For many years, technology in the classroom was taboo. Teachers, parents, and administrators didn’t want technology to interfere with students’ learning. They felt that integrating technology into the classroom would be too distracting for the students to learn effectively.
But times have changed. Teachers, parents, and administrators now know that technology in the classroom is necessary. Not only is it not distracting–it is an incredible enhancement to education.
So why is technology in the classroom necessary? Because it is the way the world works and the main purpose of school is to teach students what they need to learn to be productive people once they get out of school and into the world.
I did some research into how this plays out in the classroom and came up with the following 12 ways that technology in the classroom has become necessary.
1. Because it is the way the world functions.
2. You’re speaking your students’ language.
3. You’re helping your students prepare for life outside of the classroom.
4. Technology bridges the gap between generations.
5. Technology reinforces what the students are learning.
6. Because there is more information in tablets than in the whole school.
7. Technology helps keep students engaged with what they are learning.
8. Technology makes the teacher’s job easier and more relevant.
9. Technology saves time in the classroom.
10. Allows students to learn in their own best ways.
11. Teaches students safe practices while online.
12. Technology is more fun for the students.
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What the Stats are Saying
Before I get into each of these points, I would like to share where our schools stand in terms of technology. The following charts will give you that information.
While it appears that confidence is low, the overall score—a comprehensive
indicator of teachers’ confidence in
educational technology—is 49 out of 100. I believe that is because the lack of confidence reported was more that teachers feared what they didn’t know and might not keep up with more than that they did not feel confident about the technology that is currently implemented in the classroom.
With the right training and resources, these numbers would likely be very different.
The above chart is based on a report from Cambridge International, that did a survey of nearly 20,000 teachers and students (age 12-19) in 100 countries.
I found it encouraging that the report said that the US leads the way in desktop computer use in the classroom at 75%. But the most encouraging thing to me was that worldwide, technology in the classroom continues to grow.
What struck me about this survey is that 90% of classrooms are using paper and pencil. When it comes down to it, paper and pencil can’t really fail. You can sharpen a pencil. You can get a new copy of a certain paper or a new piece of paper. But when computers are down, you’re out of luck.
1. Because it is the Way the World Functions
There is just about no part of the world that has not been affected by technology. With the exception of maybe isolated jungles, even the most primitive communities around the world have experienced technology, either directly or indirectly. And that will not go away. Technology is only increasing as we continue to find innovative new ways to use it.
Because of this fact, our students need to be able to hit the ground running when it is time for them to use technology. And what better place to learn it than in school and in ways that apply technology to what they are already doing in their lives?
The reason that technology in the classroom is necessary is not because classrooms can’t survive without it. It is because students will have a very hard time in society functioning without it. And for that reason, they need to be taught technology’s place in all of society, whether in the classroom, at home, or anywhere they may go in public settings.
Having students prepared and comfortable with technology in any setting is one more way we can prepare them for life outside of the classroom.
And one final advantage is that teaching them responsi