Teachers and Technology in Classrooms - Assignment Example

TEACHERS AND TECHNOLOGY IN ROOMS Methodology Research Paper Mari Montelongo Foundations of Research in Education EDFR 6300-63 September 7, Ignacio E. Rodriguez, PhD. Teachers and Technology in Classrooms Introduction Teachers in today’s and tomorrow’s classrooms should use technology more, but in another sense the back to basics education works too. In this research proposal I will be finding out how much teachers really like and use technology in their classrooms. I believe that educators need to find a way to pull computer education and back to basics education together beyond the drill and practice, educational games and even basic simulations. Technology is a teaching medium that must be learned and relearned because computers are forever changing. Research Method and Design Appropriateness This project can tell us how teachers can keep their skills up-to date from year to year. When teachers want to teach critical thinking skills to their students to improve these skills by completing activities related to real life situations, but more detail is presented so students will become involved to solve the problem. This research will also show us how computers can be used in the classroom without the teachers going back to school for another degree in Computer Science. Teachers have learn on their own what computer models they will be working with and they must know what programs will be compatible with their classroom computers. Thorough the use of questionnaires and interviews this project will show what teachers feel about the use of computers and other technology in school classrooms. Classrooms have progressed from using desktop computers to laptops and now iPads. Classrooms still use the others, but it is more compatible to use the iPads if available. Teachers learn that technology is ever-changing and can they be expected to keep up with all the changes, since it seems that there is always something new every few months. The question tends to be is technology really improving learning and teaching. There is a program called Apple Classrooms for Tomorrow (ACOT) that discusses what teachers need to do to keep up with computer education. According to this program teachers experienced uncertainty and frustration with all the changes. The turning point happens when the teachers start to master their skills with the computer. (Sadker, 1999) Teachers can teach students how to make the necessary adaptations to different computer technologies by learning together. Interactive learning brings about empowerment and working together teachers and students can learn how to survive this world. Teachers still use computers for drill and practice and various simulations that teach the basics, but not enough for students to compete with other students and/or schools. Teachers need to be more inventive with their lesson plans. “Technology has the potential to dramatically reshape our earlier perception of education.” (Sadker, 1999) Teachers and technology must learn to accept change and make these changes when needed. Teachers should prepare their students for scientific and technologic skills. We must all learn to function in a highly technical world. In the classroom teacher’s learning of technology they can pick certain programs that has textbooks that can choose and then edit the material for their own purpose of the course or classes they teach. We all think that technology makes things better in our lives, learning styles, and cultures. Technology will keep on challenging us to keep learning and making improvements. We need information, but we still need to learn to communicate with humans to bring about understanding. This project will ask the question ‘Will technology take over and mold the students’ nature when they let the computer lead them in their search for knowledge. We need to have a purpose to our teaching and learning. Technology is another way of gaining empowerment for teachers and the students. Population A group of teachers that use computers in their classrooms for all aspects of the curriculum. Population Sample These teachers will be questioned through interviews and questionnaires. There will be 10 teachers who are beginning and tenured. Data Collection In this study the interviewer will use interviews and questionnaires to see how these teachers use computers in their classrooms to teach their classes. Instrumentation and Informed Consent/confidentiality I am asking for your participation on this project to find out how you use the computers in your classroom. All responses will be confidential. When this project is completed you will have more ways in working with computers. Sign and date___________________ In doing the research for this topic, I will be asking the teachers to fill in a questionnaire and practice in a brief interview on computer educational technology. I have written a Likert Scale for the questionnaire and I have a list of basic questions for the interview. Population Samples I will be asking a group of 10 teachers (beginning teachers and tenured teachers) on how they feel about computer education and how they were taught about computers. We may also learn how teachers adapt their classrooms to include technology. Likert Scale Fill in this Likert Scale of how you feel computer technology has changed instruction and education in general. (1) Meaning no change and (5) most change. 1. Do you think getting new models of computers will improve instruction? 1 2 3 4 5 2. Do you think computer instruction has improved for the better for education? 1 2 3 4 5 3. Do you think computer instruction has gotten worse for education? 1 2 3 4 5 4. Do you think students learn certain subjects better with computer instruction? 1 2 3 4 5 5. Does computer education teach skills and concepts better? 1 2 3 4 5 6. Is computer instruction important to all levels of computer education? 1 2 3 4 5 7. Is computer education helping students achieve more? 1 2 3 4 5 8. Due to more technology in the classroom do you think school days should be longer? 1 2 3 4 5 9. Could computer instruction be used to teach cultural aspects? 1 2 3 4 5 10. Does computer instruction improve quality of instruction? 1 2 3 4 5 11. Do you agree that computer education and back to basics education are compatible? 1 2 3 4 5 12. Will computers totally eliminate the need for traditional textbooks? 1 2 3 4 5 13. Will long distance education totally replace brick and mortar buildings? 1 2 3 4 5 14. Do computers improve communication and understanding of concepts in the classroom? 1 2 3 4 5 Interview Questions 1. How would you incorporate computers in your classroom if you do not already have one? 2. Computers and other types of technology will they improve or destroy instruction? 3. How would describe yourself as a teacher of computer education? 4. How do you use computers in your classroom and be explicit? 5. Describe technology in your own words? 6. What other forms of technology do you use in your classroom? 7. What are your favorite models of computer? (desktop, laptop, Ipad, etc..) 8. How would computers possibly destroy instruction and learning? 9. How did you learn about computers? 10. How has computers changed since your first became a teacher? 11. How many subjects can you teach using the computer? 12. Do you use computers just for fun? 13. Do you use computers for professional reasons only 14. Do you think your school budgets could afford to keep up with computer needs? Data Analysis When all the teachers have been interviewed and the questionnaires have been scored we will see if computers are being used appropriately for the grade levels they are being used for at the present time. We will see how reliable and valid the use of computers in the classroom s will be. Final Comments Computers in education are always changing and it is at times frustrating. Computers were meant to make teaching and learning easier. They were also meant to be more engaging for the students so they can learn better than just listening to the teacher lecture and reading textbooks that may just be out of date, but with school budgets teachers have to make the best with what is available for the classroom. References Ornestein, Allen C. & Hunkins. Curriculum Foundations, Principles, and Issues, Chapter 12 Curriculum Issues and Trends, 3rd edition Allyn & Bacon 1998. Ornstein, Allen C. & Hunkins. Curriculum Foundations, Principles, and Issues, Chapter 13 Future Directions for Curriculum, 3rd edition, Allyn & Bacon 1998. Sadker, Myra Pollack & Sadker, David Miller. Teachers, Schools, and Society; Chapter 16 Tomorrow’s Schools, 3rd edition, McGraw Hill 1994. References Galanouli, D., Murphy, C., & Gardner, J. (2004). Teacher’s perceptions of the effectiveness of ICT-competence training. Computers & Education, 43(1-2), 63-79 Krischner, P., & Selinger, M. (2003). The state of affairs of teacher education with respect to information and communications technology. Pedagogy & Education, 12(1), 5-17. Knezek,G., & Christensen, R. (2002). Impact of new information technologies on teachers and students. Education & Information Technologies, 7(4), 369-376. Mumtaz, S. (2000). Factors affecting teachers’ use of information and communications technology: A review of the literature. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher Education, 9(3), 319-342. Read More