The 21st Century continues
to woe consumers through technological advances that have exploded into
corporations, businesses and even schools. The purpose is not to leave anyone out of this newly found
vision in technology and advancement, with classroom technology as a new
innovative source of learning; becoming increasingly more popular among educators
and students. This paper will attempt to describe the challenges faced in
teaching these skills and how technology can play a role in classrooms by
teaching and fostering these skills.
Recent research has shown
that technology is extremely important when used in the classroom because it
enhances student learning. It is imperative that teachers learn the best
practices for use of technology in the classroom (Gardner, 2011). Several different approaches that
are being used by educators in learning the best technology practices are
listed as follows:
·
Interviews
·
Questionnaires
·
Observations
The different approaches provide the educator with feedback of
using the best possible avenue toward success regardless of the limitations and
challenges. In fact, the experiences
in conducting technology research supports the value of new technologies “as
methodological tools which are more manageable in practical terms, which
increase and improve information-gathering, and enhances the construction of
datasets based upon the dynamism and complexities of classroom life” (Sullivan,
Williams, 2009). Some challenges
faced while incorporating these skills are listed as follows:
·
There is a profound gap between the knowledge
and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need
in typical 21st century communities and workplaces.
·
Students having equal access to technology
regardless of their economic background.
·
Students need to learn academic content through
real world examples.
Addressing these
challenges take time and insight, usually involving notes on the class
abilities and how well they adjust to the new skills. For example, my students tend to know more about math
through money. A particular lesson
maybe about opening a bank account, or balancing check books and deposits, real
world situations relating to math.
It tends to separate from the traditional addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division methods of the past. It is also true most students have little access to internet
outside of school and a good way to assure all my students are getting enough
time would be after school and recess to allow those students to practice on
their skill.
Two
education technology-based tools that could be incorporated into a school’s curriculum
development practice are the internet and smart board. Each tool provides teachers with a method to actively engage
their students in the learning process, while essentially providing a solid
foundation for learning a curriculum based on technology. Today's students are
digital natives and as such the use of technology in education has proven to be
effective.
There are so many potential
educational uses of the Internet that it is virtually impossible for a single
teacher to tap into all of them. The advent of the Internet has allowed
teachers and students to take voyages and adventures into realms that would not
otherwise be possible.” With classroom access to the Internet, students are
able to locate information or ask for specific information that some textbooks
cannot provide.
In concluding, many educators are beginning to understand that the integration of
technology into teaching has the ability to enhance students’ education.
Students around the world have indicated that their learning was significantly
enhanced when faculty demonstrated acceptance and adoption of instructional
technology. Although there have been occasional glimpses of the transforming
power of technology, today’s faculty find that they must repeatedly orient—and
reorient—their thinking to focus on the potential that the technology has in helping
accomplish their teaching goals.
References
Gardner, J. D. (2011, January 1). Understanding the Role
of Technology in a Secondary School Social Studies Classroom.
Johnson, B., Sullivan, A. M., & Williams, D. (2009).
A One-Eyed Look at Classroom Life: Using New Technologies to Enrich
Classroom-Based Research. Issues in Educational Research, 19(1), 34-47.
Partnership
for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st
century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf
