Education Technology as a Tool

Education Technology as a Tool
Date: 5th Dec 2014

One of the things I enjoy doing most is reading quotes of famous people. Every word that I read is an inspiration. Today's inspiration comes from Steve Jobs quote, "What a computer is to me is the most remarkable tool that we have ever come up with. It is the equivalent of a bicycle". I agree to the words a hundred percent. A beautiful metaphor used by Steve Jobs to describe the tool we all call "Computer".

 In case of a bicycle, the cyclist could take it anywhere it wants, similarly the teacher whose actually using the computer could take you places beyond imagination. You could travel to destinations never explored before.  

 It just an amazing tool, as far as teaching and learning is concerned, it can do wonders, provided its used appropriately and effectively, at the right place, right time and right purpose. Bill gates rightly advocates this notion when he says “technology is just a tool, in terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, teacher is the most important". 

 I think there is a lot of responsibility on the teachers on how they use this tool to create meaningful learning experiences for learners which not only engage them, motivate them and inspire them to be innovative. This is a challenging task. 

 The tool needs to seamlessly woven into the fabric of schools and not to be treated as an add on tool. We educators need to understand the fact that our schools are like homes, our classrooms like our rooms. Every gadget, every tool that we get for ourselves adds values to our lives., one way or the other makes life easier for us and does not complicate it. 

We have equipped our classrooms and schools with ample technology resources whether be it the Multimedia Projectors, Interactive white boards, All in One PCs, Printers, Scanners, Tablets, Net books and list is endless. We have been able to engage learners in differentiated learning activities using these gadgets, which has led to clarification and re-enforcement of concepts and in some cases resulted in developing higher order thinking skills in our learners. 

After a year’s successful implementation of the ELE (Enhanced Learning Environment) Program in our schools, we have been able to develop our teachers and learners as proficient user of technology. They can operate the technology tools as efficiently as possible whether be it the multimedia projectors, tablets, net books, interactive white boards etc. They can design worksheets, PPTs, search and explore interactive activities online, record and make videos, take pictures using a digital camera etc. This is in line with the technology integration model SAMR developed  Dr Ruben Puendtedura which shows a progression path that teachers and learners follow as they progress through teaching and learning with technology. The first stage of the model Substitution talks about how teachers use computers to do tasks that were previously done without computers.

Teachers now need to move to the next stage (Augmentation and modification) where they explore the tools further, to create more meaningful learning experiences. They can create more interactive Presentations using advanced features of the tools explored, explore and search for more effective apps that result in developing higher order thinking skills instead of only re-enforcing the concepts. 

Teachers need to understand is that the same tool could be used to meet a learning objective in multiple ways. For example a too like digital microscope could be used for examining insects or plants of cell, or it could be used to capture the growth of a seed, a time lapse movie could be recorded and analyzed later. 

A tool like a programmable robot BEEBOT could be used to re-enforce numbers, or it could be used to find the shortest route to a destination etc. A software like Community Construction Kit could be used to design 3D models of buildings, learners could compare buildings in two different eras. A drawing tool like 2Paint, Kidpix, Kids Doodle etc could be used for drawing, designing, comparing etc. It’s all in the hands of the teacher, how creatively she engages learners using the various technology tools available in our classrooms.

I believe technology has to be used as a stimulus, it should trigger the thinking process, and serve as an appetite for learning. I read somewhere it is not what technology does to us, it is what we do with technology. We need to get smart with technology and use it creatively and imaginatively to meet our goals. 

Steve Jobs rightly says and I completely agree with him, that “technology is nothing, what is important is that you have a faith in people, that they are basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they will do wonderful things with them”.

Let’s get SMART with technology J

Sheeba Ajmal