Assignment #1

I would define educational technology as the use of technology in schools and the classroom in a way that will improve the teachers’ teaching strategies and the students’ comprehension of the material being taught. The use of technology in the classroom gives students ample opportunities to show their creativity and learning styles. So technology can be beneficial to both the teachers and the students if it is used in a professional manner. Personally, I believe that the use of technology in classrooms is more beneficial than harmful for students and teachers. Our textbook describes educational technology as “any media that can be used for instruction.” (page 5). This includes computers, DVD players, video conferencing, projectors, and many more; the possibilities are endless.

When I was in high school, I had one class that was very technology-oriented. It was a calculus course, which had a bad reputation for being a difficult course. However, our class was the first to use all of the different technology resources that were made available to us. We had a student join our class via video conference from Hokes Bluff High School because his high school did not offer the course. We were also provided with our own individual electronic notebooks to take notes on, and then at the end of class we would print the notes off and take them home. The notebook included an electronic pen, and we were able to use any color we wanted, which made things a little more interesting in this so-thought dreadful course. I finished the course with an “A” and so did many other students including the one from Hokes Bluff. I believe this was partly due to the use of the technology in the classroom. It not only made learning more interesting for us, but it also made everything easier for us and our teacher.

I may be such a big believer in technology in the classroom due to my positive learning experience in high school; however, some people argue that it is not the best idea. Many teachers and other administrators argue that some students may explore outside of the lesson and become distracted by other activities. Also, technology is expensive, so it may be difficult for some schools to invest in such technological resources. Not only are the resources expensive, but the training required to operate these resources can be expensive too. In my opinion, if a school, teacher, or administrator is considering using more technology in the classroom, students should be carefully monitored and supervised while using resources such as the internet. Teachers can block specific websites in order to keep the students from getting off task. Even if there is only one computer to every 25 students, the students can take turns using the computer. Also, teachers can put all computers together in a room to form a “computer lab”, and classes can take turns visiting the computer lab.

In conclusion, I believe that technology is beneficial to both the students and the teachers in the classroom. Whether it is a projector, computer, or a movie, students are generally more interested in technology because it is something different and fun. Technology is a way for teachers to step out of the normal textbook and chalkboard routine and capture the students’ attention. Overall, I believe that technology in the classroom improves teachers’ organization and teaching techniques, and it will also improve students’ comprehension and attentiveness to the lesson being taught.