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TOPIC .0: Technology in Education

Lesson Element .1: ATechnology in the Classroom@

Since the Invention of the Computer, Technology Has Slowly Grown in Importance to American Education.

Advancements in personal computers creates a huge opportunity for the educational institutions.

There are few if any, areas of society not affected by technology.

Even the fast-food service industry relies on computer technology.

It is increasingly important to increase the amount of technology available to school age children.

It is also important to utilize technology to it=s fullest potential.

What is Technology?

Definition from Webster=s Dictionary:

The science or study of the practical or industrial arts, applied sciences, etc.
Applied science.

These definitions show that technology encompasses areas more diverse than just computers.

Technology is the application of the science in our everyday life.

We can see this clearly in our daily life around us.
The main writing instrument used to be a feather quill pen dipped in ink.
Then through the application of science, it became the ball-point pen.

At one time the pencil was cutting edge technology. Think about it. Few people see pencil as technology, but it is.

Eventually, Every Cutting Edge Technology Becomes an Everyday Utensil.

Fifteen years ago, very few people had VCR=s or Microwave Ovens.

Now it is difficult to find people who don=t have one, the other, or both.

This is due to the fact that once the usefulness of the devices was established, there was a dramatic decrease in price.

This same cycle is currently being applied to the Internet and computers. They are beginning to drop into a price range for true mass appeal.

Lesson Element .2: AThe Average School@

What Technology Is Needed in Schools?

Everything which students interact with on a daily basis is technology.

This includes paper clips, scissor, staplers, books, and desks.

Although many people may view these type of items as basic supplies, they are in actuality, technology in mass use.

Part of the problem created by this misconception of the basic supplies not being technology is that they sometimes are in short supply due to limited budgets.

Once they run out, they are sometimes difficult to replace because they are not perceived as technology.
It is very difficult to teach without paper and the basic supplies.

Some Items of Technology Are Clearly AHi-tech.@

These are items like computer, printers, networking equipment, Internet access, scanners, and software.

What Does the Average School Have in the Way of AHi-tech@?

The average school has:

One computer lab, usually composed of older, slower computers.
Internet access at one main point (such as the library,) on two or three computers.
Televisions. Possibly in every room, but they isn=t likely.
A VCR for each TV.
Overhead projectors. (Few new models).
Graphing calculators. (Approximately enough for two classrooms.)
Tape recorders for use in foreign language study.
Odd miscellaneous items.

Compare that list to the school you graduated from. How does your school compare? What are the differences?

Compared to the Schools of Ten Years Ago, the Average School Is Greatly Advanced, but it Is Nowhere near to Close to What Is Needed.

For schools to maintain their ability to educate the kids of tomorrow, they need to have the best equipment, in sufficient quantities, and to effectively use it.

Lesson Element .3: AEffectively Using Technology@

It Is Equally Important for Technology to Be Used Effectively as it Needs to Become a Bigger Part of the Educational System.

Teachers need to be better trained in order to accomplish that goal.

Most teachers, especially veteran teachers, have a widespread aversion to technology.

This aversion holds the teachers back from realizing the potential of the computer.
This in turn means that the students of that teacher will be behind the curve where technology is concerned.

How Do You Make Teachers More Comfortable With Technology?

The common answer is to have some workshops.

There are few things teachers dislike more than workshops.
This is especially true if the teacher sees no point in the workshop.
Most teachers would rather spend the time teaching or having an additional planning time.
Although they could possibly gain something from the workshop, they don=t embrace them with open arms.

Far more effective means of introducing technology to teachers are college courses, peer tutoring, and student guidance.

Possibly the most effective way is student guidance. Students often know more about computers than do the teachers.

One major hang up to that strategy: Many teachers are reluctant to show their students that they lack knowledge in any given area. They feel like this would diminish their authority with the students. However, in this case, that loss of authority should be viewed as a positive action. When implemented correctly, the loss of authority is slight, and the gain in immense.

Student guidance can be one of the most powerful tools for teacher education.

The Curricula in Schools must Become More Technologically Oriented.

An unfortunate part of our current technological instruction is that once introduced to technology, few students ever need to use it again once the introductory class is completed.

This is especially true of universities.
Many classes do not even acknowledge the benefits of using technology.
Often technology is relegated simply to that of word processing for completing term papers.
Few classes build on the technology.

As a teacher, ask yourself if you believe that you have been adequately prepared for the technological nature of the educational system. If the answer is no, then it become imperative to change educational system to rectify this shortcoming.

Lesson Element .4: AThe Internet@

The Internet Is the Most Powerful Information Tool Invented Since the Printing Press.

It is the most vital technological tool we use.

What Is the Internet?

The Internet is an international collection of computer networks, with an estimated 40 million users in over 100 countries.

There is no one governmental or corporate entity in charge of the Internet.

It is a commitment on the parts of all of it=s users to share resources and transfer resources in an agreed upon manner.

It is made up of a network of interwoven web pages written in the Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML). This is a one-way interaction. It is read only.

HTML is a method of formatting information to look a certain way when viewed with a web browser.
The HTML language does not allow any true interactivity between the user and the provider.

To be truly a two-way interaction, another language such as JAVA or CGI must be utilized.

These languages incorporate specifically designed programs into a web page.
This allows the user to do something rather than simply read the page.

How Effectively is the Internet Being Used in American Schools?

According to a government survey, 50% of U.S. schools have access to the Internet.

Considering the technological society we live in, this is a poor percentage.

The number is slowly rising due to programs like Net Day.

Of the schools with Internet connections, only 9% have the classrooms connected.

The majority of the connected schools have their main access points limited to a few computers in a central point such as the library.

Less than 5% of all American schools have Internet in the classroom.

Whether a school is connected or not, largely depends on the size and the socio-economic status of the school population.

The Clinton Federal Administration Has Made an Effort to Establish a National Commitment to Connect the Schools to the Internet.

They have called for all classrooms and libraries to be connected to the Internet by the year 2000.

Currently, achieving this goal seems unlikely because of a lack of emphasis.

If this initiative was taken seriously, it could be easily accomplished.

History has shown us that with the proper emphasis, Presidential initiatives can be rapidly accomplished.

The moon landing is the primary example. This massive undertaking was accomplished in only nine years.

The connection of classrooms and libraries to the Internet is a far less technologically challenging task than the moon landing.

Whether or not we accomplish the initiative comes done to how imperative we view the goal. It is important and deserves all the support and emphasis we can give it.

Lesson Element .5: AConclusion@

The Most Important Thing to Remember About Technology is not that it needs to utilized effectively, nor focused on. The True Importance is that it is Here to Stay.

Teachers have very few options other than to incorporate it into our classroom.

This doesn=t necessarily incorporation on a daily basis, but rather, frequently and effectively.