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Tabatha MacDougall Effects of Technology on Education 12/11/2011 Abstract Technology is used in classrooms today and has both positive and negative effects on both students and teachers. I want to show in my paper how technology is not a substitute for a good teacher. Technology must be well implanted by a good teacher to be successful. Computers do not give successful teaching. I start out by discussing the positive effects on teachers and students, in my paper. I then debate the use of technology and its effects on traditional teaching methods.
Lastly, I concluded with negative impacts technology has on the teachers and the students. By doing this, I will show while technology is important it is only a tool to educating students. It is not the solution to educating students. Today technology is commonly used in classrooms. Teachers use technology such as: computers, smart boards, calculators, virtual field trips, e-books, and online learning to reach all of their students. Many students rely on technology to learn new information, but then become too dependent on that technology.
The traditional methods of teaching are now integrated with technology, making some traditional methods obsolete. Traditional methods such as direct instruction, focusing on learning styles, and using teaching strategies still need to be used in the classroom. These methods help students create a foundation for life-long learning. Technology cannot replace teachers and good teaching strategies. Without a strong educational foundation, students will fall behind not only in school but in life also. Technology is a tool in developing the future of our students, but it must be implemented and balanced by a good teacher.
There are many benefits of technology in schools for teachers. Technology also helps teachers easily keep track of grades and have access to lesson plans that are made easier by computers (Jamil & Shah, 2011). Technology also helps teachers collaborate with colleagues and easily and quickly through school networks and e-mail (Chapman & Mahlck, 2004). Teachers and administrators reported benefits of technology use for all types of students, from high achievers to students with behavioral and emotional issues (Nagel, David, 2010).
Technology is beneficial in many ways to teachers and also helps students. Technology can assist students in the classroom. Technology is highly motivating for students and keeps their interest (Jamil et al. , 2011). Using a computer or a smart board makes the lessons more interactive for students and holds their interest longer. These techniques make lessons more student centered. According to Chapman et al. , (2004) technology in the classroom allows students more access to large amount of information by using the internet (Chapman et al. 2004). Technology has many uses in the classroom for students. Students can learn about faraway places by using virtual field trips. Teachers can use technology to motivate and encourage their students to learn. Teachers and students alike can use technology as a form of communication (Chapman et al. , 2011). There are many benefits to using technology in the classroom for students. Although technology has benefits for teachers and students it does negatively affect traditional teaching methods.
Traditional methods such as writing, phonics, note taking, and learning basic math skill are necessary. “When we use technology excessively we become dependent to that (technology)” (Jamil et al. , 2011, p. 43). Students that receive notes that their teacher provides for them or rely on teacher created handouts lose their ability to take notes or think critically Jamil et al. (2011) states that students do not get these necessary skills when technology is used in excessively in their environment and is not combined with good teaching strategies.
Students need direct instruction from their teachers and a variety of strategies at their disposal. Technology cannot replace a good teacher; it must be combined with a good teacher (Jamil et al. , 2011). Technology used as the only means to teaching our students, opposed to using it as a tool, is harmful to the learning process in several ways. Technology can take away from the creativity in both the teachers and the students according to Cheng et al. (2011). Technology does the “thinking” for both the students and the teacher.
Teachers that are not well trained in using technology in the classroom actually take away from teaching time. Not knowing how to use technology properly takes away from valuable teaching time in the classroom. This is another downfall of using technology in the classroom. Proper training, planning and a good balance is essential to implementing technology in the classroom (Jamil et al. , 2011). Technology does not work for every student. Online schools in particular do not work for all students; it sets most of them up for failure.
Many students need that direct instruction from teachers. They do not have the self-discipline or the learning style (specifically kinetic) that is needed to succeed in online learning. Since technology is only a tool and content knowledge alone is not enough to transform education, great teachers must be able to call on repertoire of methods and reformed pedagogy” (Cheng & Swanson, 2011 p. 18). Many students need that direct instruction from a teacher. Students also need social interaction, adult supervision, and self-discipline.
Students do not get these needed skills and values from technology, but from a teacher. Online schools make teachers obsolete, leaving us a generation of students who are dropping out of school because of lack of structure and self-discipline. Students can lose many teachable moments because of the use of technology (Cheng et al. , 2011). Technology can help students learn, but technology alone hinders the learning process. The futures of our students are affected in many ways by using technology.
The N-Gen is outpacing the parents and teachers in technology for the first time in history. This is making the younger generation more advanced with computers than the adults teaching them (Kashmanian, 2000). Most schools do not have the capability to properly use technology in the classroom, either because lack of training or funding. Also, over reliance on technology causes many problems for the N-Gen. Some of the effects on the N-Gen students caused by technology being used in the classroom have negative implications for their future (Kashmanian, 2000).
These in include characteristics defined by (Kashmanian 2000) such as fierce independence; a strong sense of autonomy derived from active roles as seekers rather than passive information recipients is one result. Another result is emotional and intellectual openness. This becomes a priority for those with Web pages and chat rooms through which they explore and expose who they really are; for an example losing one’s identify in Facebook. Preoccupation with maturity can occur, which is the need to be taken seriously based on ideas and capability rather than age.
This is really a problem because children misrepresent their age online and get involved in activities or discussions too mature for them. Lastly, immediacy can result in the expectation that things will happen quickly (because in the N-Gen world, they do) (Kashmanian, 2000). All students need to elaborate on the thinking process, and a balance must be found between the use of technology and traditional methods. There are many advantages of using technology in the classroom for both the teachers and the students. Teachers can use technology to communicate, encourage, and capture the students’ attention.
Teachers can use technology to motivate and encourage their students to learn. However teachers that are not well trained or have regular access to technology cannot use the technology efficiently in their classroom. Technology has to be combined with good teaching strategies to be successful. Students can benefit from technology in many ways, such as easily accessing information and communicating. There are many benefits to using technology in the classroom. Students can learn about faraway places by using virtual field trips.
Teachers and students alike can use technology as a form of communication. With the use of technology there is quick feedback on issues or comments for assignments. Technology also hinders traditional teaching methods and is a competition for teachers by creating a generation of students who expect immediacy in everything they do. Students can develop learned helplessness and lack self-discipline due to over reliance on technology. Technology is a tool in developing the future of our students, but it must be implemented and balanced by a good teacher.
References Chapman, D. W. , & Mahlck, L. O. (2004). Adapting Technology for School Improvement. International Institute for Education Planning pp. 1-257. Retrieved November 3, 2011 from AIU Online Library Cheng, J. , & Swanson, Z. (2011). An Examination of the Effects of Web-Based Tutorials on Accounting Student Learning Outcomes. Review of Higher Education Self-Learning, V3 (10), pp. 14-28. Retrieved November 2, 2011 from AIU Online Library. Jamil, M. , & Shah, J. (2011). Technology: its Potential Effects on Teaching in Higher Education.
New Horizons in Education, V59 (1), pp. 38-51. Retrieved November 2, 2011 from AIU Online Library Kashmanian, K. (2000). The Impact of Computers on Schools: Two Authors, Two Perspectives. Retrieved November 1, 2011 from http://www. technologysource. org/article/impact_of_computers_on_schools/ Nagel, D. (2010). Teachers Report Educational Benefits of Frequent Technology Use. Retrieved December 7, 2011 from http://thejournal. com/articles/2010/06/28/teachers-report-educational-benefits-of-frequent-technology-use. aspx