With the latest technology we have in society today, it is possible for us students not to open another book again! Technology these days has allowed us to literally bring just a tablet computer, for example an Ipad, into school. With that we can read out of a pre-downloaded book and even take notes on a word program. Not just are the books getter 'smarter', but the classrooms are as well too.
So long are the days where teachers would roll down a small screen and projected onto that would be the notes, regularly coming from a noisy old overhead projector. In todays world we have things called 'smart-boards'. With these smart boards teachers are able to do just about anything. From displaying powerpoints, to showing movies, to even writing on the boards with markers. I bet if a teacher wanted to, he or she could even teach the class while in a different room, through programs similar to skype.
For crying out loud even the way we are being tested is 'smarter'. Schools are now forcing students to take every test and quiz online. Wasn't it so simple to just sit in class and circle the correct answers? We now have to go to a computer lab, log-in using special usernames and passwords that are only applicable to that certain time-frame. This is also the case for math tests / quizes. What the hell is this??? Submitting in assignments can be the same thing also. God-forbid if we entered in an assignment in the wrong format, we're all screwed.
Some of these new changes are good, such as the online text books and smart-boards in class. Some bad things may be taking math tests / quizes online. This is only my opinion of-course. My question for the class is, how do you view this new technology in the classroom? Does society need to take a step back with all of this, or should we keep updating the things we already have?
Source:
http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html
I am a little in the middle about advancing technology. I hate the fact that we are having to do math homework and tests and quizzes online. I feel like it is way more beneficial to do all the practice and work by hand. It is easier to learn and practice by hand than by anything computer generated. But i also do like the fact that technology is advancing because a few years ago i got a nook for christmas and i love it. People say that with things like nooks and kindles books are losing their value and people will stop reading as much but i have found just the opposite. Owning a nook has made me read more because when I finish i book and can download another one instantly and constantly be reading. So i am a little torn on the advancement of technology.
ReplyDeleteI believe we do need to keep advancing when it comes to technology, but only when necessary. I think that many technological advances are unnecessary and actually cause more problems then they fix. How much time is wasted fixing technological problems instead of actually teaching? It goes both ways. Sometimes it saves us time and stress and other times it adds time and stress.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great issue to discuss. You mentioned teaching over Skype, and I actually am taking a class now where my professor is teaching at the Panama City campus and he is projected over a screen to our class in Tallahassee! Anyway, technology in the classroom (and everywhere else for that matter) has its pros and cons. Smartboards and Activeboards have been very beneficial to many classes I have taken, however they also cost schools millions of dollars. In high school, each classroom was issued an Activeboard; at least half of my teachers did not even use them, let alone know how to use them. Doing assignments such as math tests and chemistry homework online seems to be more difficult for us as students. However, by doing so, we allow the teacher easier ways to grade, therefore allowing us to have more time to learn and grow in the subject. With everything comes pros and cons, and although there are multiple cons to the growth of technology in the classroom, I do believe the pros outweigh the cons.
ReplyDeleteMy view on technology is that it’s convenient when it works, but it can ruin your whole day if it doesn’t. I do miss the old days back when schools didn’t completely rely on computers. It was nice to just take notes with pencil and paper and come in on the day of the test with just your brain. There was no user id for everything or memorizing a million passwords; it was come and learn with old fashion pen and pencil. I do think that technology has been extremely helpful though. If it weren’t for the computer I, I wouldn’t be here. I applied for FSU online and have all my records on file through the computer.
ReplyDeleteTaking tests and quizzes on a computer I think is easier. It’s usually all multiple choice and you know your grade instantly. The “human error” flaw is taken out of grading, also.
i think that it is essential that classrooms contain computers and technology. it is part of our life now. who doesn't have a cell phone? i don't think it should be all that we focus on but i believe it should be a large part of education. the number one priority should still be education and there is still a lot of things that we can't accomplish on the computer or with technology. if we over-utilize the technology though it will make the generations after us more and more dependent, making them lazy.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is very important in todays world. With out it, we would all be screwed and everything would take forever! However, I am not a big fan of technology in schools. I would find highly annoying if my textbook was on a e-reader/kindle, etc. I want the actual book in my hand, so I can flip the pages. I just feel like reading a chemistry book through an e-reader would be nearly impossible. I just feel that having the actual book helps you understand the material better. And oh my god, I hate having to take my math quizzes and test online. I would always make stupid mistakes by not typing it in right, so then the whole damn problem would be wrong! If the quizzes and test were on paper, the teacher could see my right answer and I wouldn't have to worry about missing question due to computer errors. Yes it may be easier to grade, but math isn't a subject that should have online activities. I don't think society should take a step back, our country is only getting smarter and with a smarter nation, we need better technology. I just think maybe they should step back with technology in school.
ReplyDeletei agree that technology is everywhere these days! I think it is really annoying to an extent. I take my mat quizzes on a computer which is so hard because if you forget a comma or something like that, you get the entire question wrong. Same goes for chemistry. These subjects were not created by technology, but by actually doing the work out step by step on paper. I think society is getting lazy and too dependent on technology.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy having the new technology in the classroom. You don't have to bring as many books to class and you can condense all your work into one source.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I think we are becoming too reliant on technology too. Taking tests online is not always helpful to someone and spending too much time on a computer can hurt your health like weakening your eyes, etc. In my opinion, tests like math should not be taken online because it takes time to work out a problem on paper. The newest technology is not always better. Sometimes the old fashion way is best.
I think that when technology is used right, it can be very beneficial. However, I feel that nowadays, people are starting to use them for the wrong reasons. I think technology is a supplementary resource, not something that should replace what’s already there. I feel like the more advanced technology is, the lazier we become because we use technology to take the easy way out of things. I also think that some people don’t see the harm that certain technology can cause. For example, I know a lot of people are crazy about their kindles. I personally to do not have one, nor do I want one. I feel like there is no greater feeling than holding a paperback book in my hands. Some people may argue that these reduce the need for paper, but they don’t see what they’re doing. People’s eyesight has gotten worse and worse because of staring at bright computer screens in dark rooms. Maybe to some people, especially those who already have glasses, that doesn’t really matter, but to me it does. I think that with technology, it can go either way. I think that it can hurt as much as it can help; it all just depends on how and why we are using it.
ReplyDeleteI think online assignments have their ups and downs for example a pro is that you instantly know whether your answer is wrong or not. The only problem with out generation being so dependent on technology is that we have a hard time looking for sources outside of the internet.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely pro technology. I feel it is our way into the feature. Being able to do all your homework and note taking on your device makes everything much neater and conserves the amount of paper used. Being pro-technology in my eyes is helping to make the earth greener. As well, our society is only moving further and further into the feature and unless you jump on the technology wagon you will be left behind.
ReplyDeleteI think using computers for school is a good thing most of the time. It makes it a lot easier to write papers, or do research for projects. You are also able to check and see if you have any tests coming up, or any assignments due by using websites such as blackboard. However, I do think that some tests still need to be taken in a class room and graded by a teacher and not a computer. I know that I hated taking online math quizzes last semester. So for the most part I think that technology in the clasroom is good, but we should never switch to using nothing but computers.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem I forsee, is what if the internet crashes all together? If there was a major catastrophe and we weren't able to use any online information, our civilization would go into panic because everything is saved there. The technology is efficient and I don't mind it, I am just concerned that there is no certain back up system holding almost all the information the world holds.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit iffy on both sides to this. On one hand, "less" resources are needed, since everything can be done with little to no paperwork. Not only that, but grades can be given automatically, since a system is grading hundreds of papers instantly instead of a professor grading one at a time. But on the other hand, technology is expensive and dependent. What exactly will happen to FSU if all technology shut down for a day? Seeing as every form of communication is sent via online, we would be stuck.
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point. With technology, there is good and bad, it is never either/or. While I agree that with technology things are easier, faster, and efficient; I don't agree with adding more technology into the classroom. Now a days, we spent countless hours using technology. By bringing more into the classroom you are increasing the amount of exposure a student gets to technology. Also, just because things are suddenly easier, it does not mean learning is easier. Learning remains the same with or without technology. Personally, I wouldn't mind going an hour without looking at a computer screen.
ReplyDeleteAlthough some people like my parents are not interested in the digital revolution happening in our classrooms. I believe that change is good, and United States schools should implement modern technology in the classroom. All of these tools help our students learn easier and better than they had in the past. Not to mention computers save paper and ink, therefore saving money in the long run. Change can sometimes be scary, but just imagine if all the classrooms in America still used a blackboard and chalk.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there are plenty of benefits from the use of technology in the classroom, however there are also many draw backs this system. As mentioned in the article, by taking tests and quizes online you lose the ability to learn from your mistakes. This is particularly troublesome in math where you must enter your answers in the correct format and no partial credit may be received. On the other hand, the use of technology in the classroom opens up so many windows that have never been available in the past. For instance, the use of the projectors and smartboards in the classroom allows the teacher to project power points and write notes on the same board. In all, technology in the classroom can be helpful, but in reality I feel as if the technology installed in the classrooms is underused and unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteWe are to far into the technological world to take a step back, it is only going to get more advanced as the days pass. We need to keep updating what we have as well as continue to invent new and more efficient technology. I love the vast majority of the technology in the classroom. I can certainly type much faster than i can write and take notes that make more sense at the same time. I absolutely hate doing anything online for math though. I have found that the programs they have for online math is not smart enough yet. If i do an entire problem correctly and then type the answer in incorrectly i get a zero out of four. No, that's not how that's supposed to work i should get partial credit for doing all of the work properly. Math should be all hand written in my opinion. Other than the online math, bring on the technology. It's only going to get better.
ReplyDeleteI think that the use of all this technology is harmful. As I said in my blog post a few weeks ago, the consequences of the internet being down for a day would essentially shut down so many business and technology based industries. our school itself would not even be able to function properly without all of the technology used that are made a necessity by the way the classrooms are run.
ReplyDeleteI believe that for standard lecture classes, this sort of technology is a good thing. It makes it easier on the students and the professor to focus on the material as opposed to overhead projectors. However, for math labs and taking online test, this can backfire. Many times the programs used are so case sensitive to your answers that if there are more than one forms to an answer, your answer could be wrong if it doesn't match what the computer system has as its answer.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm a big fan of technology, so I think we should keep updating it as much as possible if it's going to make our lives easier. Technology not only gives us more resources and options when it comes to learning/teaching (like the smart board, and screens you mentioned), but they make it more interactive. Of course, I do understand that technology can sometimes facilitate cheating and unfair errors (computer might crash as you're taking the test) that can jeopardize the student's performance or grade.
ReplyDeleteTechnology works great and especially in the classroom. New iPads save ink and paper so you don't have to print out books. smart boards are awesome so you can put any computer screen on the overhead screen and write it out and make it easier for the students to understand. The only bad thing with technology is there is often problems (technical difficulties) that may be bad.
ReplyDeleteTechnology makes it much easier for us to do most os our work. I don't think we need to slow down, the way that things are going I think we can get much more things that can be helpfull to us. Sometimes there are some little problems but I sitll don't think we need to take a step back
ReplyDeleteTechnology is very helpful in pretty much every way you can think of. It makes it so much easier to communicate in and outside of the classroom and helps teachers accomplish so much more in one class rather than if they had to write everything on the board. It's also helpful for note taking because the teacher usually already has it put on a powerpoint. Technology is very useful inside the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI tend to prefer the old fashion way in most technology situations. Though I do appreciate smart boards over the loud over-head projectors. I agree with the argument for math. I hate doing online work. I prefer to have the problem on a piece of paper right in front of me and the website almost always has a problem. Same with my online chemistry work. Maybe once it is all perfected, it should be better.
ReplyDeleteThe reason quizzes and tests are online is because of the fallacy of the teacher. Many times teachers will forget to bring materials to class or forget to record a grade. Also it makes it easier for them to keep things recorded. Instead of collecting the quizzes and tests and THEN entering them online, the online system put in place makes this simultaneous. I myself think there are a little too many electronic devices in the classroom and I still take notes on a spiral notebook.
ReplyDeleteI understand making schools “smarter” helps reduce the amount of paper used and keeps students from lugging around bulky text books but I guess I’m kind of old fashioned in that I love taking notes by hand, underlining sentences or definitions in a text book , and taking tests and quizzes in class on paper. Taking notes by hand helps me learn and retain information and when I’m outlining a paper or writing my first draft I usually write it by hand. I love being able to study outside and not rely on an internet connection to do my homework or study. We’re all on our phones and computers so often; don’t you think we could use a bit of a break? I support advancing our technology I just don’t want technology to replace the relationships we have with people for relationships with computer programs.
ReplyDeleteI think technology is more beneficial to the professors than it is to the students. For example, having to take quizzes online saves the teacher time, for they don't have to waste time grading them. Also, instruments such as Turnitin.com are ways in which teachers check for plagiarism without having to spend much time on it. I think the technology we have in the classroom nowadays is more efficient and convenient. Why should we have to go back to chalk boards when we can have smart boards that do a million different things?
ReplyDeleteSometimes this new technology in the classroom is really cool but the majority of the time the technology is annoying. There are always seems to be some sort of technical difficulty or sometimes the professors are not too sure how to use a program so it takes them half the class to figure things out. I think we are too dependent on technology. For example, when my computer crashed I could not do any of my homework and felt totally lost in the world. I do miss teachers and their over head projectors and their lectures where they wrote important points and explained concepts on the board.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate the new system of learning. Constantly, I'm desensitized by the amount technology that interferes with the learning process. When my parents were young, they had to sit down at a desk and read stories diligently. Today, you can use spark notes to just get the jist of it. I would call the implementation of technology in the classroom making things "dumber" rather than "smarter" Our standards as a country have lowered on how we view the education of our children. We don't care if we learn more or not because regardless, we can always look it up on google. This is a great resource, I'm glad we can always look up information when we need it; it saves a lot of time. However, it fosters a laziness unmatched by society in the past. Eventually, you will have to google how to perform and operation during the operation. Actually, who am I kidding? A machine will do it for you. We'll just stare and drool.
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ReplyDeleteOver the years, technology has advanced tremendously and I agree with you that it has its advantages and disadvantages. I doubt we are ever going to take a step back with it since we are already so far ahead. When I write out stuff or take tests on paper, it helps me focus and remember things better. I hate turning in work online cause sometimes the computer crashes or slows down and it just puts more stress on top of more stress. I don't like taking tests online especially if it isn't multiple choices because there’s only one right answer and you cant learn from your mistakes. I do however believe that technology such as these smart boards and screen projectors are beneficial in some cases such as the lecture classes with over 500 students.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the advances made in the classroom already are incredible but we can not stop there. We are only scratching the service of what could become the "smartest" education possible. Don't get me wrong though, there are a few bugs in the system so far. Sometimes the online tests don't know how to accept different forms of the same answer and sometimes submitting a document in a certain from can be a pain. I do believe that Skype programs should not be used, because once we lose that face to face interactions with professors is when the whole college education system is doomed.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, we can't stop the technology from advancing. I personally can't to see all of the things that get invented in my lifetime. There really isnt anything bad about technology except for the online math quizzes. I hate taking math quizzes online. It should all be handwritten. Yes, it saves the teacher time because they dont have to grade each quiz but youre a teacher, thats your job, get over it. The system that we use to take those quizzes is complete bullshit. There are times where i type in one part of the answer incorrectly on accident and once i hit grade i cant change it, and i get no partial credit. I think that as we get older there will definitely be things that we hate about certain technology, but there will be way more things about it that we love and that will help us.
ReplyDeleteI think technology in the classroom is helpful. I don't want to have technology replace everything, like have things like Kindles or iPads replace books. I prefer reading out of a book with pages I can change easily and underline. I think that so far technology in classrooms is just helpful, and isn't overused. Even the online testing you mentioned, I don't mind that. I had a class where we had quizzes and tests that we had to do online before they expired. I think that is perfectly reasonable because there were computers available for everyone in the library and everyone had several days to do the tests which usually only took an hour. I think we should keep moving with the technology, but know our limits and not develop too much.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is no stopping the advancement of technology and there is no reason to try and fight it. It more ergonomically to have a collection of 100 books on an Ipad as upposed to having them take up a lot of space in a house or library it is also cheaper to house all these books online. The tech we have in the classroom I also think isn't a bad thing at all. The use of online test and quizes is an excellent way to save money. Although I do believe that it is much easier to cheat on online things and I would assume this will be cleaned up quickly as everything becomes better with time.
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