EQ #1 asked, "What does research tell us about the use of technology in transforming the teaching/learning process?"
In thinking about your response, what did you know about this research before you started this class? Has the work you've done this semester given you new insights?
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I feel that the research has shown us that technology is transforming the teaching/learning process by providing a faster paced teaching style with answers at our fingertips. Before beginning this class, I really not think much about technology or about what research had to say about it. This work I have done this semester has really opened my eyes to just how important it is that we educate our children to use technology correctly and morally. I've always used some sort of technology in my classes, but I will now be using it more.
Research indicates that technology is a core component of the rapid change that is taking place in the teaching/learning process. Research indicates positive results relative to technology use and the teaching/learning process (although some research debates its effects on standardized test scores). Research shows an strong improvement with student participation and interaction with the use of instructional technology. Research also shows that, despite positive results, instructional changes using technology are many times met with resistance from teachers.
I knew very little in regards to technological research before taking this class. I definitely did not know how to incorporate blogs, wikis, and other internet resources into my classroom plans. The exploration into technology this semester has shifted my focus from using technology as a different means of lesson presentation to designing lessons in which students actively use technology.
While we may see trends anecdotally in use the of technology, we must look to research to help us understand what is really occurring on a broad level. The various articles and videos we have read and seen have been very helpful for me in learning just what is going on out there :)
It's important for those of us who wish to stay current with happenings in technology to work hard to not only read the latest research (which can become outdated upon publication), but to be aware of other sources for current information. This will definitely include reading blogs and regularly visiting certain web sites. For me and my interests, this will also include actually talking to students, surveying them, and conducting focus groups (all for a technology project I am working on).
I believe there are multiple sources for good research. The traditional method of reading published journal articles soon won't cut it anymore.
I just completed a survey at a Midwestern college campus about the use of Facebook. After I finish tabulating some results, I'll edit this post and share them here :)
Research shows that school staff is typically slower to change and become technologically proficient than are the students we work with. Research also emphasizes that as students are engaged in the learning process, they are more likely to retain the information longer and at a higher level. Technology is of course a component that is effectively used to increase student engagement. This semester, I have become much more proficient in my techiness. I can now carry on a decent conversation about wikis and blogs. However, I feel some what like the lone ranger at my school. I think required staff development for all personnel is the key to moving forward with the incorporation of technology in a meaningful way. I read an article today that stated that maybe there should no longer be technology courses in secondary ed. but that technology should instead be incorporated into all areas of the core curriculum. That would have certainly helped my son the freshman at GSU. He had too few chances to become technologically proficient with his choices of electives in high school.
Research has shown us that the use of technology is transforming the teaching/leaning process in both positive and negative ways. Positively speaking, technology allows for quicker delivery of content and access of information while at the same time potentially making things a little more complicated and, periodically, time consuming (example: preparing and maintaining blogs and wikis). Moreover, the addition of technology in the teaching and learning process is accommodating today’s digital learners and helping them learn in the way that their brains are being programmed to accept information. Research has also shown us the frustration and excitement of more seasoned educators in the field having to adapt to this new element of the teaching and learning process. I am interested in seeing what future research (perhaps 10 or 15 years down the road) will show us about the effects of the use of the technology we are using in our classrooms today.
The research that I have read and learned about in this class has certainly opened my eyes to a whole new world of technology that I did not know existed. Teachers have no choice but to educate themselves and at the very least facilitate the use of technology in the classroom. Our job is to prepare our young people for the future and that future certainly holds all the latest in technology. Every day incorporation of technology in the way we teach seems to be the key. Just as Dr. Repman incorporated wikis and blogs into our assignments (not just telling us what they are), I need to add more technology in day to day assignments. I knew there was a lot out there that I wasn't using. I did not know there was so much out there that I had NO knowledge of. As I have posted several times before, I still believe that ongoing professional development in types and uses of technology is critical in our advanced world.
According to Li’s article, Student and Teacher Views about Technology, early research showed that teachers feared that technology would harm students’ understanding of subjects and not be an effective instructional tool. Many teachers today still feel apprehensive about using technology, but much of the apprehension is related to material conditions, such an insufficient number of computers or lack of technology training. Research has shown that students are often enthusiastic about technology and view it as an enhancement to the learning process. O’Neill notes in her article, Technology and Achievement, that technology has been shown to enhance student achievement. However, in order for technology to transform the teaching and learning process, it must be one component of a “broader reform effort,” it must be successfully integrated into the regular curriculum, and teachers must have proper professional development training.
Before this class I was not familiar with technology research and how it impacted teaching and learning. My views of technology use in a classroom consisted of using an Activboard or scan converter to project a screen, having students play online games or activities, etc. This class has taught me to be much more selective when integrating technology in my class. I don’t want to just do something for the sake of using technology. I want to make sure that it directly relates to curriculum standards. Technology use in the classroom can enhance instruction, but it should never be used to replace quality teaching.
Research has told me that there is a whole world of unexplored wonders that can enhance my instruction. Before I started this class, I knew that integrating technology into my lesson could be time consuming. Time is my one enemy. I have used basic technology for some time and look forward to experimenting and implementing more. How can I not, after taking this class? Research has proven that teaching has to take another turn for today's children. Children come already equipped to use some of these tech savvy machines. Technology is what they like. I will try to teach and incorporate some of these "likes" into instruction.
Research tells us that the use of technology is a proven aid to help the enhancement of student learning. It can provide our students opportunities from emailing students in a target language in other cultures to attending festivals in other countries. I think that in the future more and more studies will be given that show the usefulness of technology in the classroom. I think that one of the jobs of all teachers is to keep up with the changing pace of education, and I believe that the increase of technology in the classroom is the way education is moving. I say this because of the move towards SmartBoards in all classrooms at my school and the increase in the number of computer labs in schools. I will, without a doubt, continue to work with the tools that we have used in this class, especially wikis, blogs, and podcasts.
Research tells us that the use of technology does aid in student learning. Technology is transforming the way we teach and the way students learn. Many teachers are still hesitant when it comes to implementing technology into their classroom, but study after study does show how beneficial it is to the learning process. I try to implement technology into my teaching as much as possible, but I do have a limited amount of resources. Thankfully, I have learned a lot of ways to use technology (wikis, blogs, etc.) that do not require vast amounts of resources. Thanks Dr. Repman!
Research certainly supports the use of technology in the classroom. Even with the few drawbacks we've read about and discussed this semester, technology has a positive impact on teaching and learning. Before this course, I knew that it was important to implement technology; however I did not have a real understanding of what effective technology implementation was. I have gained the knowledge and tools necessary to incorporate technology as the research suggests. I have become familiar with so many more technology tools that I will certainly use to transform my teaching.
Research indicates that students are more motivated to learn, and more engaged when technology is included in lessons. Test scores in many research studies suggest that student achievement increases in various subject areas.
I was aware of some of the research studies related to technology use in the classroom, before taking this class, since I am working on an Ed.S. project related to interactive whiteboard technology in the classroom. However, I have learned much more, and gained insights into a whole new technology world since the beginning of this ITEC class. I feel that all educators need to be made aware of the valuable technology resources that can be used to help promote student understanding.
Research tells us that new technologies must be used to enhance teaching and learning. They must also be used in order to prepare our students for the world they live in now, and more importantly, will live in in the future. The students must be engaged if they are to learn. Today's generation of digital natives are easily engaged with the use of technology.
Prior to taking this class, I wasn't very familiar with this research or this line of thinking. I'd read articles in the popular media, but hadn't taken them to heart.
This semester has definitely given me new insights into the use of technology in my teaching and the learning of my students. The biggest thing I've seen is how technology can help the students connect with the subject matter. They enjoy studying the same thing more when technology is used.
Research tells us that the use of technology can transform the teaching/learning process by making the teacher more of a facilitator as GPS intends for us to be, and the use of technology makes the student take more of an active role in his or her learning. Before taking this class, I had InTech training, but that was it and that was a long time ago. The availability of technology and the new types of technology have greatly changed and can better serve today's student if teachers are aware that this is available and have the confidence to use this in their classrooms. This class has shown me how easily accessible these tools are and how beneficial they will be to me and my students.
Before this class I thought I new a decent amount about technology. Well, you can definitely teach old dogs new tricks because I learned a few! I have enjoyed learning new technology tricks. Some have been challenging, but once you get the hang of it, it is not so bad. My students seem to enjoy my knowledge and they wonder where I have been in the technology world for the past few years :) Technology is critical in the classroom and now I know how important it is to stay abreast of all the new innovations.
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