Why Technology?

“To Engage or Not to Engage,” that is in technology use, has been one of the most discussed topics for many educators. Because educators know the great challenge they face to instruct the students of the 21st century, they explore the HOW, WHEN, WHY… of incorporating technology as part of effective lesson planning. They also see the many uses of technology:

1. To make changes/create the curriculum:

After reading the first chapter of the book called Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful web tools for classrooms by W. Richardson and a few chapters of Wikonomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams, I came to the realization that collaboration was the key word of the century. As I investigated the concept a little more and linked it with technology, I found an excellent example of collaboration in which wikis and blogs are used, an on-line curriculum. In the article, Online Collaboration: Curriculum Unbound by John K. Waters, the author explained how the Amarillo Independent School District used digital tools to move their curricular documents online. In this way, educators are able to collaborate on the creation of the curriculum. The use of digital tools such as wikis and blogs in the Blackboard system permitted the curriculum committee to communicate in ways that they never had before. It allowed for an easier way of editing, modifying, and distributing of the curriculum. The committee was able to collaborate to create the curriculum, which was monitored by the district’s curriculum specialists.

2. To teach global education:

With the growth of technology, schools and students have access to computers, the internet, and many digital tools that make it possible to learn more about the world. Teachers can involve their students in multicultural projects, which require the search of facts, leading to a general understanding of the place, people, and culture of other countries. For a more specific knowledge, students can visit the different web sites that allow for global connections with virtual classrooms in which they have the opportunity to communicate with people from other countries. In conclusion, with the emergence of technology the world has become smaller than looking at it from space. Why not teach our children to view it as such, to be close with the culture of the world, to know about the economies of other countries, to speak several languages, and to have the openness that the authors of The world is Flat and Wikinomics talk about.

3. To learn a foreign language:

Researchers have found that the use of the Internet helps students gain a better understanding of foreign languages and cultures. The students involved in a study revealed that the Internet is a great place to find interesting things about the Spanish language. Moreover, the students claimed that many times they got side-tracked from the given assignments due to the vast amount of activities and information found. They described the internet as “a good learning tool, more current than just reading about it in a book.” My students have completed similar activities and they have expressed how much they have learned and enjoyed doing it, as well. Furthermore, Second language acquisition (SLA) researchers have demonstrated how the use of technology increases language learner’s motivation, self-confidence and higher self-esteem. This results in students being more successful and motivated to learn (Marr 2000, Okolo and Ferreri 1998.) The way language learners exhibit on-task behavior when technology is involved helps, not only researchers, but also educators to understand that these students perceive computers as having a positive effect on their learning. Therefore, it is the educator’s responsibility to be prepared to apply technology in the educational settings to produce technology-capable students, which in return will enhance learning.

4. To teach “Digital Natives” Students:

Students of today can receive, process, and adapt to information rapidly. In other words, they are capable of doing several things at the same time. They are used to parallel processing. I have noticed how well my students perform when we complete activities that require the use of computers, the Internet. As many specialists have said, students of today function on “instant gratification and frequent rewards.” They want to learn with games that provide immediate feedback. As educators of today, it is important to know how our students process new information, and what kind of activities are engaging to them. Moreover, the curriculum should be structured to make room for more creativity. As a Spanish teacher, I try to present the different vocabularies using many colorful graphics. I have noticed that they respond best when the visual stimulation is appealing. Many of them are not just visual learners, but also kinetic learners, they like to be actively involved in the learning process. Therefore, I have included activities that require them to create with technology. For example, students will compose and send electronic e-mails in Spanish. They will create Power Point presentations about themselves, their families, and their favorite activities, among others. Also, they are required to use the Internet to investigate about other cultures and countries, to solve problems, to plan vacations and more. The challenge is to recognize the learning strategies that are appropriate for “Digital Natives”, understand the different ways they process information and design learning tools that will get the most from their exceptional skills. The concept “Technology as Friend vs. Technology as Foe describes “digital immigrants” as perceiving technology as something to be feared tolerated or at best harnessed to one’s purpose. It views “Digital Natives” as perceiving computers as their friend. Like one educator said, “Whether working, playing, relaxing or communicating, younger learners actively search out ways to use technology to construct a new cognitive environment."

5. To plan, discuss, conquer:

In this class, we have shared all of the amazing ways and tools that we could use to integrate technology into our classroom. Moreover, we have discussed current issues in education and technology and hopefully we have come up with solutions on how we are able to make it better. Believe or not, we have accomplished things or at least giving ideas on how changes in the curriculum or changes in other areas of concern would help to innovate the way we teach. Furthermore, we could continue to join our forces, as educators, to come up with a plan on how we can integrate all students to the learning process (whether they like or not.) by creating wikis or perhaps, a smart mob. “A smart mob empowered by shared learning goals would be a formidable force. It is not too difficult to imagine students (youth or adults) engaging in mobile ad hoc social networks (or smart mobs) in order to pursue common areas of interest. This is what smart mobs do.” I have started to brainstorm about the many ways that we, as educators, could integrate smart mobs as a teaching tool. To start with, the difference between the learning that goes on in a typical classroom and the learning that could go on in smart mobs is that in the first one the learning is controlled from a “central source” -in this case the curriculum???. The learning goes on as far as that central source allows it. On the other hand, the learning that could go on in smart mobs dos not have limits. I can see educators exchanging their thoughts, ideas, and creations and collaborating to reach a particular goal for the best of our students.

6. *To engage or not to engage:

Have you seen the way these kids communicate nowadays? They want to know about a topic, they Google it. They want to ask opinions about something, they chat online with others. They use technology to organize and accomplish specific tasks and goals and to interact with others; like the need to get instant gratification like what comes from playing a video game. If we left all the instruction about technology to the students’ own experiences while using it then we will be affecting our own relationship with the students as their educators in this area. We want them to see us as knowledgeable, if not more so, in this area. In this way they will feel a connection with us. We don’t want them to feel that the computer is doing more for them than we are. Every blog that we have posted in this class calls for a change in the curriculum. Every single one explores the changes in today’s society and how today’s generation learns. Moreover, they all have a list of recommendations of what educators need to do in order to teach the new generation. For students, it will mean teachers enhancing collaborative learning, alternative assessment, and individualizing learning. For teachers, it will mean learning Information and Communications Technology (ICT) literacy knowledge and skills. At the same time, it will mean supporting student learning in a technology-enhanced environment. For schools, it will mean to successfully integrate technology into the curriculum in such a way that they are ready to address the social, legal, and ethical issues related with technology use. Searching the internet for curriculum updates, I found a neat website called CyberSmart! Curriculum. It is “dedicated to promoting the new information and communication technology skills associated with teaching, learning, and living in a connected world.” Because the curriculum allows teachers to comfortably include technology, this website has designed ways that it can be done. Moreover, it offers professional development online to help administrators and teachers to use digital information effectively in education. It is aligned with ISTE's National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Performance Indicators.

7. To change the school system:

In a wiki like this one, educators have the opportunity to share their thoughts, but at the same time, they have the chance to add to the thoughts of others, allowing for a change of mind, if needed. This is done in such a global way that allows educators from other countries to share and compare. Very amazing! “The needs of students in one country may not be the same need of other students in a different country” one may say. It is not the case. With today’s technology, teachers have an open source of ideas where the can give and take resources to enhance the learning process, and to prepare students to take part in today’s workplace, that is very global.