Loriann Rice

http://outsidetheboxstudio.weebly.com

EDU-225
11/29/2014

Technology to Enhance Instruction

Students are beginning to mentally withdraw from the classroom learning process and are
becoming more in favor of learning through technology. The classroom is not as important as it
once was because with modern technology students can learn any subject in any country and
over many time zones without teacher instruction. The use of educational technology in the
classroom is rapidly growing, but there are still plenty of innovations teachers can include. The
U.S. Department of Educations Evaluation of the Enhancing Education Through Technology
Program: Final Report (2009) states, found that with some technology-related advanced
development for teachers, instructional practices involving technology have substantially
increased (University Alliance, Scranton University, n.d.). There are many advantages to adding
multi-types of technology to the classroom environment because it helps students become less
intimidated and more innovative.

(Podcasts)
Podcasting to students and parents can increase student instruction by bringing the
classroom home with the student. Teachers can give mini tutorials, live messages to parents
about upcoming events or activities. Teachers can relay homework assignments and instructions
or what chapters to study for an upcoming test. Teachers can also show great work or
accomplishments by the students in the classroom. A Podcast can give classroom instruction
during inclement weather when students cannot attend. Podcasts along with Skype (Video
Conference Program) can allow home bound students be in class live by web cam.

(Cell phones)
Many people including teachers and parents think cell phones should be banned in the
classroom. However, in some opinions cell phones are exactly what the classroom needs. In
many Literature classes across America teachers are using cell phones to promote literacy.
Teachers are promoting reading/discussion groups on books the students are reading. The
students use cellphones to video tape the conversation and send it by Bluetooth to the teachers
cellphone. Teachers are using GoKnow software allowing students to use word processors,
spreadsheets, and art programs, among others, on their cell phones. A student could draw a
concept map showing the relationship between the processes, create an animation illustrating
how it all looks, and write up a text report on what theyve learnedall centralized on a desktoplike interface on the smartphones screen (Rapp, n.d.).

(Twitter)
Twitter is an online social networking service that enables users to send and read short 140character messages called "tweets"(Wikipedia, n.d). Teachers are using a new way to reach
students by incorporating Twitter Tuesday. Teachers tweet a question to students with a hash tag
for students to respond. This allows students to use and embrace new technology and it gives
them a platform to speak and voice their opinions. Students using this this technology are gaining
a better understanding of good social media interactions with the understanding that not
everyone should be followed. (Kamm, 2013).
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning
There are two sides to every coin a famous colloquialism older generations use. Just like
the coin, technology in the classroom has two sides, enhancement to facilitate learning and total

disregard and withdrawal towards learning. Technology in the classroom can be a very beneficial
tool for leaning because it covers several modes of learning such as reading, hearing and doing
(creating). Computers allow students to put skills to the practical test after learning the
information in the classroom. The availability of the internet in the classroom allows students to
be globally connected, have access to infinite amount of information and resources and allow
them to problem solve with creative methods. However, on the flip side there are not enough
teachers well versed in technology. Computers, phones and other tech devices can make it easy
to cheat, let the device do their homework(give all the answers), or allow students to text,
Tweet, Facebook or Snapchat during class time causing it to be a distraction rather than a tool to
help the student learn. If computers are not used effectively then students will lose out on a
promising educational experience. Another con of educational technology is that school
administrators tend to spend large amounts of money to integrate computers into schools when
the effectiveness of programs on students achievement is unclear (University of Michigan
Department Psychology, n.d).
Wired and Wireless Classrooms
In the year 2014 there are two types of classrooms traditional not wired and wired classrooms.
According to Merriam Webster Dictionary to have a wired classroom means to be characterized
by a connection to the Internet. Summarily, a wireless classroom can have two very distinct
meanings. The first meaning is to be void of internet connection capability or computer
technology in the classroom. The second meaning is that computer tech devices can connect to
the internet using Wi-Fi without having to use USB cords or Ethernet cords to connect to the
internet. While both types of internet access can enhance learning in the classroom it makes it
difficult to move laptops or desks tops all over the classroom because the computer can only go

as far as the wire length allows it to while it is plugged in. Wireless (Wi-Fi) can be used anytime,
anywhere and in any part of the school. The positive of Wi-Fi for example is the teacher who
assigns a movie making project. With Wi-Fi the students can take the laptop record, edit, create
anywhere and send to anyone. However, students using a wired classroom can still send the
movie to anyone or anywhere after creation and editing. The problem with wired internet is that
when the movie is filmed the movie must be put on an SD card, CD rom or flash drive and then
imported to the computer files to be saved. With wireless all those activities can be done right on
the spot even retakes can be done instantly. Wired computers make it easier to detect which
classroom is abusing the internet but, with wireless internet it is easier to hook up masking
technology to make it much harder for staff and teachers to find out where the information
originated making security a little more tricky to navigate. Another huge problem for both wired
and wireless is the expense to install either type of system and for some schools that price is a
steep hurdle. With an old building it is not always possible to wire for technology due to the
construction of the building. Setting up and installing Wi-Fi requires less physical work but, can
be expanded to have more user ability. The wired internet (cable internet) has faster speeds, more
memory, better displays and more standardization (The Journal, 2002).
Conclusion
Technology plays an important role in todays society, parents and educators alike need to be
immersed in an understanding of these new types of technologies and how to implement using
them in the classroom and in the home. Students need to learn and understand technology
because once they reach the global job market employers will be looking for higher reasoning
skills and culturally diverse global skills such as a second language. Technology can enhance
teacher curriculum and allow students to be in control of their future.

References
Cam, C. (2013, June 20). Getting Started with Twitter in the Classroom. In TCH Teaching
Channel. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from
https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2013/06/20/twitter-in-the-classroom/
Rapp, D. (n.d.). Lift the Cell Phone Ban. In Scholastic. Retrieved from
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3751073
The Pros and Cons of Education Technology: A short on the promises and pitfalls of educational
technology (n.d.). In University of Michigan Department of Psychology. Retrieved from
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/lem.smith/effectiveness_of_computers_in_education
Twitter. (2006). In Wikkipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter
University Alliance. (n.d.). How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom. In University of
Scranton. Retrieved from Firefox.

Wireless vs. Hard-Wired Network Use in Education. (2002, November). The Journal
Transforming Education through Technology. Retrieved from
http://thejournal.com/articles/2002/11/01/wireless-vs-hardwired-network-use-in-education.aspx