Technology Effects Classroom

Roles

By Carlie Taylor

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• Teacher-Student Roles• Students Teach• Reverse Roles• References• Conclusion

Teacher-Student Roles

I took this opportunity to look up information on how classrooms were changing because of technology. I found a few interesting articles that focused on the idea that the roles of students and teachers were changing. Many older teachers aren’t tech-savvy and students are teaching teachers their technological skills. When students use technology to communicate, an active role is being set into place for kids. With technology, the old passive school system is being thrown out the window. Students are involved and actively thinking about the information being presented to them.

Teacher-Student Roles Students can be actively making

choices and executing skills by using technology rather than passively sitting in a teacher-lead lesson. Because technology is rapidly making its way into classrooms, the teacher’s role changes. Teachers are no longer the center of attention during the lesson. Rather, they are a support system and suggest ideas to students. Technology in the classroom allows students to work in teams and build cooperative learning through project-based work.

Teacher-Student Roles

I found this article to be very interesting. I never thought of the many effects technology would have on teacher’s roles in the classroom. “When technology is used as a tool to support students in performing authentic tasks, the students are in the position of defining their goals, making design decisions, and evaluating their progress.” Technology in the classroom can make students more independent with their work. They can make decisions and design their own education. (The Office of Educational Research and Improvement U.S. Department of Education).

Students Teach

This article talked about the Generation WWW. Y program. This program is a group of students who help educate teachers about technology. They show them the best ways technology can help with their lesson plans. Most people who sign up for a teacher education course most likely did not grow up with technology. The best people to teach them this new technology are those students who are growing up with advance technology.

Students Teach

In this article, MIT (Masters in Technology) college students meet with middle school students. Here, they explore technology together The young students demonstrate technology tools and answer questions from the college students about kids, teaching, and learning. (Sara Armstrong).

Students Teach

This article was great because it showed how much kids know and already understand about technology. Like the first article, this article proves we can use students to teach us about technology. “Students are helping educators learn how students learn and how to incorporate technology into the lesson plan.”

Reverse Roles

With all the new technologies, students are eager to use them in the classroom, but teachers are falling behind in technical education. Because of lack of training, teachers are struggling to cope with the demands for new technology that challenges student intellect in the classroom. Students are more comfortable with alternative deliver methods including turning assignments in through e-mail, tests online, and podcasts of lectures.

Reverse Roles Technology is taking over,

which is good for tech-savvy teachers, but not for those a little behind the times. Classrooms no longer contain just books and paper—computers and technology have become major component in education today. (Heather Johnson)

Reverse Roles

I agree that technology is definitely making a change in the classroom and many teachers are falling behind the times. I like this article because it talked about the needs of students and their demand for technology in the classroom. It’s a very realistic article that shows the struggles some teachers go through when it comes to technology in lesson plans. “For education to grow, schools need to train instructors and staff. They need to know how to use technology and be experts in providing guidance for students on the road to self improvement.”

References

Armstrong, Sara. (September 1, 2001). Students teach technology to teachers. Retrieved April 13, 2009, http://www.edutopia.org/genyes?page=1

Johnson, Heather. (July 31, 2008). A reversal of roles- teaching teachers technology. Retrieved April 13, 2009, http://ecarson.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/a-reversal-of-roles-teaching-teachers-technology-by-heather-johnson/

The office of educational research and improvement U.S. department of education. Change in student and teacher roles. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

Conclusion

I found some really interesting information from these articles. As a future teacher I want to use a lot of technology in my classroom to keep the students involved and interested. I know technology can be implemented into almost every subject. It will be important for me as a teacher to stay technologically advanced. I think it would be a great idea for me as a teacher to set aside one or two days out of the month for my students to share their knowledge and discoveries about technology.