Technology Vision Statement
The use of technology in schools opens up a world of new opportunities. As technology is continually advancing with smaller, faster, and more efficient devices these progressions also make the integration of technology into the education system a much smoother transition. As the U.S. Department of Education’s National Technology plan states, applying progressive technologies into the school system stands to improve and accelerate student learning (2010). One example of this is increased use of portable devices in today’s society, as these mechanisms flourish outside of the classroom it becomes only natural for them to be incorporated inside of it as well.
Developers of technology instruments have even become aware of their importance in the classroom and are designing educational applications specifically designed for classroom use. Apple Incorperation is developing entire courses available in app form through the exclusive iTunes U, available only on apple devices (Copper, 2012). With these newfound tools, classroom teachers are not longer limited to what they know, or what can be read in a textbook. Students can do research independently in a matter of seconds, use interactive software designed for photo editing or movie making, create school radio stations, blogs, or podcasts and provide a overall stimulating environment for the students to learn in (Crowne, 2008). Teachers can use the hype of today’s society to encourage their students to be excited about learning and education could even be considered a – dare I say it – fun experience.
As new technology is – it feels like – daily being generated new prospects for learning are born. Young people today are engrossed in social media, they are seemingly always reading or posting things on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Roland (2010) states that incorporating these types of technologies into school could enable students to be more secure in their communication skills, she recommends the use of online blogs. Blogging in schools would allow students to truly make use of their social media skills, while encouraging the students to concentrate on higher level thinking, and assisting the students to become confident in their communication skills (Roland, 2010).
Not only could technology aid with insecurities in mainstream skills like these, but it also holds the promise to provide a much greater learning experience for students with learning disabilities, especially in the area of reading fluency. Research has shown that students with low reading abilities have been able to improve their skills with the use of audio recorders (Morris, & Gaffney, 2011). The audio recorders are able to provide a fluent oral model for the readers to mimic, as well as reinforcement of accurate spoken language (Morris, & Gaffney, 2011). Another use of the digital recorder is to supply the students with a method for examining their own articulation, and allow for comparisons to be made to that of fluent readers.
These are only a few examples of the ways the education system only stands to benefit from the many resources that technology has to offer. Scholars agree that the current arrangement needs a reform and they understand that technology is the key to make the change that is needed (Leer, & Ivanov, 2013). Leer (2013) discusses how technology has become a large part of higher education institutions, with online applications, courses, and textbooks and students are expected to be equip with these abilities to navigate these functions. If students are not learning these skills throughout their educational career before they are to attend college, the public education system is almost doing them a disservice.
Resources
Copper, K. J. (2012). An ipad education?. Diverse: Issues in higher education, 29(3), 10-11.
Crowne, S. (2008). Next generation learning – promoting the benefits of technology in schools and FE. Education Journal, 109, 10.
Leer, R., & Ivanov, S. (2013). Rethinking the future of learning: the possibilities and limitations of technology in education in the 21st century. International Journal Of Organizational Innovation, 5(4), 14-20.
Morris, D., & Gaffney, M. (2011). Building Reading Fluency in a Learning-Disabled Middle School Reader. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(5), 331-341.
Roland, E., Johnson, C., & Swain, D. (2011). “Blogging” As an Educational Enhancement Tool for Improved Student Performance: A Pilot Study in Undergraduate Nursing Education. New Review Of Information Networking, 16(2), 151-166.
U.S. Department of Education. (2010). Transforming american education: Learning powered by technology. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010
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