Sarai Garcia

English II

12-13-2017

Should technology be used in Classrooms?

The 21st century. So much has happened in improving education, and now technology

comes into play. Technology is a topic that have divided opinions. Some say that it’s an

important factor in one’s learning environment, while others think that it’s distracting. To those

that don’t know, the definition of technology is “the use of science in industry, engineering, etc.,

to invent useful things or to solve problems.” Technology should be used in classrooms because

it furthers a student's expansion and understanding, it gives more accessibility, and it helps them

prepare for the future.

Technology should be used in classrooms because it furthers a student's expansion and

understanding. With the help of technology, students are able to perceive any information and be

actively engaged and helps with their levels of understanding. According to the article, Effects of

Technology on Classrooms and Students , it states, “ When students are using technology as a

tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive

role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast. The student is

actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate, or display information.

Technology use allows many more students to be actively thinking about information, making

choices, and executing skills than is typical in teacher-led lessons.” From this, one can tell that

with technology being a part of classrooms, students will actively engage with others and in their

schoolwork and are capable of making decisions and choice that will benefit their learning and
education. If technology is there for one’s expansion of greater knowledge than what they can

get through textbooks, then it would be for the best interest to install devices and change the way

children are being taught at school, which goes into the next reason.

Going on from a student’s expansion and further understanding, technology also gives

students and teachers accessibility to learning, lessons, sources, and more. According to, “

Positive Effects of Technology and Preteens” by Meadow Rhodes, it states, “ With the help of

technology subjects are taught in a more fun and exciting way. Kids can take the learning home

and learn while playing games. In the classroom, technology is a great tool for learning in an

efficient manner. It makes it easier for the teachers, as well as the students. In Junior High,

students learn how to write more developed essays. With the use of technology students can

research their subject matter and write simultaneously. Now with the use of laptops, students

can also continue working from home. “ Not only is technology accessible to children, but also

teenagers and teachers. It can be easily accessed at home, at school, or on the go so that kids are

always in touch with their homework and other school related things. Aside from having access

anywhere anytime, technology influences learning and games are made to help navigate and

encourage children which can be beneficial in the learning environment because they are

processing information in different ways. With that being said, since accessing it also creates

new ways to advance and improve education, this can impact their future.

Technology helps prepare a child for the future, their careers and jobs. When living in a

world surrounded by digital devices, it only takes a matter of time before it is used in schools and

jobs. In an article written by Capella University it states, “ Teaching students how to use

technology to learn, research, collaborate, and solve problems from an early age will better

prepare them for their careers. It can also help reduce the fear of new technology in the future by
familiarizing them with the discovery process for each new tool.” Starting to introduce a child to

devices at an early age prepares them for what will be faced later on. As it begins to help a

student adjust, technology will then encourage them and put them in situations where they will

grow and become good at problem solving, finding information, and sharing that data with

others. When choosing a career, it is important that one is able to know what to do in given

situations and use technology to their advantage. Another article written by Johnny Bevers states,

“ In most jobs these days it is expected that employees be able to use a computer and be

comfortable with technology. In many cases this may not be just expected, but required, or at the

very least seen as a serious advantage. People who have grown up with technology in the

classroom and at home will be comfortable with this requirement; in many cases it will be simply

second-nature. To deny students access to technology is to deny them future job opportunities as

well as to seriously stunt their educational growth.” Based on the requirements for specific types

of job, technology might very well influence one’s capabilities for their career choices.

Although, some people may say that by implying technology in the classroom, it could

lead to restrictions in websites and not get as much learning out of it. The school environment

can also play a factor as it states, “ In addition to the above challenges, the survey asked teachers

about three elements of the school environment that may impede their ability to use digital

technologies effectively in their classrooms and assignments. These are. 1) filters blocking

access to particular websites or online content, 2) rules governing the use of cell phones on

school grounds, and 3) their school’s acceptable use policy (AUP) governing the use of school

computers and networks. Teachers were asked if their school had any of the three in place, and

if so, to what extent they impact teachers’ use of digital technologies and content in their

teaching.” From this, students are being restricted on sites for the government or school purpose
of safety for the kids. If technology is about to make its movement and statement in classrooms,

rules and laws have to changed so that its safe for the students and allows them to research

without the impediment of blocked sites.

In conclusion, technology should be taken into classroom use because if education is

really about the benefit and well being of students, then opportunities should be given to them.

At a time where information can be reached within our fingertips, we should take advantage of it

and use it for the greater good of education and a child’s growth and development in the

classroom. One way digital devices can be used in classrooms and not impose a distraction for

students is to set certain times for when devices such as cell-phones, laptops, and computers are

allowed for learning use and purposes and when it isn’t allowed as students should also get a

hands on learning experience. When technology gives more clarity, students are then able to do

better at assignments and get better grades with accessible tools. Since anyone can use it at their

own comfort, it makes it a lot easier to do work on time and learn without the place, setting, or

time interfering and playing a factor in learning. By having it in class, every child will know how

to operate and use a device and that can be a positive when the career implies past use with

computers and familiarity. Technology should be added as a learning tool for classrooms,

because of understanding of topic and less limitations, its’ accessibility at any given time or

moment, and gives a broader selection with careers involving prior use with technology.

Annotated Bibliography
“ Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students”, by Dr. Ram Singh Dr. Barbara Means.

Sponsored by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S., Department of

Education, Conducted by SRI International, link

The source talks about how with the help of technology, students are able to perceive any

information and be actively engaged and helps with their levels of understanding. Technology

also benefits the teacher in which they are able to help other students or groups rather than giving

out the information. It helps the teacher with the responsibilities and tasks. It stimulates active

mental work, and children are more open to sharing with others. Students are more motivated;

the ones who aren’t really engaged in class are more creative with technology. Feedback is

provided and they are encouraged by technology in voicing their opinions. Students can face new

and difficult challenges such as coding and can explain better than verbally. One’s self esteem is

raised because of what can be done on computers. Students were able to take on challenging

work and they work more cooperatively and enhances creativity. This relates to my topic and is

in my position because all of this promotes as to why technology is a good thing for future

generations and should be used in classrooms. I plan to use this in my argument because

classrooms are there for a student’s learning environment and if technology were added, it would

benefit them which is the goal for what’s being taught; to benefit the students.

“ Positive Effects of Technology and Preteens” by Meadow Rhodes, 14 June 2014. Link

The source discusses ideas in which technology’s purpose is to make life easy and efficient. This

plays into the use of it in classrooms because children learn from it, it sparks interest for students

in a more capturing fun way, it’s accessible at home and at school, there has been improvements
in papers turned in from students who used technology, research is more easier to do and search

with minimal limits, they are able to communicate more openly, have a broader horizon in which

you learn about places beyond your reach, and you can learn anywhere, at any time. This relates

to my topic because it further supports my reason why technology should be used in classrooms;

students access to their work can have a positive impact because they aren’t limited only to

classwork done at school. I plan to use this in my argument by stating that through technology,

students can have access to their work at any given place, they view learning as more fun

experience and helps with things that aren’t within their reach.

“ How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms” by Kristen Purcell,

Alan Heaps, Judy Buchanan and Linda Friedrich, February 28, 2013, link

This source shows that when technology is present, it impacts teachers’ accessibility to resources

and materials, a student sharing ideas, opens up opportunities to interact with the students, and

their parents. It further creates new skills and knowledge that students pick up. The use of

technology helps a student search for information quicker, they have a lot of resources at hand,

and it helps teachers create more efficient lesson plans. This relates to my topic because

technology is useful in classrooms and is a way to expand a student’s horizon. I plan to use this

in my argument by proving that technology helps not only the students but teachers as well.

“ How Technology Is Having A Positive Effect On Education “, Johnny Bevers, 2017 link

This source explains how technology positively affects the research, distance learning, in the

classroom, outside learning, homeschooling, and jobs in the near future. Through the multiple
sources available to the students, they can make a good paper with loads of information. Instead

of paying a lot of money for classes to learn another language, it can be done online. For younger

children, games are created to have kids’ attention and make them learn in the process. If

information is needed, it’s ready to be accessed online. Children have the opportunity to learn at

a school or be homeschooled, education can be granted through online classes and ensure a

student learns at a comfortable pace. Using technology now can help in finding jobs, as it’s now

being used in the present and will be in the future. By having technology in classrooms, you will

prepare a student for their future. This relates to my topic because technology isn’t a bad thing as

older generations see it, it is more helpful to one’s development and future aiming them for

success. I plan to use this in my argument by discussing on how using technology now can help

benefit one’s future and now in the present.

“ 5 reasons to incorporate Technology into your classroom” by Capella University, May 23,

2017, link

The source talks about why technology should be used in classrooms and is helpful to the

learning environment. It discusses a student's growth, understanding and accessibility to prepare

for their future. This source relates to my topic and is in my position because it gives me 5

reasons as to why technology is beneficial to students. In the end, technology is for the benefit of

others and is not there to harm them. I plan to use this for my argumentative essay because the

reason for people being against technology is because they feel it’s not for the best interest of the

students, but this article can change people’s minds in being more open for technology.