Technology in the Classroom

Ashley, your great post expressed questions that I had also been thinking about this week. In middle and high school there were a few SmartBoards that were used once in a while, but standards in classrooms were usually overheads, projectors, videos, and internet resources. In elementary and middle school, computer class was a time to practice typing and learn how to effectively research. Generally, I would not say that being technological literate, besides typing and familiarity with how to effectively use a computer, was a major part of my schooling.

This differs from how I have seen technology in my field placement at a Quaker school. Although a few years have passed from when I was in school myself, I can still see differences in how the school approaches technology as an integrated part of elementary and middle school education. There is a technology class that meets two or three times a week that all students go to. Instead of just typing and using the internet, this class presents students with the opportunity to learn a myriad of ways to use technology effectively. In my experience visiting the class, students have completed a range of activities; they use websites and practice typing, but they also learn how to create websites and to use social media websites that are specifically created for schools. A computer is taught as the source of many effectives tools that should be utilized; programs such as powerpoint and excel are taught so early that they will soon not be skills that are specifically noted as necessary for jobs. Students in this class, and others like it, are reaching a new level of literacy in the technological realm that is becoming more and more expected. Other subjects, such as English and Social Studies, has their curricula planned around technological influences. What does this emphasis on technology mean for the future of our schools? How will students in under resourced schools fare with a lack of technological instruction? I think it is key to note that the internet serves as a gateway to learning these skills that are also taught in schools; for those who don't get instruction in a school, if they are able to use the internet they can also learn some of these taught skills. For example websites like Khan Academy (http://www.khanacademy.org/) help teach concepts to those in a more accessible way way (if you have a computer). I am interested in talking to my placement teacher about how often he includes technology in what lessons he teaches; I am curious to see if he often plans lessons that don't require specific learned skills or if he prefers to integrate his own lessons into the technology curriculum.