The Digital Student
In order to understand the ways in which I plan to use the new ideas and strategies I have gained in the “Digital Student” course, you must first understand my teaching placements. Each school day I teach in two vastly different settings. In the morning I teach at an urban high school. We have roughly twelve hundred and fifty students. At my high school, we face all of the challenges you find in an urban setting. Sixty-one percent of our students are economically challenged. Many of my students work in the evening to help out at home or to have spending money. Attendance is a concern. Attending school regularly is an issue with many of my students. We also have a large population of special needs students. Twenty-two percent of our students have disabilities. The subject I teach at the high school is junior/senior level Earth and Space Science. I teach three sections and have a total of sixty-four students in my classes. My course fulfills the third year of the science graduation requirement for many of my students. Accessing technology in my school can be challenging. We do not have one to one computer access for our students. We have one computer lab, one library computer lab and Chromecarts. The Chromecarts are frequently out of circulation because of their use in testing and in our credit recovery classes. This year I have been experimenting with the flipped classroom model. Therefore, I surveyed my students for computer access at the
Throughout this course, a new perspective has provided us with the opportunity to take a look at many of the different ways in which the digital world has become one of the most dominant viewpoints of today’s generation, and how technology has taken over and welcomed itself into many aspects of our lives. This course paper will take a look at one topic of interest in particular, which in hopes will shed some light on a heavily discussed topic in the education world: does technology help or hinder the student. This paper will look to prove the point and discover more about the way in which technology has been incorporated into the classroom, both in an elementary context as well as a post-secondary context, and the effects that it has had on the student, the teacher, and the overall academic development that accompanies it.
Technology of the past 20 years has become a focal point of teaching and learning. As a teacher, it is my job to facilitate the learning for an individual by creating an environment that not only conducive for learning, but also places the child in a position to discover and learn them for themselves. Technology has given teachers to opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom, and has begun to reshape their role in the learning process.
We are currently living in a digital age where our students are notably technologically proficient. This poses a challenge with how some of our students are currently learning (or trying to learn) in our classrooms. Many students have grown tired of reading dense texts for homework assignments and tired of listening to long, boring lectures from teachers at school. The way in which students are currently analyzing and interpreting texts that they read and videos that they watch have not been up to our standards here at North Windsor High School. The thing is, a lot of our teachers are also struggling between teaching with both print text and by digital means. North Windsor High School acknowledges the fact that many seniors graduate not having the digital skills and print text literacy necessary to lead successful lives after high school. We are beginning to implement some changes with our teaching methods and hope to incorporate technology and print text in different and more engaging ways.
The Board of Education for the Rowan Salisbury Schools are fully aware of how twenty-first century technologies can affect the manner in which our teachers teach and our students learn. It is the goal of the district to provide a safe and nurturing atmosphere that is technologically rich. Providing every student and employee with access to these tools is meant to enhance and improve the learning experience that will ultimately improve the academic achievements of all of our students. The use of the District’s resources are not a right, but come with responsibilities for proper care and use of all district owned technology. The Board also reserves the right to place restrictions on the proper care and use of its devices.
Twenty-first century society is constantly presented with exciting advances in hardware and software technology. Use of technology in CCT 109 classrooms should be allowed to capitalize on these advances and challenge the learning status quo. Technology’s adoption encourages rethinking of how information is acquired and processed, how people learn, how they are empowered, what jobs will be in highest demand, and what the nature of learning and useful information is. With the increasing accessibility, affordability, and popularity of laptops and tablets, it is essential for students, professors, and institutions to welcome these devices in the classroom. Technology’s benefits to the professor, student, and society far outweigh any perceived disadvantages.
As a digital immigrant, it takes a lot of effort form me to keep abreast of the latest advances in technology. Digital Native students utilize technology often in order to socialize with friends and complete projects. Teachers need to thoughtfully determine what technology applications are most effective and enhance instruction (Hammonds, Matherson, Wilson and Wright, 2013). By staying focused on student engagement and learning, teachers should find websites, application and programs that align with these goals.
Technology can be found in every classroom of schools today and continues to grow as the field of technology continues to advance. School age children today know more about technology than most middle-aged adults because they have been exposed to it from such an early age. We live in the technology age and it’s clear that technology is here to stay and has permeated every area of our lives including home, work and leisure. Because of this, educators and school staff have been tech-savvy and must continue to keep up with the technological advances in order to present as competent to the student body. Technology has impacted the way our students learn and has provided avenues of learning to disabled students that they didn’t have in the past and has provided teaching staff with a multitude of resources and diversity in class activities to aid in teaching (Pearson, 2010). Without a doubt, technology will continue to impact our educational system as new technologies emerge and our country competes to keep up with a new globalized economy. Schools will implement these technologies into the
The tools used for mainstream education in America are, at an ever increasing rate, shifting from physical to digital. Schools across the nation have spent the last decade integrating technology into education in an attempt to make learning more engaging for students. As schools join the charge for digital instruction they must heavily evaluate their motives, the realistic applications of new technology, and the consequences it may have on their students.
Today, technology is advancing faster than ever. It’s incredible how humans have turned it into something more. Innovative ideas such as virtual reality, touchscreen devices, and audio helper (Alexa siri, google.) Furthermore, technology has evolved greatly for the education of students. Although technology has enhanced education, some students can’t fully utilize it if the circumstances at home prevents them from doing so. For example, Anson High School provides laptops that students can take home. With this, we can use it to our advantage to complete assignments online.
“By 2009, 97% of classrooms had one or more computers, and 93% of classroom computers had Internet access. For every 5 students, there was one computer. Instructors stated that 40% of students used computers, often in their educational methods, in addition to interactive whiteboards and digital cameras”(Educational technology). The country is on the threshold of the most radical change in American education in over a century. It is clear that technology is increasing and is now woven through education as well.
The context of my leadership and knowledge of digital learning is comprised of ten years of experience as the media specialist in two different high schools. When I first became a high school media specialist in 2006 our system was using Windows 98. The computer labs, of which there were two, were intended for basic Internet research and word processing. At this time using digital tools for education was a new concept. In 2008, our county purchased mobile laptop carts for classroom use that were web enabled. This coincided with an opportunity for me to attend our state wide media conference. A new focus for this conference was the incorporation of digital tools in the classroom. From
In the article, “Technology Instruction: Fixing the Disconnect,” the authors state that schools that do not adapt to teaching with these new technologies that surround students outside of the classroom reflect “a decline in school’s relevancy to students’ futures” (Larson, Kuhn, Collins, Balthazor, Ribble & Miller, 2009, p. 55). In order to prepare teachers to meet the needs of today’s students, schools need to provide teachers with support from a technology specialist who also understands “the art of teaching” and how to transform curriculum with technology (p. 56). Teachers need to not only learn how to use the technology but also be willing to rethink how they teach and manage the classroom (p. 57). Allan Collins
Throughout history, women in America have fought for their rights, slowly they have been working to gain the same rights as men. Over the period of time that America has become advanced, majority of the rest of the world has followed slowly behind, some countries have not changed their rights for women. Women in other countries are trying to overcome the barrier society has set on them by making marriage an equal choice for men and women, women receiving an equal education as men, women having the same legal rights, and women having equal job opportunities as men.
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
The education world has been greatly influenced by rapidly changing technology and the increasing availability of information. Schools have advanced by leaps and bounds when it comes to incorporating technology into the learning environment, however, many more advances need to be made. In all areas of the country, educators are trying to help students keep up with technology, but there are more changes that are essential for preparing the next generation for the future.