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Technology is everywhere. We live in a global society dependent on technology. Everywhere you look someone is using technology. Cellular phones are turning in to mini computers; we have think pads, laptops, personal computers, Kindles and Nooks. I remember the days when research papers were done by spending hours or days in the library looking for information. Today we type words into a search engine and, depending on the computer speed, a million or more websites full of information appear on your computer screen. As a technology becomes a bigger part of our lives should we not be incorporating technology into our classrooms?
There are many opinions on incorporating technology into classrooms. We definitely must weigh the positives and negatives involved when integrating technology into the classroom. A few reasons technology in the classroom may be perceived as ineffective are cost, effectiveness and dependence. Technology has one major drawback, it is expensive. The cost could be justified but with technology there is always the possibility of newer versions or outdated software. The effectiveness of technology can be argued as well. Sometimes technology can actually distract a student from a specific task. Technology is a neat tool. New toys, such as a new technology, can take attention away from a lesson and place the focus on the technological tool being used. Dependence is another concern when using technology. Students can become too dependent on technology. A student in one of my classes noticed if her CT did not put the plan for the day on the computer, the students were lost. Teachers could also fall prey to becoming too reliant on technology. We have to make sure we can still teach if technology failed us otherwise we would be helpless during a power outage, virus attack or glitch were to happen.
There are many opinions on incorporating technology into classrooms. We definitely must weigh the positives and negatives involved when integrating technology into the classroom. A few reasons technology in the classroom may be perceived as ineffective are cost, effectiveness and dependence. Technology has one major drawback, it is expensive. The cost could be justified but with technology there is always the possibility of newer versions or outdated software. The effectiveness of technology can be argued as well. Sometimes technology can actually distract a student from a specific task. Technology is a neat tool. New toys, such as a new technology, can take attention away from a lesson and place the focus on the technological tool being used. Dependence is another concern when using technology. Students can become too dependent on technology. A student in one of my classes noticed if her CT did not put the plan for the day on the computer, the students were lost. Teachers could also fall prey to becoming too reliant on technology. We have to make sure we can still teach if technology failed us otherwise we would be helpless during a power outage, virus attack or glitch were to happen.