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... To Technology Integration The use of computers in school classrooms has evolved throughout the years, and has become revolutionary in changing the way we teach and learn. Our classrooms should no longer be confined to four walls and a few teachers who are considered to be experts in knowledge. Our classrooms need to keep up with a changing society and a new world that is dependent on technology. As students graduate, they need the technological skills needed to thrive in a world in which technology sets the pace. Society expects the school system to produce functional citizens who have the skills to gain profitable employment, and not be a drain on the system.
Computers have been in the schools since the 1960 s, but they were not used in the same capacity as they are used today. The use of computers is still expanding, and the future of education is very exciting when the full extent of this revolutionary phenomena is realized. In the 1960 s computers were not widespread and most people who were educated during this decade hardly remember them at all. In the 1970 s computers became smaller and less expensive, but the schools still did not use them much throughout most of the decade. By the end of the seventies, computer use in the schools started to increase. Students began to have hands-on experience.
In less than a decade, computer use progressed from programming classes for a few of the better students, to literacy classes for all students, to the integration of computers and technology into the curriculum. Now, there is a goal for educators to use technology as a tool in efforts to teach more effectively by using a variety of strategies to meet different needs in a diverse classroom. This will take training and commitment to keep up in an area that changes quickly, but the benefits to teachers and students are greater that the effort it will take to stay informed; computers increase productivity of students and make learning a fun experience. They help students become better problem-solvers instead of just rote learners. By the time a student is in middle school he or she should be able to use software tools such as word processing, data bases, spreadsheets, and telecommunications. But the computer can be used for so much more.
The computer can be used as a tutor or for research on any topic. As a tutor, the computer presents subject material, then evaluates reponse's and determines what to present next. This is excellent reinforcement for instruction because it can supplement prior teaching, or it can be used by the student to learn what the student chooses to learn in a student-centered learning environment. The most common use of computers has been drill and practice, but if it is programmed it can do a lot of other things beneficial to learning. For instance, it can be used as a calculator in math, a map-making tool in geography, or as a text editor. It can put students in situations in which they must write, and search, or communicate with people far away.
In addition to writing documents, computers can be used to make presentations. Desktop publishing was first designed for business use, but is now being designed for use in the classroom. This software makes presentations and documents look professional and motivates students to perform and learn more. In teaching social studies, telecommunications can make the entire world accessible.
Students can learn about other countries by communicating directly with the people who live there. This enables the students to focus on cross-cultural comparisons of social customs, governments, educational systems and career patterns. For example, it would be very interesting to communicate with a Japanese student and compare the work force in Japan to the work force of America. I think students would be very surprised and interested in learning that there are major differences between these two cultures. Computers can also be used to access information such as polling data, population characteristics, voting records, economic data and many other things. The use of the computer increases teaching resources and stimulates students by offering a variety of instruction.
For a long time, computers were only used in computer labs at the schools. A lab has some advantages because all the students are supervised and are coordinated with the same curriculum. The computer teacher is trained in the use of computers and teaches the students how to use them. But this method has draw backs because computers should be placed where they can be integrated with learning. They need to be accessible quickly and used as they are needed, not a lot of time later. Students need daily access to receive the computer's full benefits.
The computer needs to be viewed as an educational tool and not as a machine for another class. Students need to be familiar with computers in their own work stations. A problem with this is that most classrooms only have one computer if any at all, and some teachers have not had computer training which is expensive and time consuming. Some problems of one computer in the classroom are: the computer occupies space, it can be distracting, it presents another activity for the teacher to plan for and supervise, and it is frustrating to take turns. For success, the computer should be easily assessable, but not in the way, the software library should be well planned and organized, and the computer should be part of the daily routine. If a computer is viewed as a common educational tool instead of a novelty, it will not be distracting to the students any more than their books or other materials.
When teachers realize that computers actually facilitate their teaching methods and their student's learning, incorporating the use of the computer into lesson plans will not seem like such a chore. The use of the computer in the classroom is changing the way that the role of the teacher is viewed. Teachers have always selected the materials that students are to study, then they present the material, then give tests to evaluate how much the students have learned. The teacher plays the role of an expert in the classroom as all learning decisions are made for the students.
Computers have supported a trend where teachers are viewed as motivators, challengers and critics as students lead the way and choose what they want to learn. The teacher becomes a different kind of leader as the student takes on responsibility for his or her own learning. Students are now experimenting in simulated worlds that are realistic; students learn first hand about the consequences of wrong decisions and are becoming strong in solving problems. We are living in a changing world and our schools must keep up. Rote learning is no longer enough; students need more to have a successful life i! n a technological world.
Even though new technologies have revolutionized our lives, it has also raised troubling issues. Technology in our schools should be available to all students; it should not be a tool to divide society. The opportunity to learn more effectively should be offered to all students regardless of economic situations. The ability to operate the technologies that locate and use information is a critical skill. If economics are a factor in keeping some students from learning these skills, society as a whole will suffer. All schools need to be equipped to teach in the most effective way; this means they need technology and teachers who know how to use it.
Technology is expensive. Federal funds do not cover the expense and funds are always in danger of being cut. This leaves local schools and districts to take up the slack. People need to be aware of the expense and work together to generate funds. Alliances and partnerships with corporations and small businesses are one way to!
gain equipment. Costs can also be shared by local civic groups, school districts and individuals. If the people band together, they will have a better chance to compete for federal and private foundation money. Well organized grassroots groups influence action. The importance of technology in learning should never be disregarded, and it should be available to all students.
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Research essay sample on Work Force One Computer
