What are some benefits and limitations of incorporating technology into a teachers' instructional day?
Technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in schools and it is a large part of the world today. Technology seemingly makes activities easier for people, and in school it's role is the same. Teachers can use a variety of technology, from CD players and televisions to Smart Boards and lap-tops. It is important for students today to acknowledge these technological tools and learn how to use them properly.
Technology in schools has many benefits. As previously said, it is important for students to learn how to use the new technological tools in order to have an understanding of the world around them and to better their future. Technology also provides teachers with different strategies of teaching. If the students in the early grades become restless, the teachers may need to turn on song and dance music for a brief moment. In some of the older grades, students gain much information from watching documentaries and movies on historical events. By using a Smart Board, teachers can provide students with thousands of different ways of learning, such as with games, word puzzles, concept maps, and any activities on the web. Technology can also be more time efficient. Today, assessments can be completed by the students and graded by the teachers by the use of computers. This provides organization for the teachers and fast feedback for the students.
Along with benefits, technology also has limitations. Technology is fast and provides students with easy access to all sorts of information, but students should not be taught to rely on the use of computers. If students become accustomed to looking up information on the computer because it is the easiest way, the students may not have the proper education to look up information in an encyclopedia. It is the same way for calculators. If students learn to do math on calculators, they may never properly learn how to do math on paper or in their minds. Technology can also be a distraction in the classroom. In my Kindergarten classroom at my PDS when the students are at different stations, the students not at the computers are always interested in what is going on at the computers. Although computers are fun and interesting for the students, they often distract the students from other learning activities.
Peer Question:
What types of technological tools are present in your PDS and do you think the benefits of technology are greater than the limitations?
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There are computers in my PDS which the children can play educational games. I really don't see them use the computers that often during free play. I think they have more fun playing with their friends. I do think technology is a great tool and it is definitely becoming more prevalent in today's schools. I think sometimes students depend too much on technology, such as using calculators for simple math problems. I think there should definitely be a balance with technology and it should not be over used or under used. I think my favorite technology tool is the smart board. It isn't just for normal powerpoints and I like that it is interactive. Many students need to be entertained and the smart board gets them up and moving, and involved in a lesson. I think overall, technology is more beneficial to the classroom.
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