One highlight I remember was the teacher would request we put a collage together, pictures cut out of a magazine/ newspaper to tell a story or present a topic; out came the scissors and glue stick ready for the task at hand. We would think this was such an advancement in our education, now we have the delight of pin interest https://play.google.com.
Throughout my education, technology has grown, each course requiring a different level of technology resources. These changes are inevitable as schools,colleges and universities are embracing the advancements. I remember emailing a tutor my draft assignment to look at before handing in the final draft as a hard copy. I thought I was Bill Gates !This advancement is supported by Hargreaves (2007) who believes ICT has an immense importance, claiming it has had a "transformative effect" on education.
Many discussions and conferences take place on the topic of technology and its place in education. There is much debate, to which will never be resolved as there will always be doubters. However, many projects, research and collaborations are on-going to improve learning through technology. These are funded by microsoft, learning establishments and the government.
Education Secretary Michael Gove delivered a speech in 2013. The thought provoking speech was on how technology is revolutionising the way education is delivered.educationbusinessuk.net/index.php/features/5-/3371-gove-technology-is-changing-the-way-we-teach-learn-and-assess.
It certainly provoked my thought. He firstly made some comparisons to historical figures, teaching methods, yet, stating that real education is still underpinned by ' A teacher talking to a group of pupils'.
To some extent I concur that technology can disseminate learning much more, being available to all with an internet connection. Yet, I disagree as not everybody has internet connection or the funds to install it. Many areas of Britain remain socially deprived or with poor signal.
The promotion of in classroom games and interactive software allows pupils to acquire skills and knowledge in a way and pace personal to them, with the guidance of the teacher. I agree it is an excellent way to recognise and delver education to personal need. However, does this lead children to ridicule from the more advanced pupils.
As I discussed in a previous blog ( ted talks), education really needs to be devolved back to the teachers and schools, this was recognised and encouraged by Gove in his speech. The ICT curriculum will now be set by the learning establishments and teachers, being free to use the resources that already exsist on the web. Although technology has changed the way we learn there is still unquestionable doubt that the teacher is paramount as the core of education. Despite all the advancements we still need the educator and facilitator as from years gone by.
I have embedded the following link because it makes very interesting reading as you could question has technology inhibited our education especially in communication? Much to think about. In addition,the following website is a community designed to share and facilitate learning through technology, yet again another advancement educause.edu/eli .
Top 12 Ways Technology Changed Learning
In the 21st century, technology has changed the ways in which we communicate and go about our lives. Very few educators would disagree with the notion that technology has dramatically changed the teaching and learning process.
With the help of some fellow teachers, here is a short list of the top 12 ways how technology has changed education:
Communication Evolution
Because we text, our students have learned a dialect that we don't always understand. Kids communicate in many different modalities as a result of technology. Maybe it’s 2M2H (too much to handle) for some adults :-)Expanding Audience
Students' sense of audience is completely different. When I was in high school in the 1980s, the audience was the teacher. When I started teaching high school in 1988, the audience was the teacher and peers. In the 21st century, it's the WORLD. Blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and other online platforms changed our notion of audience.Poster Boards: A Thing of the Past
Do you remember the history or science fair presentation boards that we created? Web 2.0 tools like Glogster have changed this experience. Glogster is a platform where students can create a multimedia "glog" or poster to demonstrate what they know and understand about a topic.Bye Bye to 3-Ring Binders
There's no need to carry around a bulky three binder anymore. A computer, tablet computer can keep all of those files and handouts in neat folders. There's also a web 2.0 tool, LiveBinders that allows users to create a binder online.Interactive Textbooks
The way that we think of textbooks is completely changing. It is no longer limited to merely text and pictures. Today’s textbooks often have web-based sites that include assessments, animations, additional materials, videos, and other materials to support the learning of new content.eBooks on the Rise
Speaking of textbooks, ebooks are becoming more prevalent in schools with the advancements of e-readers and tablet computers. I think in the near future that students won’t carry around big bulky backpacks filled with heavy textbooks.No More Note Passing
I’m not sure if this is directly connected to learning, but we don’t pass notes in class anymore. Students text one another instead. It's just another funny way how technology has changed education.Disappearance of the Chalk Board
Much attention has been placed on interactive gaming as a powerful platform for student learning. Every day, new programs and web-based tools are teaching our students content that was once paper or chalkboard based.Assistive Tech for Better Communication
Voice recognition software has improved greatly in the past few years and is more accessible. Children with special needs and limited English proficiency are able to more effective communicate in language based contexts.The iPad: A Game Changer
iPads are such adaptable and powerful tools for teaching and learning. There are so many applications but I think the most powerful and exciting aspect is the enhancement of learning experiences for students with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum.Extended Classroom Communities
Technology facilitates our ability to extend classroom community by using web-based platforms like Edmodo. Teachers and students can use this platform to discuss homework, post assignments, and interact with peers as they work on projects.Rise of Web-Based Research
We still use libraries, but so much of our research and learning is now more web-based. What used to take hours in the library to find, we find instantaneously. As a result, we need to sort through huge amounts of information efficiently. We know how to get and use information. I would argue that because it takes less time to find information, we spend more time digesting, thinking, and learning about new information.Meeting the Needs of All Learners
As educators, we know the power of Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Technology facilitates our ability to meet the needs of all kinds of learners.Hargreaves,D.H.(2007) Learning for life: The foundations for lifelong learning. Bristol: The policy Press.
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