Re Thiniking Technology use in Schools !

Re-Thinking Technology Use in Schools

Date: 28^th Jan 2015

While doing some research on the internet about the impact of technology in Early Years, I came across this interesting post published October 2014 in Forbes.com by Nick Morrison, who has quoted his discussion with Bob Harrison who is the education advisor to Toshiba. Bob says that it is not technology that makes the difference but teachers.  This statement supports what Bill gates had said earlier that technology is just a tool, in getting the kids together the teacher is most important.

He further goes on to say too much technology use in classrooms actually reinforces traditional teaching methods. Which I completely agree too since I have observed the same practice in our schools too, in the form of electronic worksheets. I feel teachers need time to explore the tools available to them. Once they have developed a good understanding about the tool and its features only then can they use it effectively to design developmentally appropriate learning experiences.

Bob further says that the investment needs to go to not only in the equipment but rather in giving teachers the confidence and competence to exploit technology to have enhanced learning outcomes. Learning is not about learning the content but about creation, our job should be to prepare our kids for the world that exists outside. 

I feel the teaching approach needs to shift. The purpose of creating a digital story using an online software or app should not be learn the tool but to understand that there exists another way of creating and sharing stories online which is more creative and innovative. Thus preparing our learners to be future writers, publishers, bloggers etc.

Jonassen (1996) defines computers as cognitive tools and says that when used in a constructivist learning environment it activates critical thinking and learning. He further goes on to say that earners learn more when they become the designers of the learning materials rather than learning from it. It depends on teachers on how they use the available tools to create learning experiences which lets them use their higher order thinking skills. 

Teachers can start by introducing software like Community Construction Kit in schools which lets learners create their own imaginative 3D models of the community, or by creating maps in a software Neighborhood Map Machine. 

There is absolutely no doubt in the potential that Education Technology holds for schools but this needs to be harnessed in the best way possible. A report published in 2006 by CISCO about technology in Schools says that just as technology has accelerated globalization, it will advance educational change. Technology advocates say what students learn, how they learn and what they learn will change. The research highlights three important roles that technology plays in transforming schools first it is a learning tool for more student centered learning, second a data tool for education to better understand and inform education practices and third it is an enabling force behind globalization. 

The CISCO report further goes on and says that in order to extract the full potential of technology, it requires much more than the mere introduction of software, web resources aligned with curriculum but it requires a triangulation of content, sound principles of learning, and teaching, aligned with accountability and assessment. 

I completely agree to the above approach, after a year of technology implementation in our schools, we too need to now focus on empowering learners using education technology and this can only be achieved once the gap between what we teach with ICT /how we teach with ICT and the pedagogy of the Early Years is thoroughly understood and analyzed.

Start thinking how??

Sheeba Ajmal