Teaching 2.0: Is Tech In The Classroom Worth The Cost?
On my way home from Columbia today I heard this story on NPR. It talks about if the cost of technology. Listen to the story and leave your reflections.
Teaching 2.0: Is Tech In The Classroom Worth The Cost?
39 Comments
Dane Frazier
3/4/2013 04:36:19 am
I believe that technology in the class room is a very important thing and that the cost shouldn't be as important because if we want our students to keep up with students around the world and the growth in technology then it is important to have that technology in the classroom.
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Laurel Thornton
3/4/2013 09:52:01 am
Dane;
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Heather Carlton
3/5/2013 01:33:19 am
I agree with this. Funds are very limited right now and the money has to be coming from somewhere; therefore, costs are a very important factor in introducing technology to the classroom. 3/5/2013 07:57:45 am
I am not saying the cost is unimportant, I said it should be as important. What really is the cost of giving children every opportunity to learn. I believe that learning happens exponentially and that even if students learn one knew thing from having this technology in the class room then it opens the door for them to learn 2 or more other things on top of what they originally learned and then it just keeps growing from there.
Kayla Y.
3/6/2013 12:26:54 am
I agree that although we would like to think that cost shouldn't be important and we should give our students all the benefits out there, cost definitely keeps us from reaching that goal. I think the government could put more money into the schools than they do though, and maybe not spend it as much on unnecessary things. Our nations strength starts here at home, so why not put more money into developing the minds of our youth.
Armegis Spearman
3/5/2013 02:28:43 am
I agree and think that we emphasize cost more with educating our kids than the task of educating them, no matter the cost.
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Troy Holbrook
3/8/2013 11:42:33 am
Cost of education and especially technology is always going to be a factor when resources are limited, and should be a factor even when resources are abundant. The amount of money spent on education does not ensure a positive learning experience for the student. Even at the national level we see that the U.S. is the clear leader in total annual spending, but ranks 9th in Science performance and 10th in Math.
Colie Trawick
3/6/2013 04:15:49 am
I like the whole idea of the situation it's just that is it equal opportunity education if everyone doesnt have access to the same technologies as others.
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Mary McGee
3/9/2013 04:16:23 am
Dana I agree completely but administration seems to view teaching the teacher a major cost that during this economic crisis is not worth the risk.
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Caleb Haynes
3/10/2013 06:08:02 am
I agree there would have to be some kind of training for teachers to have to complete because a lot of the teachers in our schools were taught to teach in a more traditional manner so training using these aspects would have to be put into place and made somewhat mandatory in my opinion.
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Armegis Spearman
3/4/2013 06:46:26 am
The fact that we have supported and helped fund numerous wars over the years but can't agree on proper funding to educate our kids properly is absolutely shameful! I agree that the use of technology in schools is an absolute must for our kids today. Technology is not only taking over in our schools but in every part of society as we know it today.
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Wendy Walker
3/6/2013 12:28:21 am
I agree about the excuse most often used is lack of training. I said almost the same thing in my post. Teachers can find a way if it is important. I have spent numerous hours self-teaching so I am familiar with technology. I understand that some people learn by demonstration and are verbal learners. Simply ask someone to help you.
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Kayla Y.
3/6/2013 12:32:19 am
I think you hit some major points that are sometimes overlooked. Our government definitely should start to focus a little more on tasks to be completed here on the home-front rather than waste unnecessary funds overseas. And I am definitely tired of hearing about teachers being not educated to use the technology that we can put in classrooms. Well, technology is happening whether we like it or not, so do something about it. May be blunt but that's what our teachers, administrators, and schools need to realize.
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Colie Trawick
3/6/2013 04:42:29 am
The simple truth is, if you want things to be a certain way then you have to train and teach educators a certain way. Teacher should know how to use the technology that is in their rooms. If they don't it is just a watse of resources for our students.
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Cassandra Nappier
3/6/2013 03:47:02 pm
Armegis,
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Zech Bowman
3/7/2013 07:24:37 am
I am one of those teachers who despise the invention of the calculator, but my hatred for it comes at certain times. As a math teacher I see that a lot of kids rely too much on a calculator to their work for them and then they cannot explain or just communicate the concept that we spend a good deal of time on. I'm sorry but if you have to punch in 6x7 into a calculator, there is cause for some concern. But really, we are turning into a button pushing society anyway. The thing for me and some teachers is that where do you draw the line of using the technology to enhance learning and allowing it to let students put out little to no effort to learn the material.
Crissina Kemp
3/7/2013 12:04:20 pm
Proper training on using technology in the classroom is an absolute. The technology will not be effective for learning unless teachers are equipped with the knowledge and skills on how to use it properly and beyond the everyday uses. I believe some of the training opportunities should be provided by the schools, but also teachers should take the initiative to learn new technology and take opportunities to find training for themselves when possible.
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Troy Holbrook
3/8/2013 11:52:05 am
Crissina, you are right in saying that the technology is practically useless if the educator is not properly trained to use the technology. In real life, the technology is installed in the classroom and the onus is then upon the educator to "learn" how to use the technology. Granted, some savvy educators can figure out what makes a Smart Board tick, or how to operate an iPad, but others are not so resourceful, Not having any success, these educators usually become frustrated and the technology sets in the classroom collecting dust and becomes a great waste of money.
Caleb Haynes
3/10/2013 06:10:50 am
I agree with this, but if I had to guess I would say not all but alot of teachers will not take advantage of the training unless it is made somewhat mandatory. I feel like the school should make a certain number of training hours mandatory and the teachers can do the training wherever they want.
Laurel Thornton
3/4/2013 09:46:02 am
What stuck out to me the most in this segment was the lack of research on the effectiveness of this type of teaching. As much emphasis as there is today on bringing technology into the classroom, I would hope that there would be more understanding about how effective it is and how it can help prepare students for the future. Personally, I believe whole heartedly that technology should have a part in today’s classroom. However, with more research, we could refine how we use it to be more focused and effective. Not only could we be more effective, but when it comes to funding, being backed by factual research is imperative. To go to the school board and ask for these huge amounts of money, and yet have nothing to back it up is shameful and not likely to be successful.
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Crissina Kemp
3/7/2013 11:47:39 am
The lack of research and data on learning outcomes regarding the use of technology in the classroom was very surprising to me too. It would be difficult for a board of directors, which has fiscal responsibility for the school, to justify spending large portions of already limited school budgets on technology without facts and data proving the positive effects it has on student learning. Since many schools have already implemented new technology in the classroom, more research and data can be gathered in the future to measure and asess the effects on learning and help schools decide whether or not it will be worth the cost.
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Heather Carlton
3/5/2013 01:31:19 am
I really like the idea of having technology such as Skype available in classrooms. This gives students the opportunity to meet, listen to, and talk with guest speakers they may never have the chance to meet otherwise. This option also keeps learning fresh and new, which will help to keep students interested.
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Armegis Spearman
3/5/2013 02:35:00 am
I think the idea of having different forms of technology available to students is a great idea and also a necessity. I know that it is very expensive to supply these tools to every class but, I think with a bit of proper scheduling and time management, each subject can get into one designated area at scheduled times to utilize these tools. The option to utilize other professors and speakers during some type of class is a great idea also. This gives the school and teachers ample opportunity to use outside resources to assist with educating our kids in ways that they could otherwise never afford.
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Cassandra Nappier
3/6/2013 03:40:57 pm
Heather,
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Heather Carlton
3/8/2013 05:02:21 am
I like that you pointed out that students can explore places they would not otherwise be able to without technology. This is very true! With technology, students are exposed to so much more! It allows them to explore outside of their bubbles/comfort zones.
Kayla Yount
3/5/2013 11:45:12 pm
This idea blew me away! I thought it was a great way to engage students and allow for them to learn through a different medium of technology. Technology is growing in our society and our schools need to be funded to keep up with the times. This technology lets the students learn from experts from all around, and engages their learning on all kinds of new levels.
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Heather Carlton
3/8/2013 05:06:06 am
Technology in the classroom should definitely be a priority, but we have to figure out where this money is going to come from. Districts are already low on funds as it is. The government just can't hand it over. It has to come from somewhere. Technology is very expensive.
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Wendy Walker
3/6/2013 12:22:43 am
I think this topic is on the forefront of all educators minds these days. Technology is only going to increase in use and diversity. Teachers and administrators need to be willing to fight for the funds to increase technological use in the classroom, and actually fight. Don't ask, be told no, and then simply move on. Push the issue. If teachers really wanted to use the technology and knew the importance it would have on their students, they can find way to learn the technology. Heck, most students could show teachers a thing or two about technology. Take adult ed classes, ask someone else or self-teach on the subject. There is always a way to learn it.
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Colie Trawick
3/6/2013 04:41:08 am
I agree with you, we have to find a way to creat funding for these types of expenditures. We find funding for so many other things within our society, lets find a way for one of the most important topics; our education and our childrens future.
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Melissa Lovette
3/6/2013 09:36:14 am
Money is tight, schools don't have the money to spend on technology training for teachers. It's that simple. If you have techonolgy in your room, you don't get training it's up to you to get it on your own.
Colie Trawick
3/6/2013 04:11:56 am
I do believe technology in the classroom is needed and beneficial to our students today. I agree with the artical that it is possibly very hard to determine if technology is beneficial to our school system because the school systems education is soley based on how well the kids do on standardized testing. It is obvious that standardized testing had not been modified to include technical learning.
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Melissa Lovette
3/6/2013 09:19:48 am
Yes, you are correct, unless it helps with standardized testing no school board will spend money that kind of money on something like this. Those tests are what drives school districts, their fate rests on those scores.
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Melissa Lovette
3/6/2013 09:30:12 am
I found this to be quite interesting. I think this type of technology would be fresh and interesting to a group of students. However, I do agree it would be quite expensive. I agree with the statement that was made by the gentlemen when he said that technology was just a tool. Students still have to be engaged. This type of presentation would have to be engaging to keep students interested.
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Cassandra Nappier
3/6/2013 03:38:12 pm
After listening to the story on NPR, I would like to say that I wish there was a great definite way of measuring whether or not technology in the classroom is beneficial. I do like the fact that a definition was drawn over the fact that simply using an Ipad as a way to take notes is a waste since one could simply buy a spiral notebook. However, if the teachers are willing to be educated on how to properly use technology in the classroom, then I 100% agree that it is beneficial. A spiral notebook can only go so far, whereas, a piece of technology is limitless. Being able to communicate with others using Skype as a learning tool is a great idea! Some schools do not have the funding to bring in speakers for their students. By communicating via Skype, or showing past lectures of an individual over YouTube, students are still able to gain the knowledge and experience that was originally hoped for. This story intrigued me.
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Troy Holbrook
3/7/2013 04:19:03 am
I found the cost of teaching Technology piece very interesting; especially dealing with the type of technology that was being used I the classroom; especially Skype. There were a couple of key issues that I gathered from the discussion. First, there seemed to be a consensus that having technology in the classroom did not necessarily guarantee that the presentation of the lesson was going to be engaging for the students. More so than the technology itself, a student that is engaged whether through the technology or just good old fashioned lectures, is a student that is going to learn. The next point is that some schools that have incorporated technology have seen their student’s test scores remain stagnant or even drop since the incorporation of the technology. Could this be because of poor indoctrination of the technology to the students, or could it be that the teachers are using the technology as a crutch and are failing to “teach”, while using classroom technology as a supplement?
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Crissina Kemp
3/7/2013 08:37:03 am
This story made some very valid points on whether or not schools should be investing and spending so heavily to expand technology in classrooms. While reading the article and listening to the story, I found myself repeatedly asking why having the technology in the classroom is important for students and important enough to spend large portions of already very limited, decreasing school budgets. As a school administrator and teacher, I would want to weigh costs of the technology with the outcomes like the effectiveness on learning from students using the technology. It sounded like there has not been much research or data indicating that using the technology in the classroom is improving or benefiting student learning. Therefore, it doesn’t seem to make sense to spend large portions of tight budgets on tools that although may be current, engaging, and interactive for students, is not improving their learning. Schools also need to continually invest in providing extensive training for teachers on how to properly use the technology for teaching and learning before implementing it in the classrooms and having them learn it along the way through trial and error.
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Mary McGee
3/9/2013 04:15:12 am
I found this to be interesting and thought provoking. With Skype and other media we can reach out and not only teach but learn about topics first hand that I could only dream of as a child.
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Caleb Haynes
3/10/2013 06:06:10 am
I feel like using technology in the classroom is a must in today's day and age. I really think it can open up the minds of many learners and get them more interested in learning the subject matters than the regular traditional teaching style. Plus our children need to learn how to use technology in schools because technology is what fuels everyday life in today's world. The problem is where is the money going to come from to be able to use this technology and install it in our everyday classrooms? This is a question I really don't know how to answer, but I feel like it definitely should be a priority by our federal, state, and local governments along with all school districts. If we want to keep our children from not falling behind to other children from across the world this is an issue we must address.
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Zech Bowman
3/10/2013 10:59:56 am
I will be honest that I have one that has opposed the use of so much technology in schools. I do feel now that we do need to utilize it more and to its fullest potential in the classroom. Unfortunately though, schools like the one I graduated from do not have the resources to keep up and with our fine government reps (sarcasm) doing such a fine job of screwing things up, I do not know how the use of technology will ever reach the potential that it should.
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Class BlogThis blog is for class conversations for Ed 514 at Central Methodist University. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms. Archives
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