EDCT 203: Assignment 12

a) Do you think technology can facilitate learning? Why and why not?

I think that technology can absolutely be utilized as a tool to facilitate learning, but certain steps must be taken to ensure that the benefits of technology use outweigh the negative effects. The internet brings immeasurable knowledge to an easily accessible central network, which can be great for obtaining necessary information at the click of a mouse but also takes the thought out of assignments for certain students. Some pupils abuse the wealth of knowledge and develop 'copy, paste' syndrome.

Some websites, such as DimDim, make collaborations between students fun and easy and hence facilitate involvement and contribution but teachers will, of course, encounter the same problems as with personal group work; some students carry the work load while others piggy-back their way to a good grade with very little effort.

The biggest issue I see with technology use is that it feeds the already widening achievement gap between  upper and lower class students. Children without access to technology will inevitably not do as well in a class that involves much technology use. And schools that are able to provide adequate computer labs and other technologies are often those attended by higher end students, leaving the poor computer-less students without support to improve their marketability in today's technological society.

b) What are the factors that affect our decisions on whether and how we will use a technology in our classes or not?

Factors that will affect my decision to use technology in my classroom are availability of technology, standards, lesson plan objectives, and student attitudes. If my students do not have regular access to efficient technology, I will not incorporate assignments that require at home involvement and I will always provide alternative assignments for my students who are not fortunate enough to live in a technologically savvy home. The standards I am required to address and my resulting lesson plans will also affect how I use technology in my classroom. Standards for high school science do not have a tendency to incorporate computer skills into the curriculum and I do not anticipate using much time teaching instructional technology lessons. Lastly, if I have a group of mature students who desire to learn and are actively involved in classroom lessons, I will be much more likely to incorporate fun lessons involving technology. If I have a group of unfocused students who do not understand how to properly use technology for productive purposed in school, I will have a much harder time including technology in my lesson plans.