Using Technology in Schools

What a wonderful world we live in to be able to use technology as the ultimate educational tool. It provides a pathway in helping students achieve academic success through diversification, individualized lessons, classroom correspondence, grade level and ability level interaction, and even the chance to work with others in different countries.

The Basic Classroom

The basic classroom functions around an overhead projector, a computer for the teacher, possibly a few to several computers for students per class, a TV, and various antiquated odds and ends like tape recorders, DVD players, and so on.

It is improving. Some schools use a shared file server system where teachers can share lesson plans with other teachers and students can save their assignments and projects through a shared file with their teacher.

Some schools have it where teachers can develop their whole curriculum using a system such as Blackboard, D2L, Angel, and similar programs. This capability is much like taking an online class with the added bonus of classroom and technological interactions. It also has the means to provide education to the students who are absent for health and other reasons or have been removed from the classroom or school for disciplinary reasons. However and unfortunately, it is not often used in this way. This is a shame that we are not using technology in this manner. But that, perhaps, is another article.

Smart boards are becoming common place in the classroom as well. They provide an interactive tool that can be used for teaching students, taking notes, taking attendance, and keeping track of projects—to name a few. A perfect means to provide a green education and get away from so much paperwork.

The Ideal Classroom

The ideal classroom consists of a Smart Board with multiple applications, iPads with a Clicker program, and projectors to display videos and movie clips. But really, the latter could be seen on an iPad. With these three items, it would declutter the classroom and allow the same technological advances as we currently have and more in the schools with fewer items. For example, let’s take a look at a small group activity. Students access the information to see who is in which group, or the teacher can provide this information. Students decide who has which leadership role and that is entered into the Wiki format where they will be collaborating their discoveries. From here students may share the information with the class or create a PowerPoint to demonstrate their findings. Or, the teacher can provide other options for the students to demonstrate their knowledge. Providing a list of options allows the students to have a say in their education. When they are able to do this, there is more ownership.

Diversification/Individualized Lessons

The key in using programs such as D2L, is that it can allow a teacher the opportunity of providing lessons for a variety of individuals for multiple skills and abilities. For example, for a question about the Industrial Revolution, the teacher can ask the following questions:

1. Lower-level: From this list, find two causes of the Industrial Revolution.
2. Middle-of-the-road: List two causes of the Industrial Revolution.
3. Upper level: List two causes of the Industrial Revolution and explain why these causes were important.

Classroom Correspondence

Correspondence can happen within the classroom, face-to-face, or for those students who feel more comfortable behind the facade of anonmity, they can use the computers to communicate. This is also great for grade level activities, classroom to classroom. Students can actually work with others in the classroom across the hall without ever stepping out of their room. Of course, it doesn't have to stop there. There can be a sixth grade student who is working with an eighth student on a project because their ability and skill levels are the same.Or, how about a student who is learning Spanish? Is it possible for the student to correspond with another who actually lives in Spain? It's a thought. That kind of opportunity would have so many benefits and real-life application. I know this is a lot to digest, but it is doable. It is only the limits that we set on yourselves as instructional leaders that limit how much we can use and incorporate the blessing of technology within a classroom.

Some Technological Options to Consider

Blogs are great for students writing reviews on literature, reflecting on a literature element such as similes and metaphors, commenting about a historical event, or working out the kinks in a scientific experiment. Blackboard provides an option where students can work together on line to figure out various computations, complete assignments, and post comments (much like a blog). Desktop publishing can help create book covers, posters to demonstrate various ads, and create cover pages for projects. Face book, twitter, and teacher web sites can be used to keep track of what is going on in the class, provide homework assignments, and even post student work. Wikis are ideal to collaborate on an activity. Smart boards are a great tool for teachers. Clickers provide immediate feedback while ensuring all students are held accountable. Foreign Language Translation programs allow teachers to translate various correspondences into another language. This is perfect for the parents who do not know or speak little English. There are so many possibilities, it can boggle the mind. Our imagination is our only restriction.

Using technology in a classroom is wonderful, but how one uses it determines how much of a tool it really is. We have to get past the idea of technology being a fun toy to play with. We must get to the point where technology is a tool that is well-integrated within our educational world. There is nothing else that can have so much impact on education as the use of technology. to not use it to its maximum benefit, is simply a disservice.