Use of Technology in Schools - Essay Example

Unit: All politics is local The use of technology in schools is common nowadays. Technology as in education is collection of tools that are important in improving students’ education and it is measured in how students and individuals use it. The word ‘technology ‘is a material thing in use to human beings such as hardware or machines, it can also include broader themes such as systems, techniques and method of organization. In addition, there are modern tools, which include laptop computers, overhead projectors, and calculators. Moreover, games both online and offline and smart phones are getting attention of learners. (Wagner et al.3) Laptops, videotapes, flash drives, cell phones, cell phones, networks, printers, tablets, computers, scanners, class management software programs, interactive whiteboards, internet technology and gaming consoles have one way or the other affected today’s schools. They have created a division in education system globally. In some way, technology use has serve schools well; modern technology has equalized educational opportunities and is playing an important role in all stakeholders who include parents, students, administrators, teachers, and school communities. For instance, Modern technology has removed geographical and generational barriers from learners; it has also lowered the cost of operational and instructional delivery of modes. This has also facilitated student-center education by allowing student to be more actively involved in technology-driven studying process and improve the quality of education aiming at individuals and it has made easier for remedial classes among individual students. Technology has been revolving in order to make studying process more efficient at a manageable cost. This has made legislators, policymakers, governors to have a tough time each year while trying to make attractive choices when it comes to educational improvement options. They have to know whether to use technology to invest in teacher training, class size reduction, or textbooks and tests. First, let us focus how technology has eliminated geographical and other barriers; internet connection has enabled everyone to get any online programs from any place in the globe it has brought impact in educational system. Any location someone is even it is overseas, one can access online program easily. Actually, the isolation or the geographical distance does not matter as it once did. The unseen web has, made a sense of togetherness possible to the whole world, because the virtual classrooms have taken away geographical and time separation across the world. The classes are now archive, whereby someone can hold more jobs a day and later view or listen to class work later. In addition, modern institutions offer massive open online courses for free in order to reach on students from anywhere free so that they can cut the cost o education. Secondly, modern technology has reduced the cost of instructional operation; the overall operational cost of running a school has reduced by far with the use of modern technology. We know that running a brick and mortar school is costly than running an online school. No money I needed to invest in building infrastructure such as dormitories, library, classrooms, and other needed facilities such as parking lots. We do not need all this facilities in online programs, for instances, we can have ebray or cbrary created from consortium of schools from online school. Cybrary will make students who are registered to get resources of this consolidated library. Modern technology enables students and schools to leave behind a very small copy of carbon footprints as stunts do not go anywhere thus saving gas and making their cars to last because there is no wear and tear. The money saved from gas, for instances, can be used to upgrade the laptops o purchasing a quicker internet service provider. The initial cost of putting an online I very cheap compared to starting a traditional school. There is no need of many material things in starting an online school. Therefore, in reducing the operational costs, the ever increasing tuition fees are reduced making education more access and affordable. Generally, the outstanding fees of students are more comparing to credit card balance that is less. Lastly, technology assists student-centered education; use of any learning technology such as adoptive learning software programs or computer that is made for personal purposes makes the students to be active in learning and also allows the students to study at their own time. In addition, remedial classes are personalized and other needs this makes the students to make their own choices by themselves. (Pflaum &William 2004) Moreover, when in charge o his or her learning makes the student to proceed at his or her own pace. The direct participation of the student makes the traditional role involvement of a teacher outdated making a teacher to be a just a mere coach and facilitator around the learner but not the center of classroom. Traditionally, the teacher was the center person o teaching in classroom because he was involved directly in learning but not the other way round. However, the students has been put by modern technology in the center of learning in the new system of education in fact they are performing better than other students who are using traditional ways of learning. (Warger & Cynthia 1990) In conclusion, the effect of technology in education has become vital part affecting schools an education worldwide. Educational technology has show a wider positive impact on achievements, positive impacts has been found in all sectors of education, in preschool through colleges both for special students and for regular students. In most cases, video interactive is more effective when especially if the skills have visual components. The use of online telecommunications in classroom has improved academic skills. In addition, education technology has positive effects on learner’s attitude toward studying and self-concept. Most students will be successful in college, motivated to study, and have increased self-confidence and self-esteem in with computer-based instruction. It is clearly shown when students get to control their own learning. (Blanchard & Jay 1999) The specific group of students, the teacher’s role, and software design, how the students are put together, and level of access to the technology determines the degree of effectiveness of educational technology. Students learning in collaborative have higher self-esteem and achieve a lot in class. Recently years, we have open courseware (OCW), which is an academic initiative that makes the public to access too much information used in graduate and undergraduate programs at institutions of higher education; this has greatly taken the level of education to greater heights available in the internet. In 2002, (OCW) gained acceptable, gaining popularity among other colleges and university. (Brady & Kevin 2012) The institutions like Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Stanford, and University of Michigan are positively accessing the information and resources with this technology. In addition, we have over the counter data, which is a design of education technology equipment that gives data to education stakeholders that include student data system that has vital impact on education and students. There are various technology in classroom used in traditional classroom which include; Computer in the classroom; computers in classroom are assets to any teachers. With computers in classrooms, it is easy for teachers to show anew lesson, show how to use new programs, present new material and show new websites. Class website; it is a place where the students can display their work in class. A website designed where the students and teachers display their work and assignment, famous quotes, trivia games and many more. In today world, children should know how to use the computers to find a way through the website. Students should easily view also all websites. Class blogs and wikis: there are many web tools used in classroom. Blogs allow most students to maintain a running dialogue. Class blogs and wikis work as a tool for maintaining a journal of thoughts, assignments and ideas, as well as making the student reflect and comment. Wikis focuses more on groups to allow many members of the group to check over a single document and create a truly carefully and collaborative alter finished product. (Panigrahy & Rajib 2010) Blogs enable the student to show their knowledge of the information studied in a manner that they like. Something students do blogging for fun, so when they are assigned some work to do a blog they are ready to do it. Mobile devices: Mobile devices like smart phone or clickers improve the feeling in the classroom by giving the possibility for teachers to get feedback. Wireless classroom microphones: since noisy classrooms are the order of the day, with the assistance of microphones, students will be able to hear their professors more clearly. Students learn better in a free noise place. The teachers will not lose their voices at the end of the day. Interactive Whiteboards: it provides touch control of computer system. These improve the experience in the classroom by showing all the things that can be on a computer screen. This does not help in visual learning, but it is engaging so that students can write, draw, or use images on the interactive whiteboard. (LeBaron et al. 3) Online media: The Streamed video websites are used to enhance a classroom lesson that is united Streaming and Teacher Tube. Digital video-on-demand: It is replacement of DVD, VHS, which are hard copy with digital video. Digital video removes the need for hardware players in class. Digital video-on-demand allows students and teachers to access video clips faster without even utilizing the public Internet. Online study tools: they are tools that help students in studying. They make studying more fun and individualized for the student. Digital Games: The field of serious games and educational games has been coming up significantly over the last few years. The digital games are tools for the classroom and have a lot of positive impact including higher motivation for students. There are many tools used depending on the funds available and local school board. They include digital cameras, interactive whiteboard, video cameras, document cameras, or LCD projectors. Podcasts; Pod-casting is a new method that allows anyone to write files to the Internet where students can subscribe and receive new files from people by a subscription. The benefit of podcasting is that it allows teachers to be in touch with students and became part of their lives. For a technology, that requires a microphone, computer, and internet connection, podcasting has the ability to advance students life even outside classroom. Pod casting can enables students to enhance their vocabulary, editing, writing, public speaking, and presentation skills. In conclusion, it is clear that technology has brought positive impact in education globally, although they are other sites like social networking which has negative impacts than positive impacts among the students. However, students who use computers system cooperate, have sharing behaviors, and compete among each other academically. Works cited Being fluent with information technology. Washington: National Academy Press, 1999. Print. Blanchard, Jay S. Educational computing in the schools: technology, communication, and literacy. New York: Haworth Press, 1999. Print. Brady, Kevin P. Technology in schools. Los Angeles, Calif.: Sage Reference, 2012. Print. Information technology and libraries. Chicago, IL: [Library and Information Technology Association], 1982. Print. LeBaron, John, and Catherine Collier. Technology in its place: successful technology infusion in schools. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001. Print. Panigrahy, Rajib Lochan. Information technology. Delhi: Manglam, 2010. Print. Pflaum, William D. The technology fix the promise and reality of computers in our schools. Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2004. Print. Technology. London: HMSO, 1993. Print. Warger, Cynthia L. Technology in today's schools. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1990. Print. Wagner, Caroline S., and Allison Yezril. Global science & technology information a new spin on access. Santa Monica, CA: Science and Technology Policy Institute, RAND, 1999. Print. Read More