Technology Accessibility Affect State Mandated Test Scores

Technology in the classroom is important for teachers, parents, and students alike, because technology use has become a necessary skill for survival in today’s vastly expanding technology driven global economy. Research has shown an increase in student’s success rates when exposed to technology in the classroom. Also technology has opened lines of communication between educators and parents to keep students on track, and help teachers educate better.

Incorporating technology in the classroom is a leading trend among educators in the 21st century. Teacher use classroom websites, technology tools, and online web assessments to keep parents and students informed, improve instruction, and individualize learning. Using technology to support communication helps keep both students and parents informed on what is happening in the classroom and the students’ academic progress. Integrating technology in the classroom helps increase student engagement and participation. Students use technology tools to help reinforce instruction and teachers may use it as a form of remediation. Technology can also help with differentiating instruction with the use of online assessments. Incorporating technology in the classroom can increase students’ success in the classroom and beyond.

Education is a constantly changing aspect of every individual’s life, and it will never stop transforming. The format that a student learns has drastically changed over time, and continues to morph every year with new standards and new technology. The idea of utilizing technology in the classroom is a controversial one for many reasons. Some argue that it is too costly and ineffective to justify. While many people argue that the use of technology in the classroom is too expensive, offers an unneeded distraction, and is ineffective for the student, there are many positive factors that technology can have such as improving the lives of students with learning disabilities, all-access to educators, improving the damaged school system, and

In Texas students test scored were being tested and compared to the use of technology in the classroom. They used at-risk students who fell into specific categories to be the test group. These were students who have failed this type of test in the past. One teacher received eight classes worth of these at-risk students and used technology integration every day. The idea was to try to link the use of technology to passing the state English test. By using at-risk students the author had a wide range of test subjects, which included: students with low grades, not maintaining above a C average, student is pregnant or a parent, in an alternative program, student dropped out of school, has limited English proficiency, troubled home life and has family issues or homeless. The author wanted to find out if a technology-rich environment had an effect on state mandated scores of students. Her test subjects were the at-risk students.

Honey, M. (1999). Critical issue: using technology to improve student achievement. North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. Retrieved from: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/800.htm

The research topic of this study is how integrating technology into a middle school classroom effects student engagement and performance on assessments. Students that are currently in middle school have grown up with technology surrounding them their entire lives. When these students see technology as a part of their everyday life, it seems natural to include technology in their school work whenever possible. It is true that some schools lack the resources to allow classes to integrate technology as frequently as they would like, however, this study will look at the effect that technology has on engaging students in their lessons. This study will also explore if an increase in student engagement leads to improved achievement

The rise in computer and laptop use has been evident in schools and classrooms across the US, but learning with the assistance of technology is a recent controversy that is being investigated on to comprehend whether or not it is beneficial or detrimental for elementary students. Technology has gained popularity in classrooms and school districts because of its promise to provide low cost education; and the potential to allow students to participate more easily, to learn more effectively, and to enjoy learning more than with textbooks. Other experts argue that laptop integration in classrooms is a distraction, and can make it more difficult for students to

Research shows that the use of standardized testing has spanned centuries, some of the earlier studies include data from the early 1900’s. According to Frazier (2009), “there is a significant difference in scores on standardized tests when students have completed a technology education program”. This study shows a correlation between the use of technology within the school system and achievement on standardized tests. Students that are exposed to technology education are more likely to do well on standardized tests.

The data collected was from three different teachers each within three different socioeconomic status schools. Teacher A teaches kindergarten to third grade learning support at a middle socioeconomic status school. Teacher B teaches third grade at a high socioeconomic status school, and Teacher C teaches kindergarten at a low socioeconomic status school. When analyzing the research, it was determined that sixty-seven percent of teachers interviewed said that they personally use 3-5 hours of technology on a daily basis. This includes times when they are using technology with the students, as well as times when they are using it to send emails or look up information and ideas. Students are in school for 6 hours a day. Therefore, studies show that the resources available within the schools are being actively utilized. The data shows that technology use is primarily occurring more throughout the school day than it is in the homes. Within 14 hour day that students and teachers may be awake, approximately half of the day is involving technology of some sort. This means that we are integrating technology as an additional way of learning. However, it also means that we may be taking away from other learning styles that are already proven to work. Technology use can also take away from social skills and interactions.

The author of the article “Benefits of Technology in the Classroom” is, Janelle cox an educational writer, who has 15 years of professional experience and knowledge in the education system in the online learning environment. As a trained educational professional, she uses her experience and knowledge to provide creative and original writing in the field of education.The authors main idea in this article is that technology is moving through the 21st century classroom and becoming more and more predominant, this widespread of technology has completely changed how teachers teach and students learn. Educators also recognize the importance of developing these technological skills in students so they will be prepared to enter the workforce once they

Technology can help students in all areas of study. Students need to be able to use this technology since, “Currently and in the near future, it is understood that students need to acquire more autonomous skills of ‘information gathering, analysis, and display’” (Todnem, 2004, p. 1). Furthermore, the use of technology, mainly the internet, provides for variation since “Students find themselves bored and burnt-out of the lecture format to classes, so changing the curriculum and instruction to include things like online assignments and educational videogames can be one clear remedy” (Todnem, 2004, p. 1). Teachers who have implemented technology into their classrooms have noticed changes in their students. The most common of these effects being an increase in motivation. In “Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students” another positive effect is given “technology effect stressed by many teachers was enhancement of student self esteem” (“Effects,” 2004, p. 2).

As we navigate through the 21st century, technology in the classroom is becoming further predominant. iPads are replacing our textbooks, and we can research any desired topic on our smartphones. The impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been utterly momentous. Educators have now seen firsthand the numerous benefits of technology in the classroom. According to a study by IT Trade Association CompTIA, around 75 percent of educators have come to the conclusion that technology has a positive impact on the education process. Educators have also recognized the significance of developing these technological skills in students so they will be prepared to enter the workforce after they graduate (Cox). By incorporating technology in the classroom, teachers are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school. The increase of technology has even changed how teachers teach along with how

Technology has made great strides in the past 20 years. It plays a very important role in our lives today and even plays a critical role in the way students learn all over the world. Unfortunately, students now rely on technology instead of learning key fundamentals. Technology has replaced the need to learn and most answers are just a google search away. Technology has also become expensive and lower socioeconomic school districts have found affording the newest technology difficult because of their lack of funding. Technology is a great learning tool when used appropriately. The lower socioeconomic school falls behind in the expanding frontier of technology in the classroom because they cannot afford it compared to their counterparts and results in a gap in education. The development of technology in the classroom has caused students to fail the learning of fundamentals and has exploited lower socioeconomic school districts.

The infusion of technology into K-12 classrooms has often been thought of as an easy transition and easy fix to student motivation and engaged learning. This is a strong assumption, that does not take into account the many variables and necessary components that take place when technology is introduced into the classroom. Implementing technology into the classroom changes the dynamic of the room; therefore, it requires proper planning and training for teachers to effectively incorporate it into their curriculum. Today’s generation of students is digital savvy, but this does not mean that incorporating technology into the curriculum is an easy transition. (Donovan, Green, Hartley, 2010)

How people learn is still a difficult thing to understand. Some people need visual instruction, some auditory, and some need to act out the information that is being taught. Many people have changed the way that students are being taught things, and now they’ve introduced technology into classrooms. More than anything, people question how much technology helps a student, as well as whether or not it actually hinders their learning. Both positive and negative effects have made themselves present, and both are continuing to grow in number. Whether liked or not, technology is a large part of today’s world, and people will only continue to use it as it grows. In classrooms today, both positives and negatives result from the use of technology,