Assignment 2

Technology in Education

Niccole West

The University of Alabama

For the last eight years, I have been teaching in early childhood classrooms and after-school programs. My experience with technology in these settings has been an overwhelmingly positive one. Technology has the potential to be one of an educators most valuable assets when appropriately cultivated.

Educational technology is any form of computer or electronic device that can be used to assist in the instruction of students. A simple app used on an ipad can have a huge impact on a child who struggling with mastering reading or language skills. The use of the smartboard in classrooms has promoted learning for the classroom as a whole. Students can take turns interacting with the board and encourage each other while they further develop their abilities.

When I first started working in childcare, technology in the preschool classrooms I worked in was very limited. It was simple educational videos or unique ways of exposing the class to music. Moving from VHS tapes to DVDs or from cassette tapes to cds seemed like amazing feats of technology at the time. As years passed, I saw classrooms replace their cd players with various mp3 players and most recently, only a speaker was provided for teachers to stream music from the apps on their phones.

Educational toys that would light up and make noise once held the attention of children, now only to bore them after a short time. Now that ipads are the go-to classroom toy, the applications used must delight the children while providing a stimulating educational experience. Teachers must be selective in order to provide the most appropriate apps to encourage learning in the classroom.

Certain forms of technology can assist students with doing day-to-day tasks that many people take for granted. Something as common as talking can be difficult for children with autism. The Dynavox is an electronic device similar to a tablet that’s purpose is to assist in generating speech. I have witnessed students using this machine and been informed that they were incapable of communicating before acquiring it.

The problem with technology is that it is normally expensive. Teachers are usually at the mercy of their school systems’ budget in regard to what technology can be implemented in their classrooms. This presents difficulty when trying to acquire new or updated tech devices and incorporating them into instruction.

Fortunately, schools do seem to see the need for technological advancement within the educational setting. I have seen more and more classrooms being provided with ipads, laptops, desktop computers and smartboards. Some schools may have more flexible budgets that can make room for newer and more advanced, high-tech gadgets for the classroom. Some schools may be able to provide fundraising opportunities that allow teachers to raise money on their own for electronic upgrades.

The learning possibilities associated with educational technology are truly infinite. Technology will always continue to advance and improve and that presents an amazing potential for educational gain with most all students. Teachers need only to stay informed with what technology is available and how it can be best utilized in the classroom. Employing technology in teaching can prove to be abundantly beneficial in the instruction of students at any age.