Dylan Jann Green 1

E.L.L 6/10/12

Technology In the Schools Curriculum

In a world becoming more and more dependent on technology, a persons success revolves around their ability to properly utilize it. This is the same in schools. Technology can improve a students education in almost every subject, and at the same time improve the efficiency of the school. (Simmons, 1). The integration of technology into schools is inevitable. It is up to the individual schools however, to either embrace the school of the future, or just wait and stay in the past. Technology is all around us from smartphones and computers to video games and televisions. According to Jukes, McCain & Crockett, Some researchers have begun to question whether the changes within the brain have altered the ways in which children move through the cognitive developmental stages (Conley, 5). With all this technology, a student's mind is wired differently, strengthening some parts of the brain while weakening others. (Conley, 5). The students of today, more than ever, are becoming very visual learners, instead of text and auditory based learning. (Conley, 6). Students like this will struggle with the standard textbook based model, while using technology like computers and interactive games will give a new perspective on learning with a learning-through-doing method. It is thought that technology has bad effects on todays youth, impeding social and critical thinking skills, but it is actually quite the opposite. Technology can greatly improve a student's education. In todays educational system, there is an importance on standardized testing. According to an eight year study done on a New Hampshire school, SAT I scores significantly improved after technology was introduced into the schools curriculum . (Conley, 2). Overall test grades were elevated, as well as student participation, and behavior. The attendance rate also increased and the dropout rate decreased. (Conley, 2). With technology, students can be more involved and therefore more interested in what they are learning. Sivin-Kachala said that, When students are given meaningful interactions with computers, software and the internet, they are more motivated, engaged, and involved in their own learning (Conley, 2). In a study which students chose if they wanted to use technology or not, students who chose to utilize technology benefited greatly, with a strong improvement in class performance and overall grades. (Conley, 2). By introducing technology like this teachers can properly teach the students the way their brains are wired to take in and process information. Using technology in schools would prepare students for the modern working world. Today most of the jobs that require a low level of thinking have moved outside of the country. This means that students need to learn modern thinking skills, such as creativity, collaborating with others, and being able to adapt to obstacles. Unfortunately,

todays classroom does not teach students any of these critical skills. By expanding the curriculum, however, to include more meaningful technology, which will teach thinking skills and better prepare students for the for the fast-paced modern world. (Conley, 6). Aside from just teaching and learning, technology can also increase the school's efficiency. Using computers to accomplish tasks instead of teachers handing out countless worksheets can save paper and money for the school. A single school can go through over 200,000 sheets of paper in one month. All the schools in America together use over 158 trillion sheets of paper per year, and that does not including textbooks and student notebooks. (Johnson, 1). Students performing school work electronically could drastically reduce this alarming number. Fully integrating technology into the schools curriculum would be greatly beneficial to students education. Once schools can overcome the obstacles involved in incorporating such a system, students will be able to reap the benefits of a better education and prepare for a modern life in the 21st century.

Works Cited
Conley, Laurie. "The Digital Librarian." The Digital Librarian. Web. 06 June 2012. <https://sites.google.com/site/thedigitallibrarian/home>. Johnson, Ben. "Paper and Pencil Curriculum: How Much Do You Rely on It?" Edutopia. N.p., 22 Feb. 2011. Web. 11 June 2012. <http://www.edutopia.org/blog/paperless-schools-techologyben-johnson>. Simmons, Emilie. "Advantages of Educational Technology." Advantages of Educational Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 June 2012. <http://www.csus.edu/indiv/p/papalewisr/journal2001/paper1.htm>.