Educational Technology in the 21st Century

Lynette Baltierrez Educational Technology in the 21st Century The 21st century has developed into a time where technology is everywhere. Technological advances are being developed daily and are incorporated in people’s everyday lives whether it is during work, school or leisure activities. This is the reason why technology should be used to support student learning and achievement. According to Intel Corporation (2009), being proficient in technology and the network is an essential part of life in the 21st century.

I believe one must be proficient in technology to be able to function successfully in the workforce. This proficiency should start in the classroom and should continue throughout one’s education and followed throughout one’s life. Teachers should incorporate technology wherever possible in their daily curriculum. According to a review of studies conducted by the CEO forum (2001), “technology can have the greatest impact when integrated into the curriculum to achieve clear, measureable educational objectives” (Cradler, McNabb, Freeman, & Burchett, 2002).Budget cuts have forced our classrooms to be filled to the maximum with students.

Teachers need to keep students engaged in the daily lessons by incorporating multiple teaching strategies, including technology. In my classroom, I use a document camera and projector to teach my lessons so that the material is visible to all students. I can show examples that are magnified by the document camera and projected on a big screen. The objectives are posted on a board as well as written in the daily lessons.

I believe that students should know exactly what standards are expected to be mastered by the end of the lesson and teachers should incorporate technology accordingly to reach those goals. There must be a purpose of using technology to support learning. Teachers should not just use it because it is a requirement. Lesson plans should be designed with putting education and content first, then incorporating technology to enhance those lessons. Despite the positive influence that technology has had on student achievement nd learning, some might say that technology can play a negative role in education or that it is has not been as successful as one might think. In 1913, Thomas Edison claimed that film would largely, if not completely, take the place of textbooks (Wang & Reeves, 2005).

As we know, this has not happened. Some may view this as a “failed technology. ” I do not believe this was a failed attempt at using technology in the classroom, since teachers need to teach to all the learning styles.Some students need textbooks as much as others need other forms of instruction. Teachers should incorporate a wide variety of teaching strategies, including a variety of technology, to successfully reach all students. Research has shown that students are more engaged and attendance has improved when students are learning with technology (Intel Corporation, 2009).

From my experience, technology makes students more excited about learning since it is an “unconventional” way to learn.A number of researchers have found that students enjoy their classes more and their attitudes towards learning improved when technology was used for instruction (Schacter, 1999). Students see technology as a “privilege” allowing them to get excited and wanting to learn. Students are our future and we must do the best to prepare them for it. Teachers’ main purpose is for students to learn the content needed in order to do well on assessments, including state tests, and to prepare them for their future in entering the workforce.

Research shows that when students learn to use and apply applications used in the world of work, such as word processors, spreadsheets, computer-aided drawing, Website development programs, and the Internet, they acquire some of the prerequisite skills for workforce preparedness” (Cradler, McNabb, Freeman, & Burchett, 2002). In previous years, my students were required to research a famous mathematician using various sources, including the Internet, and write an essay on that mathematician. They had to submit their final essay using a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, and include a bibliography.This process taught them to use various search engines to find information on the Internet and how to format an essay. This process has also taught them that there is so much valuable information on the Internet. They can now use these learned skills in the workforce to search for new ideas.

Since many companies are using the Internet to post job openings, people can also search and apply for jobs online. Without the knowledge of how to use the Internet, many people would not be able to know of the many opportunities available to them.Educators must do their best to reach all students. Research is providing proof that educational technology is positively impacting students’ academic performance.

We must work collaboratively to find more ways in successfully incorporating technology within our own classrooms. We must effectively implement technological resources to make the most of our lessons while keeping our students engaged and enhance their learning. Technology should be used not only to enhance students’ learning, but also to prepare them for the workforce.