Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students

http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

I believe that technology in the classroom has an amazing effect on teacher instruction and student learning.  With my iPad, students are so engaged. I have never seen so many hands raised to solve a math problem on the iPad or 'google' a definition that we are trying to figure out. It empowers students to not only be learners, but to be their own teacher as well.

This article touches on a few different effects that technology has in the classroom. 
1) As I mentioned above, there is a change in the teacher role as well as the student role. Students are able to 'own' their learning and become their own teachers. I never quite feel like I can give them all of the answers, but with a tablet- we can find the answer together.
2) There is an increase in motivation and self-esteem.  I hand the iPad to my special education students and they feel empowered. They are able to lead the class in a reading by pressing the appropriate buttons to listen to the story. My favorite part of technology is fast results. Students take weekly reading tests online and the second they press submit, they are able to see their answers, the correct answers, and rationales for why that is the correct answer. It is a brilliant way to help students create goals and reflect on their learning.
3) Students are receiving technical skills: how to work a computer, microsoft offices, etc. When an alarm pops up on their screen and they have to click yes or no, it is a learning opportunity! Although the technology will most likely change when they are in the work force, they will have a background to become quick learners of the new technology.
4) Students are collaborating with each other whether it is solving a problem together using the iPad or helping another student get to a website because they are unfamiliar. Students love to be the teachers in the classroom. They are able to switch roles and help rather than sit back and learn.
5) Students are becoming more aware of the audience that will see their work. Instead of solving a math problem on a piece of paper quickly, they plan out how they are solving it on the iPad because the video will go up on our classroom website and they will be able to... again... be the teacher! When I use the app Educreations, my students try to solve problems and explain them in a way so that if there was a second grader trying to learn what we were doing it- they could!

There were a few other points in this article, but these 5 were the ones that really pulled me into thought.
-Emily Wiebeck
http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html