Running Head: DOES TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM REALLY IMPROVE EDUCATION
Does Technology in the Classroom Really Improve Education?
PED 3102 A – School and Society
Kate Fergusson – 5331553
March 7th, 2013
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Technology today is engrained in our society. So much so that it is becoming more and more
prevalent in classrooms across the country. Technology has improved immensely over the past
few decades and has become something that as a society we heavily rely on in our everyday
lives. However, can technology actually improve education? Is it beneficial for students
learning? To be discussed here are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of technology in
today’s classrooms and my personal stance on the issue.
As mentioned, technology can be an extremely useful aid in many aspects of our everyday life.
Technology has become a part of our lives, from the internet, to cell phone it seems hard to
believe a life without these luxuries. Because society places such a high value on these
technologies, children and youth are eager and interested in learning about and using them. As
such, using technology in education could definitely be useful in generating interest and
engagement. Technology has also created so many creative and interest-based games that
simultaneously teach children about topics relevant to the curriculum such as math, science,
reading, writing, history and geography. These games and the plethora of other technological
resources available today have helped to help enhance the curriculum and extend learning in
every subject area and for every type of learner. To continue on this point, technology has also
immensely helped meet the needs of students with exceptionalities and the ability to cater to
different learning styles. Common programs and software such as Kurzweil, Word Q, and
Dragon Naturally speaking, are ones that make an incredible different to students who struggle
with reading and/or writing. These programs allow students to develop these skills in language
while providing them with the support to be able continue to complete their work. These
programs help to accommodate for troubles spelling or reading so that they are still able to
demonstrate their knowledge of the subject matter their teacher is expecting without being held
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back by their language learning disability for example. The technologies developed to help
students with visual and hearing impairments, physical limitations, and other disabilities are also
astounding, and it is great these students are able to receive such help when in the past they
would have suffered greatly through school. Lastly, in a society where technology is so
prevalent, it is important to incorporate the use of technology into school so that students are
educated and up to date with how to use technology. Imagine coming out of school and not
knowing how to use Microsoft word, or Exel, or a variety of other programs? Individuals would
be doomed to unemployment without these now every day skills.
What is troubling though for students and education in general, is that there exists such a heavy
reliance on technology. Students today often lack skills in basic arithmetic such as addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division because of the easy access to calculators that do these
problems for them. The same thing can be seen in students spelling abilities. Due to the
increased usage of spell check and related programs students now do not need to figure out
spelling of words on their own by sounding out the words, they can simply type their closest
guess and a computer will automatically correct them without them every having to learn how to
properly spell it. There exist a number of other disadvantages to the use of and requirement of
technology in classrooms. Technologies such as computers, smart boards, and other hardware
and software programs are quite costly for schools to provide. Additionally, in the ever
developing society we live in today, technology becomes out dated so quickly that these costs
become astronomical in order to keep up with the latest technology. This may also create a
disadvantage to students who come from families of lower socioeconomic status who do not
have the resources as readily available and consequently may not be as familiar with such
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technologies placing them at an even greater disadvantage than previous research has already
indicated.
I strongly believe that technology is very useful and beneficial to employ in classrooms. It
allows students access to an extensive wealth of resources that foster education and stimulate
learning. However, where I find technology to be troubling is outside of the classroom.
Students are so reliant on technology for entertainment through video games, online forums, chat
groups, television and other devises that they appear to lack social skills and physical contact
with peers, it takes away from physical exercise and outdoor activities, and may also result in
overstimulation which could contribute to disordered attention. As useful and great as
technology is, I think that it is extremely important to ensure a balance in the classroom in
prevent such a heavy dependence on technology and teach students to make healthy and smart
decisions regarding technology.
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References
Learning!, L. I. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2nd, 2013, from Look I'm Learning! A Story of Digital
Learning Success: lookimlearning.org
O'Hara, S., & Pritchard, R. (2009). What is the Impact of Technology on Learning? Retrieved
March 2nd, 2013, from Education.com: http://www.education.com/reference/article/whatimpact-technology-learning/
Pullen, M. (2012, January 5th). Pros and Cons - Is Elementary Too Early for 1:1 Technology?
Retrieved March 2nd, 2013, from Getting Smart:
http://gettingsmart.com/cms/edreformer/pros-cons-is-elementary-too-early-for-11technology/
PBS Infographic (n.d.) Teachers Embrace Digital Resources to Propel Learning Retrieved
March 2nd, 2013, from PBS Education: http://pinterest.com/pin/179651472607586294/