Technology Within The Classroom

Any means of technology used within a classroom is proof that we are a society striving to better our understanding of the world around us.  Technology can be a useful tool and provide a different level of thinking for students, however in many cases, technology can just confuse the student even more. 

The idea to utilize school computers and programs is an ideal thought.  The fact is, not every student will find it easier, it may be exactly what one particular student needs but for another it may just be a nightmare.  Programs can help organize a student's thought process, help with research, be a means of communication, or even be a tool for learning itself.  Unfortunately, I am beginning to think that over time our society is using less of our brains and just trying to find quick solutions/answers to things.  What is the solution to most quick answers?  Technology of course.  You don't want to graph a limit function on your paper to find the answer, no problem just grab that handy dandy TI-83 plus and plug in the numbers.  You don't feel like writing an essay for Beowulf, no problem just find an essay you like on PinkMonkey.com, print it out, and prey your teacher doesn't notice.

I must also point out the many wondrous benefits of technology also.  I can turn everything I have said previously into positives.  For instance that student that used his TI-83 plus for a limit function could have actually graphed it first by hand and is now checking his or her answer.  In this case technology can be a way to check your understanding of a subject, or problem.  For the student that doesn't want to write his or her paper on Beowulf, maybe that is because they just couldn't understand anything about it.  In this case the student can find helpful notes online to help him or her dive into the text and understand the basic concepts, giving him or her the tools to write the paper.

I must also touch base on constructivism and the use of technology within such a classroom.  Constructivism would be ideal for upper level, mature, highly intellectual students.  For example in my high school i remember my honors geometry teacher using constructivism within the classroom.  This proved to be perfect within our classroom, because we were upperclassman and all determined to succeed.  He would often put us into groups where we would share answers, work out problems, even design our own problems.  Unfortunately I do not believe this is possible within every classroom.  For instance a third grade class can't be split into groups and expected to problem solve, psychologically they haven't developed those skills yet.  Therefore using technology in a constructivism environment would only prove beneficial to students, they would learn to figure things out for themselves and ultimately broaden their understandings.  Unfortunately, attempting to use technology in an environment unsuitable for constructivism may deem disastrous.

Overall I believe any teacher whom effectively and appropriately uses constructivism and technology within their classroom will come to realize the benefits in the end.  Technology itself can be a tool to help students or it can be a quick answer for some.  Technology can also be a way to broaden and diversify one's thoughts or it can just be a silly game student's don't understand or care about.  In the end it is up to the teacher to try new things, observe their effects, change certain things to make it work better, or just realize it won't work and find some new tools to use.

By:  Elizabeth Carr
9/7/07