Post your thoughts on the role and importance of technology in K-12 education. If you would like a preview of our speaker for next week, Adam Garry, check out this interview he did recently. Adam is the Manager of Global Professional Learning for Dell, and will be giving you his take on what a 21st century education means when we meet next.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Technology and 21st Century Skills
Much is made these days of "21st century learners", "21st century skills", and "21st century classrooms". Invariably, technology -- and the use of technology in classrooms by students and teachers -- is an assumed component of these 21st century phenomena. But does technology really make a difference in teaching and learning? Has the use of technology in classrooms led to improved teaching and learning? Is a 21st century education that different from a 20th century education?
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As with all elements within the classroom, the impact it has depends upon the manner and method which it is implemented. Technology which is utilized fully and correctly can really enhance the classsroom by allowing for differentiation & collaboration, by expanding access to data, and by increasing motivation. The type of technology will continue to change but the concept of changing technology will continue in education.
Technology allows for greater differnation both in terms of assignments and expectations. As an ELA teacher I can search for a book online by lexile level easily helping every student in my class find a book at their approriate level. Math teachers can use programs to create different problems over and over for the same objectives, so students who have yet to master a specific goal can continue to receive practice. Students can more easily collaborate with each other with various programs (the level of collaboration possible increases with student computer literacy and student self-behavior).
Technology allows data to be accessed much more easily and quickly-both a negative and positive. Students can now find so much data that they have to be taught to analyze the data for validity as well as skim through vast options to identify what it is they actually need.
Technology will not motivate all students but it will motivate some including some of the "hard-to-read" students. I have used an online site where students can use their cell phones to text in responses during class. While not all students were enaged, some students who are traditional "behavior" issues who rarely participate texted in. This past week one of those students volunteered to read a part of Anne Frank aloud during class. I believe the use of cell phones engaged him in the classroom and helped lead to his being willing to read out loud during class.
Without exposing your students to the newest technology, I feel that we are not providing our students with the education they need to be competitive in today's world. So many careers rely heavily on technology and without years of training you are not as confident to compete in the job market. I also feel that students are motivated through using technology, which helps as we try to find ways to motivate students to learn.
21st-Century Learning is, unfortunately, often confused with the simple introduction of technology. Using technology as a teaching and learning tool is but one component of 21st-Century Learning. The world we live in is changing, and being able to use technology responsibly is a necessary skill for our students; but the simple addition of an interactive whiteboard, document cameras, computers, and clickers isn’t going to enhance student learning any more than adding books and paper would have 100 years ago without good teaching.
There are advantages and disadvantages to including technology in education. Certainly, technology increases access to information, increases the power of the individual, has great potential for different learning styles, allows for instant feedback, allows information to be shared with others easily, brings faraway places closer to home, and allows students to connect with experts in a field. On the other hand, technology also creates a loss of human interaction, promotes the importance of the individual over the group, is extraordinarily expensive, requires that teachers spend a tremendous amount of time learning how to use equipment, is often inaccessible to the poor, is often unreliable, allows students to access often unreliable information without the skills to determine validity, replaces individual thought and analysis with a desire to plagiarize, and sometimes overwhelms students with too much information.
In my opinion, in the right hands, technology is a wonderful thing; however, in the wrong hands it can be dangerous. Offering technology to a bad teacher isn’t going to make that teacher any more effective, nor will it increase student learning.
I think technology is a great tool for increasing student learning, but I am not convinced that it is the answer to all of our problems. Technology has had a positive impact on my teaching. A few aspects of my teaching that technology has impacted are availability of resources, teaching style, and communication. Technology has given me access to a wide variety of classroom resources and made it easy to share and modify resources. My teaching style is dependant on using my laptop and projector. I love being able to create PowerPoint presentations that I can revise and reuse each semester. I have a class website and send out weekly e-mail updates to teachers. Students have access to the online textbook and we frequently use the graphing calculator to solve problems. Overall, my students are learning because of my teaching not because of the technology.
Here is a question for the group: Do you think the belief that giving students access to “21st century technology” will improve education tries to remove good teaching from the equation? I think that technology can be a valuable learning tool, but seems like some people tend to think that good technology will solve the problem of bad teaching.
I agree with Matthew that technology allows for greater differentiation within the classroom. Technology can allow teachers to reach struggling students by designing different assignments that interest the students and helps them to learn more easily. Also, through the incorporation of technology, students will be able to view places they have never been and information that they would otherwise miss in a regular old fashion lesson. I also agree with Janice that technology is an important tool, but good teaching is still the key to student learning. It gives teachers more educational tools to reach all sorts of students that before may have been more difficult. Also, the communication between parents, students and teachers is enhanced through online web pages, so everyone is aware of what is taking place in the classroom.
I want to continue to build on what was stated by Janice. Technology can only enhance the classroom when paired with good teaching and it can also be a waste of money. While there are a lot of wonderful elements that technology allows in the classroom they are nothing but expensive tools if not utilized correctly or properly.
Also, technology that is not utilized correctly in the classroom is a waste of resources. Schools often invest money and time (through PD) into technology. Without aligning technology to the priorities (how will the technology significantly alter instruction) and staff (is the staff ready and willing to utilize the technology) then the money is wasted on fancy gadgets instead of being spent on resources that could be more fully utilized.
I imagine most of us know of technology at our school that is used by less than 50% of the staff either because it quickly became outdated or because the staff is not comfortable using it in their instruction.
I agree with Suzanne there are both positives and negatives with the use of technology. And using technology alone does not equate to 21st century competiveness/readines in our students. Technology is a tool,like a hammer, not a solution for all the problems in education. Simply using a computer or computer program does not make students 21st century learners. Just like using a hammer does not make students carpenters.
In the interview with Turpin in Georgia Schools he stated, “Parents need to talk to teachers if they are not using technology.” And then he followed-up by stating that parents need to be involved at home with their kids while exploring/learning on the computers.
But how do teachers respond or our parents stay involved when there is a great disparity in the access to technology?
I do feel technology in many forms is essential for our kids. Today’s world is - technology- technologay used to get/ share information, technology to make you more efficient with your job, technology to solve problems and research questions. How can you prepare someone for being in the community/workforce in any capacity without this experience?
What is troublesome to me, like much of education, is the inequity of resources. For example this year the school I use to teach at just got SmartBoards (I believe one of the last schools in Durham). There is a limited number of computers that are archaic, in computer terms and nonfunctioning computers is commonplace. Though I am always appreciative of any resources and equipment that we can purchase or is donated to this school it is frustrating that kids from poverty will always be “behind” with experiences and access to this new world. ‘
Adam Garry shared some statistics of the number of kids with cell phones and smart phones. And while these #s don’t surprise me, I know many of the kids in our neighborhoods make up the percentage that doesn’t have access. So ideally a school that serves kids from poverty should get the new computers and technology first. But just like their households, these schools will come in near the end, and be on a continuous path of playing a “catch-up” game. And the Matthew effect rings true.
Of course great school leaders are going to work hard to collaborate with community agencies, look for grants and find innovative ways to secure financial support. But in the ideal world, should leaders at schools that serve a large population from poverty have extra challenges?
Meg, I agree that equal access to technology is an issue in education. There are vast disparities in the technology schools have access to. One of the biggest challenges is keeping technology up to date. Schools often only factor the initial cost when purchasing new technology. Oftentimes there is not money left for updates and maintenance costs.
As educators we must continue to work towards providing the most up-to-date tools for our students. Without striving for these valuable technologies we are depriving our students. Even though it will be some time before our teaching and technology are working together, we must continue to enhance our classrooms and teachings with technology. My 3 and 4 year old already know how to work all aspects of the ipad-- this is exposure to all the technology they will use during their school years, but as educators, once again we will constantly work to close the achievement gap. Now we will have great disparities between what background knowledge our different students will have with various forms of technology.
Technology can make a difference in teaching and learning when implemented effectively. Students today are interested in using technology and when used in the classroom it increases their motivation to learn. Students are intrigued by the various techniques and tools utilized to deliver different levels of instruction. Every student is different and 21 century skills allow teachers the opportunity to connect with the members of their audience using various methods. Technology effect’s students and their learning capacity as researchers deem that there are multiple learning styles and it is a teacher’s duty to reach as many students in her classroom as possible each day of instruction.
I, like Janice, think technology aides in student learning. This is in part because as Susan said, technology motivates some students to want to know more (and increases engagement), but also because technology integration activities often require teachers and curriculum directors to revisit curricular standards and objectives as they select technology applications. This forces teachers to not only become more familiar with their curriculum, but also to explore new ways of differentiating instruction and communicating what they know to the students in their classrooms.
Suzanne makes a great point about the addition of technology causing a decrease in human interaction. I believe that technology can be used as a tool to access a variety of information, but it cannot be a replacement to humans interacting in a face to face manner. It seems that students are so overwhelmed with technological advances, along with school systems that our communication skills are suffering. Another point that I agree with Suzanne on is the expenses involved in incorporating 21st century skills. The advancements in technological equipment bring about more professional development that costs the districts more money, in which could be used to hire teachers. Altogether, technology is a vital component that students need for their future, but should not be the basis for educating them.
Technology does make a difference in teaching and learning for many students. Most students are technology savvy and spend hours of their life on the computer, playing video games, listening to iPods, etc. Therefore, I believe teachers who incorporate technology within their lessons have a much greater opportunity of creating interest in the topic and engaging the student. Could you go without incorporating technology in the classroom? Maybe, but our students have been exposed to Internet because most have computers in the home, along with high tech equipment.
I don’t know that technology in the classroom has led to improved teaching, but I believe it has improved many students’ learning abilities. Many teachers are trying to use smart boards and computers in each of their lessons, preparing students with 21st century skills. However, teachers may not be any better teachers because of new technology, but have had to grow out of their comfort zone and change lessons plans for its incorporation. I do feel that student learning has increased because in many schools, technology like computers for each student has caused them to be more active in the learning process due to their familiarity with it.
21st century education is different from that of the 20th century. Your traditional classrooms of the 20th century are not as prevalent as they once were and are being replaced by 21st century computer lab classrooms. Also, teacher’s instruction has led way to an increase in PowerPoint presentations with unique graphics, instead of the old way of lecturing. However, I do feel that the way the information is presented is different in the 21st century, but the content is very similar to that of the 20th century.
In response to Janice's question, "Do you think the belief that giving students access to “21st century technology” will improve education tries to remove good teaching from the equation?" my answer is unequivocally NO! I don't think introducing and integrating technology will ever remove teachers from the equation. I have found that, in my career, students' learning is largely dependent upon the type of interactions they have with their teachers. In classroom settings where trust and high expectations are consistently communicated and healthy relationships have been built, student achievement goes up. If you remove that human interaction from the equation classrooms would be devoid of students who know how to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others --a definite 21st century skill!
As Matthew and Janice stated technology can enhance the educational field however there are other issues that can derail the celebration of technology. Technology is key in living in today’s world yet many people are scared of this tool. There is a revolving wave of technology each day a product is invented. We are falling short on maintaining positive teacher working conditions yet we expect the state to support technology. As Janice also stated many look at the excitement of receiving new technology support but at the time of purchase they do not account for the financial obligation of providing up-grades and maintenance of the electronic devices. Failing to plan for technology issues are the steps that were overlooked and put in place to protect technology devices from becoming obsolete. This tool can enhance your classroom environment but it can also hinder the academic progress of students because they may have minimal access to multiple facets of technology or the teacher has issues using the instruments specified to lead the daily instruction. Teachers also cannot assume that all students have access to a computers at home because with the progression in today’s technology due to these systems being so costly and ever changing.
This is an interesting article that ties to our discussion of technology and money. With common core standards and the need for testing and the money that will be funneled into this vs. our huge and oppressive poverty issue.
High Tech Testing on the Way: a 21st Century Boondoggle?
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2011/04/high_tech_testing_on_the_way_a.html
Technology is definitely a tool that has to used in the classroom, but it is not the only tool needed in the teaching the children to be 21st century thinkers. It helps teachers to reach student where they are. Often students understand and can use the technological instruments (phones, ipads, computers,etc.) better than the adults. But the real measure is linking the skills students currently have to the curriculum. Using technology to motivate and teach students in ways that promote interest in reading, math and science. Again I say, Technology is a tool, not a solution
apologies! Don't let my unprofessional blog posting dissuade you -the article is worth reading
"21st Century Skills" are necessary to survive in the 21st Century. Both of my parents lack expertise in the use of technology and have found that they are floundering in the work world. My mother decided to go back to work, but the working world passed her by. My father is a dentist and he is finding that young dentists are driving down the costs he used to charge because their technology expertise has increased productivity. Granted, doing a hands on Science lab is productive for kids, but I can do an online lab simulation for free, requiring no materials or clean-up, allowing myself extra time to plan. It also increases the productivity of the class and allows me to cover more with my students in less time.
Technology does aid students in their learning if used wisely. The question then is are we using technology wisely to aid students or life long learners. We constently talk about being behind several countries in relation to student education. There may be a correlation to student education and access to technology as a whole. Several countries provide free wireless and access to public computers. There is also a greater flow of information and ideas. Considering a school's paper budget alone, why aren't more schools paperless and wireless?
Susan brings up an excellent point that this will just be another element to the achievement gap. Students who grow up in homes with exposure to the technology will be more advanced with the use of technology (as well as able to extend their learning outside of the classroom in a way that other students can not). I do not believe this means we should not use technology but it is something we will have to keep in mind as leaders of schools- is our implementation of technology helping close the achievement gap, having no impact on the achievement gap, or widening the gap more?
Technology definitely makes a difference in teaching and learning. Whether or not technology in the classroom has been a net gain or not is extremely debatable. Certain aspects of education have definitely benefited from technology. Feedback is received quicker, in more detail, and more proficiently due to technology. As a result the teaching and learning process is definitely improved. Another way that technology improves teaching and learning is by “shrinking” the universe. Technology makes states, countries, bodies of water, planets, and stars more accessible. On the other side of the coin technology also has removed some of the quality out of teacher instruction and student learning. Faster and more broadcasted feedback has caused a need for better and quicker results. As a consequence fine dining has become processed fast food. Another problem that technology has caused is a decrease in interaction between teacher and student. Look it up on Google, email me, submit it on blackboard, have become staple correspondence in the classroom. I personally believe that at least 7 out of 10 students need the teacher as much if not more than the academic instruction. These examples are far from exhaustive however they begin to show the mathematical formula of positives and negatives created by increased technology in the classroom. Is the additional technology a net gain or not? Hard to say!
Well said Jennifer, technology is definitely a tool not the solution. Although outdated at this point look at what the technological advent of the VCR and televisions has done to the educational process. How many classrooms in America are filled with students being put to sleep by a video while the teacher sits in the back of the room making a life or death decision whether or not to purchase the latest “Groupon” deal? Technology in the classroom is a great tool in the right hands and an equally deadly tool in the wrong hands.
A good point brought up in the article posted by Meg: who decides what pieces of technology are needed and what evidence do we really have that the introduction of that technology has improved the lot of our students?
Spending money that ‘we don’t have’ on experimental technology that is aimed, not at educating, but at more testing, is just another example of our leaders in D.C. doing more of what they do best, which is taking care of their own agendas. When the focus shifts more into what we really need to do to move education forward, which is to stimulate and motivate students, so they become creative once again, then we will see some advances. Till then, we will all be forced into wasting our efforts on things that don’t really impact children’s lives. We will spend our time as educators, knowing we are forced to meet the demands made on us by a sinking economy combined with governmental mandates and funding restrictions.
Another point about technology is that in order for it to be effective, we need to have massive training for us as teachers and administrators, to an extent where we become experienced with using classroom-relevant technology and hopefully more advanced in technological usage than the students we are meant to guide. This training would involve money spent, but it would be a wise investment.
The other choice would be for us as educators to change our teaching strategies from one of making students rely on our instruction for their passing grades, to one where we allow students to lead the path to their own learning, with minimal guidance from us. Currently, both choices are not on the books.
While my first post spoke to the advantages of technology in the classroom, this post will speak to the misconceptions about technology in the classroom.
Matthew and Janice bring up valid arguments against the belief that technology can replace quality teaching. I agree that technology is not the equivilant to a highy trained and effective teacher.
There is so much more to the 21st century curriculum than just technology in the classroom. Although technology is a necessary tool in the world we live in today, students still need teachers to guide them through the other skills that characterize being a 21st century learner.
These skills include: life and career skills; learning and innovation skills; and core subjects. Without human connection in the classroom, I believe these elements will never properly be taught. There is an increased role of technology everywhere, but it will never replace the benefits of having quality teachers. Human contact and connections can not be replaced. They are the driving force of our society.
This is an example of the disadvantages of technology: my first blog has mysteriously disappeared. It was once there fifteen minutes ago and now it's not.
Jennifer I like your post that there are positives and negatives to using technology in the classroom. Technology alone is not the only factor that will help students to become 21st century thinkers. In order for technology to be effective or useful in the classroom it does require a lot of training for teachers so that they can be facilitators of learning for students. I also agree with the statement that technology helps to motivate students and causes them to become more involved or engaged learners. Using technology should be used as a way to enhance the teaching or hands-on experience that takes place within the classroom but it should not replace human interaction.
Technology is an important tool for supporting the 21st century curriculum. Technology has revolutionalized the way students communicate, think, and work. Students are often engaged in learning when these tools are utilized in the classroom. Teachers can simulate these experiences to draw student interest. I believe students show interest in activities that are born from technology because they often correlate technology with entertainment. Children are often entertained with technology in the form of video games, interactive computer programs, and television.
I also believe that many children are different in the 21st century than they were in the 20th century. As educators we must appeal to their eagerness to use technology.
In my classroom, technology has helped me alter my role as teacher. It allows my lessons to be more student-centered and less teacher-centered. Through the use of technology, I am able to promote more project-based learning. I can put students in heterogeneous groups and guide them to investigate, research, and problem-solve. Furthermore, technology allows me to differentiate my instruction for homogeneous groups of students. Technology supplies me with more materials and resources to enhance student learning.
Educators should embrace technology and use it to enhance student learning. "To successfully face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges, and a globally competitive workforce, U.S. schools must align classroom environments by infusing 21st century skills into their learning."(The Partnership for
21st Century Skills; http://www.p21.org) I believe technology is an important supplement for helping students learn collaboration, speaking skills, written communication skills, and content knowledge.
Overall, I see the effects technology has on student learning. It has had a positive impact on students' skills and knowledge, but as Matthew stated it must be utilized correctly in order for the effects to be successful.
Shannon I agree with you that technology while it has some benefits there are a lot of disadvantages as well. The use of technology and computer programs can be quite costly and again can sometimes require a lot of training for teachers. But nothing replaces the good old fashion interactions between students and teachers. Teachers are there to guide students and help them work to develop those basic skills that are needed to help them later in life. In my option learning through the use of technology has not advanced enough to replace the social interactions that take place in the classroom
Technology makes a class more interesting for a student. It also brings things to life from which the student may never get a chance to see in person.
However, technology does not necessarily help a student learn. An argument can be made that technology can be used to hurt a child's education. Students can go to websites and have them do their spanish homework or take a picture with their phone and it will do their math for them. I feel as if technology is helping students get away with not knowing how to think.
Technology does make a difference in the teaching and learning of students. However, much of this is contingent upon the technological knowledge base the teacher brings to the classroom. For example, smart boards are wonderful….if the instructor understands how to use them. Computers, IPADS, IPODs all can contribute to learning in the classroom. But they can also be a distraction if not utilized properly. For example, a student inappropriately uses his/her computer etc. to record teachers and/or other students during instruction and then places them on websites such as facebook, can be extremely detrimental to learning. Students and teachers may feel as though they can’t ask questions or respond to them for fear they may be the next web sensation. There are many tools on the net that assist in learning. For instance, turnitin.com is a very useful program for teachers and students. It assists teachers in determining if students are plagiarizing their work. This is fast, immediate and accurate and effective. Another valuable teaching tool is using the internet to teach students how to research instead of having to physically go to the library. This simply was not available most of the 20th Century. So I would say, it is helpful.
I agree with Matthew's point about how often schools invest money into purchasing the new and improved model of a computer or other device, but do not align how the technology will be used for altering instruction. What is more perplexing to me is when schools purchase new technology without providing professional development or training on the gadget. When our school purchased Smartboards teachers were excited about using them to promote learning, but were never given training on the proper use of them. Schools must do a better job of learning to use the technology they already have. With the proper professional development I am sure we could learn innovative ways to incorporate technology into our curriculum.
I agree. Technology, no matter how much or how expensive, cannot compensate for poor teaching. However, it really can enhance good teaching.
Though it would be great to have the latest technology in every school, I feel as if education would never be able to keep up with the latest. Technology and information are growing quickly. Because of this quick growth, I'm not sure how this would get paid for. How long will smart boards last before they are out done?
I believe that technology, as with any other practice, makes a difference based on the fidelity given as well as the person implementing the technology.
I believe that technology has the potential to disrupt traditional education in ways that enhance, expand and/or teach concepts. However, because educators are often "stuck" in the mindset of forcing the technology into the present structure, we do not see the possibilities on a large scale. Unfortunately, I do not believe technology has improved teaching and learning at the level it could because of the limitations associated with "business" as usual.
Because of limited views and the constraints of operating against the grain, I do not believe that
21st century education is much different than 20th century education. I believe there is a need to change how learning occurs, but I am not sure that practices have changed a great deal.
Susan, I agree that if we are not exposing students to the newest technology we are not providing the competitive edge that is needed. I would also agree that technology serves as a motivator. It is no surprise that schooling continues to limit the many possibilities.
I don’t know if improvement in technology has improved student learning. I know it has given students a more advanced and efficient way to access information. It is still and will continue to be up to each individual student as to how they process this information. It is our job to make sure they understand and can relate to information being accessed. One must also look at who has access to the different types of technology as well. Inner city schools, as well as rural districts are still struggling to acquire certain types of technology. Technology has made accessing information easier but there is no evidence that it is the sole cause for improving student achievement.
I hate to be a bandwagoner, but I have to agree with Jennifer. I believe in technology and I am grateful for the improvements in how we access information, but it is not going to help a student on the EOC. We have to be practical in how we view technology and understand its role in student achievement.
Matthew, you said, “Technology allows data to be accessed much more easily and quickly-both a negative and positive. Students can now find so much data that they have to be taught to analyze the data for validity as well as skim through vast options to identify what it is they actually need.” I agree completely with what you’re saying, but I see this as a disadvantage of technology and not an advantage. When I teach the research paper, for instance, I now spend more time trying to teach my students how to determine the reliability of a source online than I do on any other aspect of the paper. In order to prevent parents from becoming angry with me, I have to keep a list of sources that I don’t allow because I already know they aren’t always valid (Wikipedia is an example). I have to show my students how to cross-reference material and data in order to analyze it for truthfulness and accuracy. Unfortunately, in 90 days, I have so much to do, that spending this amount of time on ONE thing has become nearly impossible. It hasn’t made me a better teacher, and my students become so overwhelmed that many give up altogether, give in to plagiarism, or just refuse to analyze information at all. Sounds to me as though it hasn’t made for better learning then.
I think this comment by Janice sums it up pretty well, “Overall, my students are learning because of my teaching not because of the technology.” Technology is a terrific aid to help us get information out to our students. It helps us to communicate better with parents. It gives us a new way to engage our students. But in the end, it’s the interaction between the teacher and the student that eventually impacts student learning.
I agree with the strengths and weaknesses that Suzanne listed in her post. Technology can be a big motivated for students and is essential for preparing students for life outside of school today and tomorrow. But the big thing to remember is that technology is only as resourceful as the teacher who is using it. From my perspective, learning new technology is exciting but a lot of other teachers get frustrated with the additional trainings and work that comes along with learning new technologies.
I agree that technology doesn’t have much of a place when it comes to passing the standardized tests. Students can work on strategies and other test prep information but technology can make us lazy when it comes to thinking. If I need information or an answer to a question, all I need to do is google it but the reading passages on test require me to read between the lines.
Many people have mentioned how inconsistent and unreliable technology is. Technology isn’t the lessons, it is only a tool so like with any lesson, the teacher needs to be prepared for the unexpected and be able to adapt quickly. As the computer teacher in my building, I had to create lessons and relevant activities for my students on days when either the network or power was out in the building. Technology is only a tool and piece to the puzzle.
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