technology influence the way students think and learn in the classroom? Students all over the world have so much access to a variety of information and all it takes is a click of a button on a keyboard to get it all. How do we as teachers compete with all of this? Unfortunately I have access to very little technology, a television with a VCR and DVD player and two computers that sometimes work. Some of my colleagues have smart boards, projectors, computers, and a TV at their disposal courtesy of NCLB funds. By no means I am complaining about the lack of technology in my classroom or about technology in general. I am a firm believer that many schools need to update themselves and become a part of the 21st century. Our students have changed but many of our schools/classrooms have not. Since so many of our students are "connected" will the incorporation of modern technology in all our schools result in students receiving a better quality education that will allow them to better compete globally?

6 comments:

  1. Mrs. Collado I cannot agree with you more. How are your students going to compete with students of 21st century skills in the workplace when they never have been exposed to the technology yet?

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  2. I am very impressed!

    Dr. Howe

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  3. Kelli,

    Our schools need to get on the same page nationally and begin bringing our schools out of the 19th century into the 21st century!

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  4. Honestly, I do not think there is an answer in trying to stay abreast with the lastest and greatest in technology. David Thornburg stated, "Us users of technology shape how it will be used." Depending on the school district funds for technology is a determining factor for those teachers that want to incoperate technology in the classroom. Then there are teachers that chose to use the least amount of technology they can get away with. It is a 'catch 22' for our students.

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  5. msphatboy,

    I agree that a school districts funds determine the amount of technology that is out into the classrooms of teachers. As for my district the funds for technology comes from NCLB federal money and other funds of the like for other subject areas. Yes it most certainly is a "catch 22". But don't you think many districts need to start spending money more wisely to better benefit the level of education the students recieve?

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