How Technology Affects How Technology Affects EducationEducation

In today’s technology-driven world, there is growing In today’s technology-driven world, there is growing aspiration by both administrators and students to use aspiration by both administrators and students to use technology in the classroom. It is not uncommon to technology in the classroom. It is not uncommon to tour a school campus today and see students on cell tour a school campus today and see students on cell phones, tablet PCs and laptop computers surfing the phones, tablet PCs and laptop computers surfing the Internet, updating social network sites or Internet, updating social network sites or downloading music and videos.  This shouldn’t come downloading music and videos.  This shouldn’t come as a shock however, as our society is clearly moving as a shock however, as our society is clearly moving to a more technical and computerized age. There are to a more technical and computerized age. There are benefits that can come from integrating technology in benefits that can come from integrating technology in the classroom. Unfortunately, most veteran teachers the classroom. Unfortunately, most veteran teachers are from a much different, less connected generation are from a much different, less connected generation than the students they are working with. It is not than the students they are working with. It is not unusual to see students who are more technologically unusual to see students who are more technologically savvy than their mentors who are four or five times savvy than their mentors who are four or five times their age. their age.

There are some initial challenges that teacher’s first There are some initial challenges that teacher’s first face when trying to integrate technology in the face when trying to integrate technology in the classroom.  First, there are many school districts that classroom.  First, there are many school districts that do not have the resources necessary to carry out do not have the resources necessary to carry out certain types of technological instruction.  Classroom certain types of technological instruction.  Classroom computers and software licenses are not readily computers and software licenses are not readily available to every teacher on every campus. It can be available to every teacher on every campus. It can be difficult to make technology utilization a campus-difficult to make technology utilization a campus-wide initiative if there isn’t sufficient funding for wide initiative if there isn’t sufficient funding for resources or training on using those resources in the resources or training on using those resources in the classroom. classroom.

There are always other project based teachings There are always other project based teachings and learning opportunities involving and learning opportunities involving technology but the demands are usually large technology but the demands are usually large in the beginning for the teacher, especially if in the beginning for the teacher, especially if this type of instruction is foreign to them.  It this type of instruction is foreign to them.  It can sometimes be hard for teachers who have can sometimes be hard for teachers who have been set in their ways, teaching techniques for been set in their ways, teaching techniques for years, to suddenly change the way they do years, to suddenly change the way they do things and incorporate techniques that they things and incorporate techniques that they have never used before. This may make have never used before. This may make teachers feel uncomfortable and unsure of their teachers feel uncomfortable and unsure of their teaching strategy. teaching strategy.

How Technology Can Affect Some How Technology Can Affect Some TeachersTeachers

Teachers may lack confidence when using Teachers may lack confidence when using computers or programs they have no computers or programs they have no experience with.experience with.

Teachers can build on their skill and teaching Teachers can build on their skill and teaching repertoire with staff development and repertoire with staff development and technology training.technology training.

Teachers will gain confidence and Teachers will gain confidence and effectiveness in instruction with increased effectiveness in instruction with increased computer experience.computer experience.