Recent Findings on Technology in the Classroom

     This article touches on several different points. It talks about how the needs of learners have changed and so have the ways in which teachers teach. There are so many different levels of students and abilities in the classroom now and technology can help with the individualization of learning for the students. I agree with this. Right now I have some of my students who have tested out of my math curriculum working on a self-driven math program on the computers. Once I taught them how to use it, and we got the computers to work, they loved it. They can go at their own pace and they aren't sitting listening to me and working on material they already have mastered.
     I also use another program for reading and it is a program where each child can read books at their own individual level and this personalizes the reading and the quizzes(learning) for them. The books are at their ability level as well as the questions about the books and the best part is I can monitor all of their activities and see what they are doing well on and what they need help with. Something that they mention in the article that I whole-heartedly agree with is how much time it takes to teach and learn technology. It takes up so much time, especially working with younger children. When the computers don't work or one small thing goes wrong then they need your help. So sometimes, it can get in the way of learning depending on how well your children know the technology.
    The last thing that the article states it that is helps student focus. I agree with this because I know that my own students are more engaged with learning when they are using technology. However, I would hate for all learning to be done using technology because I think there is something to be said for eye contact and person-to-person communication. Sometimes I get nervous about teachers using too much technology in my classroom because I want my students to be able to talk or explain without blogging or posting to a discussion board. But, in general I think that technology greatly improves the learning in the classroom.






http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-hendricks/technology-education_b_2867458.html