The Positive Impact of Technology in Class! What?Why & How?

The Positive Impact of Technology In Class!What? Why & How?

Date: 20th Aug 2021/Friday/11:17 PM

This blog post is inspired by an article I read today which talks about how learning is impacted by the use of technology in class. The articles cites a number of case studies that show how positively learning has been transformed in schools because of the effective use of technology. It does mention, that it is not only technology that is responsible for effective teaching and learning to happen in classrooms, there has to be a change in the curriculum, supported by continuous teacher professional development. This has to be supported by provision of technology resources by schools, internet access, and teacher training so they could design meaningful learning activities to engage their learners.

This blog post will share some technology resources that teachers could use in their classrooms to enhance learning for different subjects. Research does indicate that computer technology can help support learning, it does provide an opportunity to develop higher order thinking skills, critical thinking, problem solving skills among other 21st century skills but just placing computers in the classroom or computer labs will not solve the problem. Research says that there are four different ways through which technology can support learning, these include active engagement, participation in groups, feedback and frequent interaction and links to real life contexts.

Learning research shows that students learn more by being able to construct knowledge through experiences. When students act as passive learners in class, simply listening to lectures, they do gain knowledge but no understanding. That is why they are not able to apply the learning in class to the outside world or use the learning to solve real life problems. This is a common observation in schools, where students would be able to reiterate the exact words of the teacher in class but when asked to apply it to a real life situation, they usually fail to do do. I remember observing a Science lesson where the teacher was very enthusiastically explaining the function of muscles to the class. She did try to share examples of real life where our muscles play key roles in movement. Strangely when the child was called to share his learning experience in the form of a podcast, he simply repeated the words of the teacher, he was unable to extend the learning beyond the classroom. If the teacher would have introduced the concept through some simulation or animation, the students would have developed a deeper meaning of the functioning of the muscles. I was able to find two such resources online namely Innerbody, Sciencenetlinks and Biodigital that not only explained the functioning of various body parts and muscles, students can zoom in and out and virtually explore the anatomy of the human body. 

What most teachers often fail to comprehend is the fact that all children learn differently. Trying methods other than traditional books, or chalk and talk method can help reach children in class who usually do not respond to these traditional teaching methods in class. These methods could include modeling or demonstrating using multimedia, providing children an opportunity to explore for themselves through interactive websites and providing assistance where needed. This theory of Multiple Intelligence was proposed by Howard Gardner. He identified 7 distinct intelligence, these can be either strengthened or nurtured or weakened. These include verbal linguistic intelligence, mathematical logical intelligence, musical intelligence, visual spatial intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, interpersonal intelligence , naturalist intelligence, existential intelligence and bodily kin esthetic intelligence. Using multimedia in class can cater to most of these intelligence's. If a students does not learn through text, the teacher can use visuals, sounds, models, real life objects, or an experience or a performance which helps build clarity and deepen understanding about the topic.

Research also shows that students who score well and get admissions in prestigious universities often fail to explain the phenomenon or concept as simple as tossing a ball in the air. They may be able to work on formulas and solve equations accurately but they may not be able to offer an explanation for the phenomenon. This is mostly the case with students in the Matric stream in Pakistan, they study the content, they memorize it , they write the same in their exam papers. It's a drill practice thing, where no extension of knowledge takes place and learning remains within the pages of the textbook. What if teachers could provide students a chance to explore and experiment with the concepts in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science? students learn through simulations? while exploring I came across this very interesting site PHET Interactive Solutions, the site has simulations on most topics related to the above mentioned subjects, where students could actually see the objects in motion. Students can try the forces and motion basic and see the results. They could do a balancing activity by placing objects on a balance, and then add or reduce weight to see what happens. There is another interesting activity on balloons and static electricity. Students can grab a balloon and explore concepts of static electricity such as charge transfer, attraction, repulsion and induced charge. Students can work on fractions, mixed numbers etc.

Research also proves that computers can help middle school students in the most challenging urban settings to learn calculus concepts such as rate, accumulation, limit and mean value. SimCalc is another such interactive resource which helps students learn and experiment with the concept of rate and proportionality. It's like a game where you act like a soccer team manager and you solve problems. Students run the simulations and note findings. The software provides students an opportunity to reason changes they see in the graphs. The Geometers Sketchpad is similarly another Math's software to teach math skills to students. Similarly SimCity is another online game where students actually plan an urban setting. They get an opportunity to create a beautiful city. There are online sites where students learn to create maps. For example Teacherled map maker lets students drag and drop various objects on the map and create a new place. 

All in all these amazing education technology resources could be an impressive add on to the school's resource provided they are  properly integrated and embedded in the curriculum. The curriculum and the assessment would also need to be reviewed and updated. The sole focus on grades and number would need to change. Because this miss match between the content in assessments and the higher order thinking skills that education technology promotes cannot go hand in hand. This would also require capacity building of teachers, training them and equipping with technology skills to deliver and plans lessons effectively and efficiently catering to all students in class. This would also require changes to the organizational structure, equipping classrooms and computer labs with education technology resources, upgrading labs, ensuring internet access and smooth flow of electricity with proper cabling. 

Schools willing to bring about this transformational change with education technology must be willing to bring all stakeholders on board and take collective decisions to make a smooth transition from a traditional setup in schools to a new hybrid setup where students not only learn 21st century skills but where individualization & personalization take the lead and no child is left behind. These changes would accompany change in school reforms, school policies, curriculum design, school infrastructure, provision and access to resources and capacity building of teachers. 

I hope you have enjoyed reading, take time to explore the resources in the blog. Will be back with my next blog soon InnShaaAllah.

Regards and prayers

Sheeba Ajmal

References

Corner Stone University. (2018, Feb 06). What are multiple intelligences and how do they affect learning? What are multiple intelligences and how do they affect learning? https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/what-are-multiple-intelligences-and-how-do-they-affect-learning/

Inner Body Research. (n.d.). Human Body Explorer. Human Body Explorer. https://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html

McGraw Hill Company. (n.d.). The Geometers Sketchpad. The Geometers sketchpad. https://sketchpad.keycurriculum.com/

PHET Interactive Simulations. (n.d.). Simulations. Simulations. https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/maze-game/latest/maze-game.html?simulation=maze-game

Roschelle, J. M., Pea, R. D., Hoadley, C. M., Gordin, D. N., & Means, B. M. (2000). Changing how and what children learn in school with computer-based technologies. The future of children, 76-101. 

Scholastic. (n.d.). The Human Body the 14 Study Jams Interactive Science Activities. The Human Body the 14 Study Jams Interactive Science Activities. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/activities/teaching-content/human-body-14-studyjams-interactive-science-activities/

Science Net Links. (n.d.). Muscles. Muscles. http://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/muscles/

SimCalc. (n.d.). SimCalc the Mathematics of Change. SimCalc the Mathematics of Change. https://simcalc.sri.com/curriculum/download.html

TeacherLed.com. (n.d.). Flash Map Maker. Flash Map Maker. https://www.teacherled.com/2008/06/01/map-maker/