Technology in the classroom
used to involve playing Oregon
Trail on one of the four available PC’s in the “computer lab.”
The 21st Century has made great strides since
then, and children today have unprecedented technology tools at their disposal.
Despite the positive trends
towards adopting technology in the classroom, the full menu of technology is
still not universally available to all students. Many schools struggle with
nearly-crippling budget cuts and teacher shortages, and some have had to make
difficult choices.
10 Benefits of Technology in the Classroom
1. Instructors Can Personalize the Education
Experience
A PBS teacher survey found
that teachers like and support technology in the classroom. Tools like
websites, apps, learning games, e-books, and virtual tutoring help the student
learn at their own pace. Digital materials can support classroom learning
topics, and introduce different teaching methods for each student’s unique
learning needs.
2. Instant Access to Knowledge
The Internet gives students instant access to answers beyond
what’s in their textbooks. In fact, today’s kids are already familiar with
“Googling-it” to find answers to questions. The gift of the internet to the
classroom gives teachers the chance to give their students a holistic view of
any given subject while still giving students the guidance to find the right
sources. In-classroom internet research gives teachers the opportunity to teach
their students how to assess the quality of the information they find online
while removing the one-sided restrictions of a textbook.
3. Student Preference
A study by Educause found
that K-12 and college students prefer to have technology integrated into their
curriculum. Computers, tablets, smartphones, and the internet are the same
tools that they use at home. Students are already comfortable using these tools
to connect with other students, their instructors, and their institution. In
fact, the Educause survey found that 54% of students would typically use at
least two devices simultaneously for school work.
4. Student Workplace Readiness
One of the greatest benefits for
technology in the classroom is student workplace readiness. Mobility is
currently the next great movement in the workplace, and students who use
technology in the classroom today will be more adapted to using it in the
future. The importance of technology in the classroom goes even beyond simple
digital literacy: it promotes workplace soft skills like critical thinking,
independent research, and cross-technology proficiency.
5. Trend toward Blended Learning Environment
The Educause
survey found that 75% of students currently have experience with
blended online/on premise learning. This offers several benefits, including a
cost reduction for some schools. Blended learning programs often use
e-textbooks to allow their students to have unlimited access to their learning
material. Blended environments also support online submission of electronic
documents, cutting school costs on paper and other materials. Cost-benefits
aside, students say that they enjoy the benefits of blending both online and
in-class learning styles.
6. Teacher Support
A 2013 PBS Learning Media study
found that 74% of teachers agree that technology enables them to reinforce
their lessons. Curriculums, learning trends, and student engagement can rise or
fall on the basis of teacher support. Technology in the classroom would never
flourish without the support of instructors, and an overwhelming percentage of
teachers are eager to use even more technology in the classrooms. Huffington Post found
that, “78 percent of Kindergarten through Middle School teachers agree that
technology has had a
positive impact on their classroom — and that’s just the start.”
7. Proven Student Engagement
An article by the National Math and Science
Initiative shows that blended learning styles keep students focused
longer and makes them more excited to learn more, especially for STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects.
8. Tools are improving at an Alarming Rate
Technology toys, like interactive whiteboards, tablets, learning
apps and websites, are always improving. Even the ways students access and
interact with information is always improving. Developers are conscious of the
benefits of technology in the classroom, and a lot of money is being spent on
developing mobile apps and e-Learning courses with proven results. Also, social
tools in Web 2.0 provide a learning opportunity for students to learn about
internet safety while staying engaged with their educators.
9. Website Creation and Access are
Cost-Effective
According to a PBS survey, websites are the most commonly used
tech resources in the classroom with 56% of educators citing the use of a
website. Some teachers even say that they create websites of their own to
bolster their in-classroom lesson plans. The cost to develop and maintain a
website are significantly less the investment in additional textbooks and
workbooks. (Web sites are also easier to update than a printed textbook).
10. The Teaching Industry is Ready for
Emerging Technology
Teachers the foot soldiers of education, and they’re ready to
implement technology in the classroom through was many ways as possible. Unlike
in previous decades, modern teachers recognize the critical importance
technology plays in teaching tomorrow’s leaders. If a school district decides
to implement or encourage technology, they probably won’t experience much (if
any) backlash from educators.
The Importance of Technology in Education
If students, parents, and even teachers are convinced of the
importance of technology in the classroom, what obstacles are standing in the
way of implementing them?
The National PBS Survey found
that 63% of educators say that the cost of technology is too high to
successfully implement technology in the classroom. However, there are still
cost-effective solutions that can help educators get the technology they need
and deserve in their classroom.
Partner with an IT solutions company that already works with
school districts throughout Texas and Louisiana to learn about your options for
mobility, VDI, 1:1 deployment, and more. Contact Centre Technologies for more
information about our education technology solutions today.
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