Diversity Issues related to using technology in the classroom.


To ensure that needs are not overlooked in class,
I will use an overhead projector for those students who 
are more visual learners. 


Since some students in the same class learn faster,I will
use software that recommend how much more needed time to 
allocate to the slower students. In fact most text book
already have learning time guides.



By integrating technology into the classroom and the
curriculum I believe is a positive action. My concern
is how much integration and how often should it be used?
Is technology compromising styles of teaching?
According to research most teachers have their own style 
of teaching. Ultimately,will teachers be replaced with video?
For instance,should students be allowed to just rely on using

calculators for doing basic arithmetic? Will students no longer

have to learn the time-tables in elementary school?

By using technology when appropriate,these technology concerns
will be resolved.                                

Legally,of course, students will always need a teacher, but to
what extent? Likewise,teachers will need students, but
the role of the teacher must be readjusted. Instead of 
teachers constantly lecturing,which becomes boring
and non-interesting, teachers could use interactive 
learning software programs.


Teachers need technology resources, but too many school districts
not have sufficient funds for purchasing even the most
needed technology for example,enough computers to have
a computer lab. So,the digital divide still exists.


 Another classroom technology issue is,who should pay
for technology? Where are the valid research and studies
that suggest technology really enhances learning?
Do these studies claim that students perform better on 
standardized test?


Since technology is expanding in education it is 
a major task to assess its impact on society.
Many schools will necessarily have to undergo extensive 
renovation. The classrooms will need to be modified if not
altogether physically redesigned to accommodate state of the
art technology,for example, electronic boards,more than one
computer in a classroom,computer labs and expensive data
projectors along with all the needed security. I believe if
technology is monitored and used when needed along with 
conventional methods of teaching, the benefits of providing
a better eduction would outweigh the cost for all the
expensive technology inclusions and the poorer school
districts would benefit too.


Who will pay for all this sophisticated technology?
Should taxpayers be forced to pay? Would raising taxes
be fair to the poorer school districts? How should the
inequities of technology use be balanced across the nations'
school districts? These are the issues I have explored
related to integrating technology in the classroom.


Finally,since standards and goals for learning change,the
demand for suitable technology must also consistently change.
For example, if students will still be required to learn
time-tables by rehearsal and memorizing,then elementary
schools should not allow students to use calculators.
Another example of changed learning standard that impacts 
technology is the grade level at which a subject is taught.
I learned from older math teachers that when they graduated
from college,algebra was the highest level of math they needed  
to pass to get a bachelors degree. Now more than 35 years
later,algebra is first level math subject in all Chicago
public high schools. So technology should help reduce the amount
of time it take students to graduate from high school.  
  






Table of Contents.

Homepage