Although some challenges may be present when integrating educational technology into teaching, the benefits certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Roblyer, author of Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, put it succinctly when he said, “We need more teachers who understand the role technology plays in society and in education, who are prepared to take advantage of its power, and who recognize its limitations. In an increasingly technological society, we need more teachers who are technology savvy and child centered.” (2016) Because the world our children are growing up in is increasingly challenging, we need to empower our students with the right technology skills, knowledge and tools.
Simply purchasing devices or proclaiming that technology will now be used in schools will not instantly and effortlessly result in higher test scores, greater student engagement and better teacher evaluations. When used deliberately, however, it can have a great impact on education. In a summary provided by authors of the educational magazine Edutopia in February of 2013, it was noted that the following items can impact the quality indicators in education:
The use of technology in the classroom can offer solutions to many problems present in education today. Roblyer suggests that technology implementation is most effective when we find the right combination of variables (2016). Based on my experience, student engagement, teaching problem-solving skills and preparing students for the future are these variables. Student engagement increases with the use of technology, especially when resources are carefully selected. Whether the instructor uses a video to introduce a lesson or a production software to complete a task, she can draw students in with technology. Technology is one of the most effective modes for helping students develop problem solving skills. From troubleshooting hardware issues, to discovering the reason behind a software glitch, to finding out why their webpage won't load, the opportunities for developing problem solving skills are endless. Finally, using technology to prepare students for the future is imperative because students are growing up in a world that requires them to be digitally, informationally, and visually literate. They need to know where to find accurate information, how to retrieve it, interpret it, and effectively share that information. Both directed models and constructivist learning theories support this goal. (Roblyer, 2016) Resource Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology Into Teaching [e-Text]. Retrieved from www.pearsonhighered.com/etextbooks.
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