Technology in Our Classrooms

As I’m sure everyone understands, the 21st century is a very technologically-savvy era. New technology is being introduced every day. Computers and phones are constantly being replaced by newer versions, and there is no limit to the number of helpful applications which these devices have. The sheer volume of information which technology gives us access to is astounding.

In light of this new age of technology, the public school system has had to adapt to keep up with the times. Across the country, technology is being integrated into the classroom environment in a variety of ways. Computers, tablets, and other devices are all finding their way into classrooms to be involved in education.

What does this mean for students and schools alike? This blog will explore both the good and bad of having technology in the classrooms.

The Pros:

As covered in my last post, “flow” in education is critical to students enjoyment in the classroom. Gamification, or the implementation of classroom games, can be a source of flow. Technology allows for more games to be accessed by used by educators, thereby creating an environment conducive to flow experiences.

Aside from just games, technology allows students to access a wider breadth of information than ever before. When tech such as computers and devices are introduced, students gain access to the internet. The internet is, obviously, home to a ton of information, which can be useful to students working on projects or research.

Aside from mere information, there are also helpful programs which are based on technology which can help with teaching, tutoring, studying, and anything in between. There are also sites such as Google Classroom which allow students to upload assignments electronically, which is useful in a wide variety of situation.

Learning how to adequately use technology also has implications outside of the classroom. After graduation, students are expected to use technology in every aspect of their lives. From home to the office, technology is everywhere. Students must be taught both the importance of technology and important skills to go with it in order to survive the 21st-century workplace.

The Cons:

Technology is expensive. A growing trend in many school districts is purchasing one-to-one devices. While this certainly has benefits, a major downside is that buying a device, such as an iPad, for each student can be costly, especially when public education is underfunded.  Not only would the initial purchase of these devices be costly, but the trend of planned obsolescence in technology means that whatever tablets or computers were being bought for the students would likely end up being more costly as years go by and technology needs to be maintained or upgraded.

Aside from the costs of one-to-one devices, having technology in the classroom can also be confusing and distracting. Using online programs and resources in the classroom requires educators to be trained in how to run said programs. When first making the switch from paper to computers, it is bound to be confusing as educators and students alike learn their way around the new system. This can be frustrating for all parties involved. To add to this classroom chaos, having technology in the classroom can be a distraction to students. With all the aforementioned information available to them, students have an endless supply of distraction should technology be allowed in classrooms.

Students who use computers or devices in the classroom also perform worse in some areas than students who do not. In doing math, for example, students who hand-write have been observed to perform better than those who use computers. Hand-writing notes can lead to better retention of said notes, since the act of deciding what information to include and leave out– a necessary step as few can write as fast as they type– adds an extra layer of processing during the note-taking process.

Access to that ever-pertinent wealth of information can facilitate cheating. Among the one-billion-and-growing websites found on the internet are, for example, pages with the answers to that geometry worksheet or thousands of easily-copied articles about the exact topic of that essay. Students have such easy access to information, but with that comes access to resources which encourage dishonesty.

Finally, let’s say a certain school was implementing an online system in which students could turn things in online but chose not to implement 0ne-to-one devices. This could lead to unequal access to technology between the students, which puts students of a lower socioeconomic status who are less likely to be able to afford all the same technologies at a distinct disadvantage. Not only could they not participate in the online system, but they would also have less access to information for research purpose, and less access to the many helpful tools which the internet provides.

So… what’s the answer?

Should computers and other technologies be used in classrooms? The honest answer is that they have to be. The way society has progressed, technology plays too large a role in our lives to be ignored by the public school system. However, that does not mean that giving every student an iPad and calling it a day is the right thing to do, either. It depends on the school and the situation. These are just some considerations to keep in mind before making the switch to a tech-heavy classroom.