Reflection #3- How do increasing computer power, decreasing size, and wireless communications make technology-enhanced classroom more flexible? What is a virtual environment? What potential does it hold for education?
Growing up during the technology boom of the 1990’s and 2000’s I have witnessed the transformations of computer and other electronic technology. From the days of dial up internet on my families giant Packard Bell to the capacity to be able to surf the internet on my iPhone. Myself, along with all Americans have seen the rapid advancement in computer technology. With such a growth in the computer arena it would be foolish for school districts, schools, and teachers not to take full advantage of the opportunity that technology has presented to us. There has been major advancement in three areas, computer power, the decrease of size, and wireless communications. Through these advancements it has also made it easier to incorporate into a normal classroom.
The advancement in education technology can deliver a large degree of flexibility to any classroom. Increase speeds of the computer have made it possible for students to look up information in the blink of an eye, and has allowed for teachers to scan and post items faster than they could have ever imagined. The decrease in size of technology can be seen throughout technology. Computers are constantly becoming smaller, it is now possible for students to pull a lap top from their book bags and never have the need to leave the classroom. Palm pilots and other PDA’s have also made it possible to never carry a notebook again. In the palm of your hand it is now possible to take all the notes for all your classes during the day. Decrease size is also noticeable through saving devices. Gone are the days of floppy disk, today all your document and media files can be saved onto a simple zip drive which you can attach to your key chain. The decrease in size of educational technology products has made reaching students through these outlets easier than ever. Wireless networks have allowed students and teachers to access the Internet from nearly any location. Using portable wireless computers, students can research a topic on a field trip before ever returning to school (Lever-Duffy McDonald, 153). With the invention of Wi-Fi networks gaining access to the internet has become easier than ever, for students and teachers.
The final advancement in educational technology is virtual environments. This is perhaps the most important of all previously discussed. Virtual environments allow for students to enter a world which they are discussing in their class. Lever-Duffy and McDonald use the example of students searching the Amazon rainforest. As a 6th grade teacher if I was given that type of technology when discussing Latin America, I believe my students could have a better grasp of the wildlife in that region of the world. Overall, as teachers we must do all we can, with the resources which are provided. Through the possibilities that are being presented to us, we have the potential to reach students in ways which could not even have been fathomed five years ago. It is our duty to do everything we can with, the technology provided to us to reach each and every student.
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Reed’s example was perfect. His student’s could have gotten so much more out of the lesson had he been equipped the best of today’s technology. Since school districts do not have the funding to equip each classroom with the most advanced technology, our students do not get 100 percent of most teachers’ potential educational ability. Teachers have so much to give, and so little to give it with. In as much, with all the computing power available given today’s technology, a teacher must still rely on his or her own ability. IPads would be great, if supported with libraries and books. However, today we do not have all of these technologies in our elementary, middle, and secondary schools. The question leds me to think of a futuristic world like seen on Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteWe can not afford all of the advanced equipment in our classrooms. Our focus should be to bring students who do not have computers at home up to the level of computer skills expected for their respectively grade level, starting with students entering kindergarten.
If society enabled schools to use all the technology available, we would teach our students from museums, science laboratories, and real world classrooms. Students would take notes, pictures, and document lectures on their personnel computing device. We do not even have these capabilities at college.
Most recently I watched several students’ complete freshman and sophomore homework assignments and exams at a university by computer, and I wondered where interpersonal communication went in the classroom at a smaller university. So the question posed in this reflection was: a) Is increasing computer power, decreasing size, and wireless communication make technology enhanced classrooms more flexible? b) What is a virtual environment? c) What potential does it hold for education? The answers are: a) Yes, flexibility is increased. b) We are using a virtual environment for this class; however, we are not using all virtual capabilities available today. c) The potential for use (of a virtual environment) in education is high but at what cost to personal communication between the teacher and the student, and how will the virtual world effect teacher student relationships?
The pathway between today’s schools and the perfect educational environment using all technology available has many facets to be evaluated, where the impacts on all the learning styles is a deep consideration.
Great job in reflecting and commenting.
ReplyDeleteGood job, Reed.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Technology has advanced in exponential degrees over the past 10-20 years. Also growing up in the late 80's and 90's, I have witnessed the incredible leap in technological advancement first hand. And yes, technology is becoming more accessable to teachers and students around the nation, opening new windows of opportunity for the educational field. However, while we would all love for our students and our classrooms to have the latest and greatest technology, this dream is still just that. Due to funding budgets and the cuts thereof, many classrooms are having to go without. Many schools have trouble simply affording textbooks. And in my personal opinion, this is simply unsatisfactory. We can't expect to prepare young adults for a world steeped in technology when our text books are close to a decade old.
But, alas, this is a whole other argument altogether.
MJW...That is why we need to strive to become great teachers!!
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