Social and Cultural Foundations of American Education/Technology/Revolution

How might technology revolutionize education in the future?

"Technology" is a broad term dealing with the use and knowledge of humanity's tools and crafts. (Technology) Although the term “technology” itself is hard to define, it is easy to see all of the advances that have been made in the technological field in the past decades and their affects on education. More people are going to school now than ever before and are enriching and continuing their education with the help of many different technological means. Not only are computers and other electronic devices being used in the classroom, but distance learning and virtual reality are becoming more common as well. Incorporating new tools provides more ways for teachers to reach their students, and these techniques are making the learning environment more innovative and interactive.

Past Technology

As little as twenty years ago, no one could have imagined the kinds of technology that we readily have available today. Students from generations ago had to go to class every day, write notes, and use simple function calculators to solve complex math problems. To learn a foreign language, they had to listen to their teacher and try to have conversations with other students in the new language. Any visuals in the classroom were most likely posters or drawings on the chalkboard, and to type a paper meant to use a typewriter, or handwrite it if you could not afford one. To gain information, whether for general knowledge or a project, students had to go to the library and search what was available to them, or were taken on limited, costly field trips.

Technology Today and in the Future

In today’s society, technology is everywhere, especially in our learning environment. Many practices from the past are now rarely used or even considered, because there are now faster, more efficient, and interactive ways to complete the same tasks.

Technology in the Classroom

The NICE (Narrative Immersive Constructionist / Collaborative Environments) Project, is a virtual learning project for elementary school students who learn about the environment and take care of a garden all in a virtual world (Johnson).

Students in a classroom now take for granted many of the technological advances that have been made in the past few years, because these tools have become so important to the educational world that they are now widely used. Teachers are incorporating movies and video clips into their lessons with the use of televisions, and many students now have the opportunity to make a video presentation for class projects. TV is also being used to support the learning process in an innovative program started in 2006 by the National Council of Teachers and Mathematics (NCTM) and Texas Instruments (TI). NCTM and TI teamed up with producers from the show Numb3rs, a hit on the CBS network, which is about a mathematician who helps the FBI by solving complex theories using math problems. According to Linda Beheler of TI, the purpose of the program is to make math more relevant in students’ daily lives. “’We always get the same question,’ said Beheler. ‘Students always want to know, ‘How are we ever going to use this stuff in the real world?'" And that's the idea behind the Numb3rs initiative--"to show them how these [concepts] apply to what they do in life’” (Murray). The classes using this program have turned it into a web quest in which students go onto the program’s website and download different activities to do which correspond with the focus of the episode. The activities incorporate scientific and graphing calculators, which are also beneficial technological advances, because now complex math problems can be solved by utilizing the right series of the calculators’ functions.

Computers

Computers are one of the most important technological improvements that have been made. What once took up an entire room now can fit on the desk of any teacher or student, and is even made portable in the form of laptops. Programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and the Internet have transformed the world of teaching. Now teachers can perform slideshows of their lesson using Power Point, with notes, sound, and video clips; this program combines the lesson and the visuals in one, making the presentation seamless and easier for students to follow. Students and teachers alike can type and edit a paper using Microsoft Word, save it to a flash drive, and bring it somewhere else to continue working. This program also allows teachers to type up something for their class and print multiple copies instantly, and it allows students to make last minute changes to a paper or project that needs to be turned in – things that could not be done years ago using a typewriter. The Internet is an amazing resource that is accessed on the computer as well. While surfing the web, students and teachers have millions of pages of information at their fingertips, plus the Internet provides access to email and websites that lets teachers, parents, and students to communicate easily and more frequently. In addition to communication, the Internet allows for more access to research materials from all over the world and other information that would not otherwise be available.

SmartBoards

An up and coming technological innovation for the classroom is the SmartBoard. This amazing invention permits the teacher to use the computer as easily as a whiteboard. It is great as a presentation tool, encourages participation in students with limited mobility, appeals to a wide range of learning styles, and enables students to revisit material they did not understand or were not present to receive, including the teacher’s explanation. The SmartBoard can be used to view movies and share various software applications with the class including Microsoft PowerPoint, Hyper Studio, Excel, Word, and Internet Explorer, just to name a few. It has many applications that can be used in a variety of classes. In Language Arts, students can use it to collaborate on a story and illustrate it. They can use it to highlight parts of speech in a passage, or to edit or proof read a passage. It can be use in math to demonstrate and practice problem solving before the entire class. In Science, it can be used to construct models of the solar system or the human cell system. In History, it can be used to create Jeopardy Review games that the whole class can enjoy. The SmartBoard makes learning and presenting a blast!

iPods

Another tool that is being used to enhance education is the Apple iPod. This slim mp3 player has been transformed, and now plays a wide range of audio and video files. While most people today would still consider it something used for entertainment, a group called the iDreamers at Georgia College and State University are becoming leaders in using the iPod to enhance education. The practice of using iPods to download class lectures is becoming increasingly common in most colleges and even secondary schools; however this group wants to fully utilize the appliance which they think can do so much more for education. Professors at this university are finding new and innovative ways to incorporate the iPod into their class, such as having students download movies or presentations on their own so they do not have to spend class time watching them. Other professors have made podcasts of common questions that students have, so that office hours are freed up for more important topics of discussion. Foreign language classes are using iPods to download conversations to practice understanding and pronunciation (eSchool). Many schools are trying to include the use of the iPods in their curriculum because they allow teachers to get information to students without using class time. Dorothy Leland, GCSU president said, "The more you free up your classroom for discussion, the more efficient you are” (eSchool).

Effective Technology Integration

Although there are many options for technology application in the classroom, the students’ advancement in learning is attributed to the effectiveness of the technology integration into the lessons. The “5W/ 5E” method described in the article Infusing Technology into any Instructional Program is an instructional strategy that can be used to effectively integrate technology into any lesson at any grade level/ content area. The 5W/ 5E model begins with the basic 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, and why) as applicable to the technology being used (Wathers). Before beginning instruction, the teacher should consider who the target audience will be, what technologies are available and are the most appropriate, when and where the technology integration will take place, and why the technology is being used. The 5 E’s address the most critical of the 5 W’s; the why. The model defines the why of technology integration as engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation (Wathers). If a teacher uses this 5W/ 5E model prior to beginning use of technology for a lesson, the technology integration will occur in an organized and streamlined manner that will enhance student achievement.

Conclusion

With the amazing strides that technology has improved, who knows where technology will be in the future? If we compare how far the integration between technology and education has come, there is no way to tell how much further it will advance in the proceeding years. Just like twenty years ago when no one could have guessed that computers would be so widely available, we can not really tell what will be the next big thing. Some things that show our recent progress are distance learning and virtual reality. “Distance learning applied physical technology and education processes to serve the needs of students when they are removed from the source of instruction and resources by either time or distance” (Cavanaugh). Distance learning has become increasingly popular, to the point where people can now earn degrees online, sitting at home on the computer, while taking classes with students from all over the nation. In the future this is sure to expand even further, possibly becoming a way to communicate and learn with students from all over the world. Another new concept that is starting to become incorporated is the use of virtual reality in the classroom. Students who are in medical school for example, can practice techniques repeatedly and easily through virtual reality before they move on to a human subject. This learning technique is beneficial for lower level students as well, such as biology students who can virtually dissect animals; and this learning technique is being tested in the NICE Project, where elementary school students interact with a virtual landscape by growing and maintaining a garden (Johnson). New technology is being created all the time, and over the next few decades the devices and techniques used now will surely be replaced with something even more advanced and efficient.

Multiple Choice Questions

Click to reveal the answer.

Texas Instruments and what popular television show are teaming up to help teach students how math applies to the real world?

A. Crime Scene Investigation

B. Desperate Housewives

C. Numb3rs

D. Lost

C. Numb3rs

iPods are an important tool for classroom use in which way:

A. They allow students to listen to music during class.

B. Foreign language dialogues can be downloaded.

C. Video downloads which would otherwise take up class time.

D. Both B and C.

D. Both B and C.

Technology is a broad term dealing with the knowledge of humanity's use of ________ and _________.

A. tools, crafts

B. computers, software

C. cell phones, iPods

D. electronics, ideas

A. tools, crafts

Which of the following is not being used in classrooms today?

A. Typewriters

B. Computers

C. Microsoft PowerPoint

D. Televisions

A. Typewriters

Distance learning allows students to:

A. Learn about far away places.

B. Complete classes away from the classroom.

C. Communicate with students from other areas.

D. Both B and C.

D. Both B and C.

The use of technology in the classroom:

A. Is not widely used.

B. Is used only in minority classrooms.

C. Makes the learning environment more innovative and interactive.

D. Does not involve using the Internet.

C. Makes the learning environment more innovative and interactive.

Which of the following are technological tools that can be used in the classroom?

A. Computers

B. Graphing calculators

C. iPods

D. All of the above

D. All of the above

The 5W/5E method is an instructional strategy that aims to:

A. Help students learn more about computers.

B. Create new technology.

C. Effectively integrate technology into any lesson.

D. Increase class time.

C. Effectively integrate technology into any lesson.

The SmartBoard accommodates what type of software?

A. Excel

B. PowerPoint

C. Word

D. All of the above

D. All of the above

Students may accomplish what tasks with SmartBoard?

A. Proof, edit, and illustrate stories.

B. Demonstrate problem solving of math problems before the whole class.

C. Play a history Jeopardy game.

D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.

The best reason for a teacher to integrate SmartBoard into her lesson plan is because

A. It will keep her lessons organized and colorful.

B. It will save her clothing from chalk dust.

C. Administrators will be impressed with this integration of technology.

D. It will engage the various learning styles of her students and keep them interested and engaged.

D. It will engage the various learning styles of her students and keep them interested and engaged.

Essay Question

Click to reveal sample responses.

Using what you know about past and present technology and how it benefited the education system, what do you think is the most important technological tool in classrooms today?

Since modern technology as we know it has only recently been incorporated into schools systems across America, it is hard to tell what direction it might progress to in the future. However, I believe one of the most beneficial technological tools in the classroom today is the computer because it can do so many things in the educational world. Computers help teachers in many ways but some important ones are saving time, providing more ways to reach students, and access to practically limitless information. Teachers use computers to make their time in the classroom more efficient. They can print multiple copies of handouts for students minutes before students arrive in class, and teachers can use computers to post grades or email parents after class without taking up class time. Computers can help teachers reach students in a multitude of ways, including Microsoft Power Point slideshows, charts in Microsoft Excel, and audio/video files. These tools allow teachers more flexibility in the way they teach the lesson, instead of being limited to just reciting information to the class. Computers are also beneficial in that they allow teachers and students alike to find access to vast amounts of information. The Internet is a popular source of students who are looking up information either for general knowledge or a class assignment, and many teachers tie in information found on websites to their lesson plans. By having the ability to use computers this way is in our advantage, I believe that the tools it provides will only help to improve the quality of our education, and hopefully new technology in the future will do the same.

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As technology integration has increased in curricula, many teachers are beginning to realize how useful it is. Technology greatly benefits the education system. There are many technological tools in a classroom; however, the most important technological tool a teacher is able to use are the power points and the videos they may use for teaching. Teachers can use power points to teach students practically anything. One major advantage of the use of power points is the fact that it is very easy to use and is teacher friendly. Both the students and the teachers benefit from power points. With power points, teachers can add many visual aids as well as little games and videos to enhance their teachings. Many images and audio aids may also be added. Also, it is a good way to integrate technology into the curriculum. Furthermore, videos are another great way to teach the students. Teachers can find videos about anything on the internet. Using videos help the students understand key concepts and objectives. They are a great way to enhance the curriculum as well. As integration technology grows, I believe that power points and videos will take a major toll into the curriculum. Many teachers will definitely be using them more in the future as a way to get knowledge across to the students. —Kathlyn Odango

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Technology has greatly impacted the education system. Even though it may seem like forever ago, not to long ago technology wasn’t used within classrooms. In fact the closest thing to technology was the projector and transparencies. In my opinion, technology is important in two major ways in classrooms today.

First of all, technology is a wonderful way to do research. The internet has an unlimited amount of resources on it and allows it’s viewers to ask just about any question imaginable. Students no longer have to be frustrated with the card catalog that could quite possibly be missing needed research information. Also, students may want to research a specific topic and because of limited resources their school libraries may not have the needed information. However, the internet provides endless amounts of information and allows students to venture on to whatever research and studies that they choose to research.

Second of all, technology has impacted the way in which teachers teach. Teachers now have other options that could better able the students to understand the lessons that are being taught. Technology allows teachers to use Power Points that could possibly contain videos or other visual images that make the lesson more interesting. Also teachers can now incorporate Internet resources as means of sources and information throughout their lessons. Without a doubt, technology provides students with another viewpoint and allows them to use their visual learning skills to learn the information.

The internet by far is the most important piece of technological tool used within classrooms. There are endless ways in which the internet is used in lessons plans, research, various presentations, and possibly other methods that may not be widely known. The internet provides endless information and allows it’s viewers to access any information with the convenience of it being on the screen within a matter of seconds. Moreover, the internet offers various types of material such as journals, newspapers, encyclopedias, and etc that some libraries do not have. Without a doubt, the internet is the gateway to the world and classrooms everywhere! —Angela Guzman

References

• Cavanaugh, C. (2001). The Effectiveness of Interactive Distance Education Technologies in K-12 Learning : A Meta-Analysis. (February 7, 2007) from http://www.unf.edu/~ccavanau/CavanaughIJET01.pdf
• eSchool News staff (March 27, 2006) Georgia school displays iPod ingenuity. (February 8, 2007) from http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStory.cfm?ArticleID=6211
• Interactive whiteboard. (2007, August 5). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:30, August 5, 2007, from [1]
• Johnson, A. (December 28, 1997). The NICE Project : Learning Together in a Virtual World. (February 8, 2007) from http://www.evl.uic.edu/aej/vrais98/vrais98.2.html
• Murray, C. (February 13, 2006) Technology helps rachet up math instruction. eSchool News Online. (February 8, 2007) from http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=6109
• Technology. (2007, February 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:42, February 10, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Technology&oldid=106723639
• Helen Hayes Hospital. CRT-Assistive Technology in Schools. http://www.helenhayeshospital.org/special_services/crt_asst_tech.htm#augmentative
• Wathers, W. (2004). Infusing Technology into any Instructional Program "5W/5E". VSTE Journal, 19(1). Retrieved February 11, 2007, from http://www.vste.org