Technology in Classrooms

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beinspired.com (pintrest)


‘If we teach today as we taught yesterday we rob children of tomorrow,’ (Dewey, 1994). 


Using technology within the classroom is vital in allowing children their best opportunity at learning. If technology was not included in classrooms teachers would be completely restricting the possibilities of the children they are teaching. ‘You don’t need to use technology in every interaction with students however there are many compelling reasons to use ICT in our classroom; from motivating students and enhancing learning the learning experience to facilitating planning and the organisation elements of education,’ (Younie and Leask, 2015). 

Having ipads in classrooms as a teaching tool along side teachers is extremely beneficial. Technology is quick for research and allows the teacher to have assistance other than a TA. Thus resulting in better and higher quality education for the children being taught, as they do not need to wait for the teacher to answer questions, they can simply google them. Even children as young as four are using iPads in the primary classroom, this quick and easy access to information in the classroom allows children to spend more time learning and less time being taught, whether it is through interactive games or the quick access to the internet for basic definitions or research. ‘It has already been observed that, currently, ICT has been used far beyond enhancing teaching and learning to include promoting research, scholarly community engagement, and administration.’ (Balasubramanian, et al. 2009). 



However technology should not, in my opinion be used all day within the classrooms. Sometimes at home children are in front of screens since they get home from school until they go to sleep, in this case classroom time shouldn’t be a major contributor to screen time. 


As well as this drawback, having iPads in classrooms can cause controversy due to the safety measures that would have to be implemented. Nearly all classrooms have the availability of internet, as are school offices and the library, (Peeraer, J. Petegem, P. 2015). Although this enhancement of technological advances is being embraced throughout schools it could be a cause for problem. ‘While this trend brings new and exciting educational opportunities, administrators and district IT managers are faced with another set of problems for these new devices: security, management, and content delivery,’ (Gentile, 2012). These security measures are extremely important, especially in primary and secondary education, this is because free access to the internet in the classroom could be completely disruptive and potentially dangerous. But when motored I believe the development of technology within the classroom is a significant and positive addition. 


References


Balasubramanian,  et al. (2009) Cited in: Peeraer, J. Petegem, P. (2015) Integration or transformation? Looking in the future of Information and Communication Technology in Education in Vietnam. Elsevier.

Dewey, J. (1994) Democracy and education. New York: The MacMillan Company.

Gentile, M. (2012) The Importance of Managing iPads in the Classroom. Education Digest.

Peeraer, J. Petegem, P. (2015) Integration or transformation? Looking in the future of Information and Communication Technology in Education in Vietnam. Elsevier.

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