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3-20-18
Essay Exam
Times are changing in our education system, and along with that comes more use of
technology. We are living in a society that is heavily technology based, and it is starting to make
its way into our classrooms more and more. The internet is a big thing that is being integrated
into our classrooms. Allowing the internet into our classrooms is something that can be a huge
advantage in our teaching, but also a disadvantage. “Making to use of technology to allow
students the freedom to discover solutions to problems both independently and collaboratively is
a force for good. As educators we strive for students to engage with our subject beyond a
superficial level. We want them to be active learners, learners who have a thirst for discovery
and knowledge. Technology places the world in the hands of every student inside the confines
of your classroom” (Britland, 2013). I think this is beneficial for children in the older elementary
grades like middle of third grade through fifth grade. This is an advantage because we can allow
our students to take control of their own questions, as well as do their own internet research on
the topic they are studying. It also allows students to do group work. I do not have a field this
semester but I am a substitute, and am often left a note to take the children down to the
computer lab to work on their projects. The kids are respectful of the internet and know the
proper way to use it. Is Technology Changing the Role of Teachers Jason Bedford (2013) says
that “Digital literacy, in particular has become one of the main priorities of 21st century
education. It’s a central theme of the common core state standards, and a skill that many will
argue will be vital for students attending college and/or pursuing successful careers in the 21st
century. Technology has become the norm in our nation’s schools - you would be hard pressed
to find districts without access to computer labs or the Internet.” I would have to say this is true
in the last 9 years. When I was in elementary/middle school we didn’t have technology in the
classroom. We had a computer lab in the basement of the school, but it was only used for
middle schoolers, and we only used it in library. However, when I got to 8th grade I remember
we had two computers in the back of the classroom, but I remember they were only used for
yearbook purposes. We never used them for the internet. I also remember at the end of eighth
grade we got our school’s first smart board. I remember it had a lot of problems because we
didn’t have the internet/technology to use it. Jason Bedford (2013) says that “One major way
that teaching has changed in the 21st century is that educators have become facilitators of
learning. In other words, they help students discover knowledge on their own, rather than simply
imparting it. This places students in an active role and keeps them engaged and interested in a
world that is rapidly changing.” Since I started subbing I have first hand encountered this new
facilitator philosophy. Teachers now facilitate learning by giving the students their assignments
and allowing the students to do it using different resources in the classroom. Sometimes the
students will use books, other times they will be able to use the internet.
As future teacher’s technology will be a huge part of our classrooms. We are the digital
natives of teaching and we will be the ones to show our fellow coworkers how to use that
technology and involve it in our classrooms. Our students are living in a technological society.
They are so in to technology, they have the technological brain. Technology promotes lifelong
learning, and makes learning fun. How Technology Has Changed Education Ali Raza (2017)
states that “One of the main ways in which technology has changed education relates to the
various forms in which learning content is now delivered. Teachers can now use videos,
animations, and other forms of content to enhance the process of learning. It is now common for
learners and teachers to use games as a way of enhancing the process of learning and
teaching. As a result learning and teaching are now fun and more meaningful than they were in
the past.”
Technology is also changing the role of teachers in education by it is creating better use
of real-world issues , This model encourages the use of real-world problems in the classroom.
By using the internet, the students can research real issues happening at the moment that are
related the classroom curriculum. This helps the students understand that the lesson being
taught refers to real problems and real people” ( Lynch, 2017). I remember in my field
placement we were talking about the oceans, and we were doing a simulation of an oil spill, so
we took a bucket of water and dumped a huge thing of vegetable oil and put some feathers in
the water as well. Before we started with the experiment we pulled up a video of oil spills and
we talked with the children about how they manage oil spills, and what they do to take care of
the animals that may be affected. For instance, ducks. The children loved that video and it
brought a real world perspective to them and it showed them that even though we don’t always
hear of these things happening where we live they happen around us, and it affects the people
around us as well. According to Matthew Lynch (2017) Allowing technology into our classroom
is great for formative assessment. “Teachers ensure that students are learning not only the
concepts, but also how to use the technology resources they have. Technology-focused
activities mostly require critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Teachers work as facilitators,
“Teaching is all about introducing students to a whole world of concepts that they didn’t know
about yet. Technology in the classroom is like a foray into modern invention - and you get to be
the expedition leader. Rather than viewing digital devices and internet spaces as a threat to
your duties, view them as unexplored areas of growth for both you and young minds trusting
you to show them what’s out there” (Lynch, 2017). I see this more and more as a student. In
highschool we were often asked to pull out our phones in class and do research on a question
that was brought up in class. In college especially in my Ed Psych class our Professor asks us
often to pull out our phones and look up answers to questions or to do research on a topic she
has given us, and then share what we found with the class. Technology is not a hindrance it is a
One that I can think of is the use of internet. The internet is a great thing if you teach your
students how to find and where to look for trustworthy information. Often times the students may
come across untrue information and believe it because it is on the internet. According to
University Homework Help, They say that “With the speeding development of technology, the
websites owner urges to rank their websites higher in search engines so they only concentrate
on rankings instead of content they are posting. Many websites come with wrong information
that has been copied and pasted from other sources without checking its authenticity. Thus, the
learners are misguided by the wrong informations available on the websites. These things can
perhaps become serious obstacles in their development. I remember one time in my field
placement class, my teacher looked up information and then later, she read somewhere that the
information on that website was false, so she had to check many other websites to make sure
the new information that she provided was credible. This goes to show you that not everything
that we read about on the information is true, and we have to teach our students how to look at
websites and make sure they are credible. We need to teach them that .org, and .gov websites
are typically the most credible and where we should go for information.
they say that the pace of change is an issue in classrooms. “Not all schools can keep up with
the rapidly changing technology. Upgrading equipment is often costly and schools may not have
the manpower to handle the equipment. Most classrooms contain at least twenty students,
which can take up a great deal of internet bandwidth in the instance that they all must access
their laptop or tablet at once. Likewise, new hires may be necessary for teaching students how
to use the newer digital media. Yet another expense to the school. This could be as complex as
needing an IT staff to work out potential glitches in the system to hiring teachers with
comprehension for various software instead of teachers that are somewhat less skilled with
technology. If a student is required to do homework using their tablet, their parents may not be
able to help them with any questions if they are not familiar with the software or equipment
(Heick, 2016). As a future educator, and after spending a lot of time in classrooms I have
noticed that Internet connection is an issue.My cooperating teacher wrote a grant for a
classroom set of Ipads for her students, and they are great. They are awesome for using at
centers, or for small groups, however when all 28 of her students need to be on their Ipads at
the same time the Internet often kicks them off, or does not load anything. So I can see where
that is an issue for educators in the classroom if they rely on only technology.
Overall, I think technology is a great thing to have in the classroom, and something that
is definitely becoming more prevalent as we are now moving into a society of technology. Our
future teachers are coming from the time of digital natives so for us it is something that will more
than likely be included in our classroom all the time. I know I am often teaching my mom how to
use her technology in her classroom, and she has been a teacher for 27 years. I think it is great
that every so often they have meetings with technology specialists in their school district and
they go in every so often and do training on the smart board or new Ipad apps. Here’s to the
age of technology!
one of the best things to happen to those children. Technology for the cognitively impaired not
only stimulates them, but also can be used to calm a child down, and even help the child speak
if they are non verbal. The child does not have to be necessarily have to be in a CI classroom to
require extra help or be considered special education. The child might attend a resource room,
“There are many different type of technology that are used in special education
classrooms, from devices to address specific disabilities to standard devices that can be used in
modified ways. Many of these technologies are also being used in mainstream classrooms with
similar positive results for students of all kinds of abilities. Smart Boards are great in special
educational classrooms to get students involved in their learning, and to keep them engaged. I
know in our classroom we use the Smart Board to do letter games, and we also use it for social
stories like matt and molly. They help the children to be involved and also to learn how to use
these technologies. We also use Ipads to track the progress of students, and also we use them
for the students we are nonverbal. I think technology for them is something that is consistent for
them.
independence, personalized learning, better connection with peers, reduced anxiety, easier
communication, and improved academic skills (University of Texas, 2017). As a parapro we see
this everyday with our students. We see how it truly benefits them and the independence it
provides. For example, it provides them with personal learning because we have downloaded
certain apps for each child to help improve what they are working on. Each of our students has
their own Ipad each personalized with apps and videos that they like, and that benefit them. We
have to look at the reduced anxiety as well. When we are in a special, or in the classroom and
the child is overstimulated we always have the Ipad ready and ready to give them child to
Kristin Stanberry and Marshall H. Raskind (2018) it talks about different kinds of devices that
target a specific kind of learning disability. It talks about how assistive technology compensates
for a student’s skills deficits or area(s) of disability. Assistive technology can address many
types of learning difficulties. For example, Listening (Recording lectures or meetings with
professors), Math (basic problems, and again class meetings), Organization and memory (have
another student take notes for you, record lectures, and meet with teachers) (Stanberry &
Raskind, 2018).
innovative space for all students” (Nieves, 2016). Allowing technology into our classroom for
children with special needs, it allows them to feel they have control. They are in control of their
own education. We often think “They, can’t do it” when in all reality they are capable of doing
more than we allow them to do/show. Something I have always loved about subbing in my CI
classroom was allowing the students to pull out their Ipads, because I knew they were learning.
When I would hear a student count, or read something, or come up to me and see them light up.
It makes me realize that these students have more power than I ever thought, and we need to
show others that as well. Technology for special education students is like textbooks/lectures for
general education students. If we gave these children more credit and allowed them to share
with us their knowledge, we would spend less time changing and truly see them as capable,
Part 1:
Britland, M. (18 June 2013). “How has technology transformed the role of a teacher?”
https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jun/18/technology-tran
sform-teaching-students-schools
Bedford, J. (11 July 2013). Is technology changing the role of teachers?” Dream box.
Raza, A. (22 March 2017). “How technology has changed education.” Use of technology.
Retrieved from
https://www.useoftechnology.com/how-has-technology-changed-education/
Lynch, M. (4 March 2017). “7 ways technology is impacting modern education.” The Tech
http://www.thetechedvocate.org/7-ways-technology-impacting-modern-education/
Retrieved from
https://universityhomeworkhelp.com/15-disadvantages-of-technology-in-education/
Heick, T. (27 May 2016). “5 problems with technology in classrooms.” Teachthought. Retrieved
From
https://www.teachthought.com/technology/5-problems-with-technology-in-classrooms/
References
Part 2:
O,C. (n.d). “Technology benefits special education classrooms - and beyond.” Speech buddy.
Retrieved from
https://www.speechbuddy.com/blog/iep/technology-benefits-special-education-
classroom
s-and-beyond/
University of Texas. (15 September 2017). “The use of technology in special education.”
https://degree.utpb.edu/articles/education/technology-in-special-education.aspx
Stanberry, k and Raskind, M.F. (n.d). “Assistive technology for kids with learning disabilities: an
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/assistive-technology-kids-learning-disabilities-overv
iew
Nieves, K. (8 November 2016). “Using technology to empower students with special needs”
https://www.edutopia.org/article/empowering-special-education-students-technology-
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