T.H.E. Journal: National Ed Tech Plan Puts Technology at the Heart of Education Reform

This article summarized the key points of the recent technology educational reform plan. This new plan is intended to overhaul national schools by focusing on incorporating technology heavily on a broad basis. Overall I agree with what the plan is putting forth; I do believe that there is a need to "..focus what and how we teach to match what people need to know and how they learn." and in a growling technologically dependent world students should know how to and be comfortable using these technologies. The purpose of school is to do more than teach children how to read and write. School teaches students how to become productive members of society, and as our society becomes more technological, so must their learning. To be clear, I don't believe that their learning should be focused or centered around technology. I do, however think it should be used to facilitate their learning to the point where they are comfortable using it as a tool.

One thing specifically I like about this plan, is it focus on the teachers, because after all, how can students learn at their highest potential if they do not have the highest quality instructors guiding them? The plan calls for "ensuring that our professional educators are well connected to the content and resources, data and information, and peers and experts they need to be highly effective. And it calls for leveraging the power of technology to support continuous and lifelong learning." I think that by making sure that our teachers are properly prepared and outfitted on its own can have a huge effect on student learning. Teachers should be constantly looking for ways to engage their students, and these days that means incorporating more technology, therefore the teachers need to be given said technology.

Another point I agreed with was that of assessment, something that I feel will always be a point of debate. Technology has that instant gratification that can help teachers and students keep track of learning and comprehension so the chances of students falling behind can be significantly lowered.

Like I stated earlier, I agree with the majority of this plan. I think that they have the right idea on how technology should be integrated into the schools, and a realistic outlook on its potential impact. What concerns me however is what individual states and school districts will do with this. Putting up SmartBoards and handing out iPads wont't improve test scores overnight. This is a progression and therefore the implementing of technology needs to be as well.

NY Times Article Review: In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores

This article dealt with the concern that this recent push for incorporating technology in the classroom isn’t actually helping they students. Educators state that increasing the use of technology in classroom results in more engaged and enthusiastic students. Unfortunately administrators and tax-payers have an issue supporting the millions of dollars this initiative cost with out seeing the results in standardized test scores.

I’m sure many people can understand not wanting to pay for products that don’t work, but my issue is that I firmly believe that standardized test don’t tell us everything we need to know about student learning. If teachers are reporting that their students are more engaged in activities then they should be taking advantage of that. Utilizing such technology teaches students how to collaborate and do research online as wells as using software that they will encounter in future schooling and the work place. That being said, I have to state that I do not agree with idea that teacher should be “…guides on the side”. Technology can definitely do a lot of good, but they should never take the place of an instructor. I once had the experience of taking a computerized math class (math never being my best subject), and it was awful. There was a ‘professor’ that would occasionally walk around and if she noticed that you were so lost the step-by-step instructions were popping up to help you reach the answer, she might help you. Overall though, this professor did little to nothing to enhance my learning and the math program left me more lost and frustrated than I was when I started the class. This experience is the reason that I have such a problem with letting technology teach. Teachers should be active in student learning and using technology as an aid for their students to understand curricula and to develop enthusiasm for lessons and projects.

I feel as though technology definitely has a place in every classroom and a certain amount of the budget should be allocated for funding said technology. I also feel as though teachers should be continuing their own education so they learn how better use these tools to enhance their student’s learning. Perhaps test scores are stagnant for the time being but I’m sure that over time as students become accustomed to working with this technology in an academic setting and teacher are comfortable using the right amount, scores will improve.

Introduction

My name is Maxine and I am starting my fifth year at Montclair State University. I am a fine arts education major concentrating in photography with a minor in dance. As well as being a full time student here at MSU, I am also a dance instructor to first through twelfth graders. I am looking forward to graduating in May and looking for a teaching position in which I will be able to put into practice the skills I have learned during my time at MSU.