How technology has changed the way we learn

How technology has changed the way we learn

Technology has changed the ways in which we communicate and go about our lives. Very few educators would disagree with the notion that technology has dramatically changed the teaching and learning process (Camnalbur and Erdgan 2008). Graham and Perin (2007) states over the past 10 years the use of technology has become essential and is expanding our opportunities in education.

We have gone past the times where teachers would use chalk boards and overhead projectors to deliver lessons on a daily basis. Now teachers will use different types of technology to aid their delivery of each lesson being taught.

The first notable change in education is the use of interactive whiteboards. The interactive whiteboards have been implemented in most schools and colleges to benefit learning in a positive way for both teachers and students. Interactive whiteboards affect learning in several ways, including raising the level of student engagement in a classroom, motivating students and promoting enthusiasm for learning (Kent 2003). Also Latham (2002) states interactive whiteboards support many different learning styles and are used in a variety of learning environments, including those catering to students with hearing and visual impairments.

Interactive whiteboards are an effective way to interact with digital content and multimedia in a class learning environment. Blanton and Helms-Breazeale (200) believe learning activities with an interactive whiteboard may include:

• Manipulating text and images

• Making notes in digital ink

• Saving notes for later review by using e-mail, the Web or print

• Viewing websites as a group

• Demonstrating or using software at the front of a room without being tied to a computer

• Creating digital lesson activities with templates, images and multimedia

• Writing notes over educational video clips

• Using presentation tools that are included with the white boarding software to enhance learning materials

• Showcasing student presentations

Other changes that have been recognised in education are the use of eBooks and electronic journals . Glover et al., (2003) believes eBooks and electronic journals are becoming more prevalent in schools with the advancement of e readers and tablet computers. Furthermore Jamerson (2002) states in the near future students will not be carrying around big bulky backpacks as everything will be accomplished electronically.

Another software that has been generated is the voice recognition application. Carter (2002) believes voice recognition software has improved greatly in the past few years and is more accessible where children with special needs and limited English proficiency are able to more effective communicate in language based contexts.

Reference list

Blanton, B. & Helms-Breazeale, R. (2000). Gains in Self-Efficacy: Using SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard Technology in Special Education Classrooms. Retrieved March 23, 2004, from www.smarterkids.org/ research/paper2.asp.

Camnalbur, M., & Erdogan, Y. (2008). A Meta Analysis on the Effectiveness of ComputerAssisted Instruction: Turkey Sample. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 8.2: 497-505.

Carter, A. (2002). Using Interactive Whiteboards with Deaf Children. Retrieved March 23, 2004, from www.bgfl.org/bgfl/activities/intranet/ teacher/ict/whiteboards.

Glover, D., Miller, D., & Averis, D. (2003). The Impact of Interactive Whiteboards on Classroom Practice: Examples Drawn from the  Teachings of Mathematics in Secondary Schools in England. Paper presented at The Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project Proceedings of the International Conference of the Decidable and the Undecidable in Mathematics Education, in Brno, Czech Republic, September 19–25, 2003.

Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). A meta-analysis of writing instruction for adolescent students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99.3: 445-476. 

Jamerson, J. (2002). Helping All Children Learn: Action Research Project. Retrieved March 23, 2004, from www.smarterkids.org/research/ paper15.asp.

Kent, P. (2003). e-Teaching – The Elusive Promise. Retrieved March 23, 2004, from  http://edcompass.smarttech.com/en/learning/research/pdf/kent1.pdf.

Latham, P. (2002). Teaching and Learning Primary Mathematics: The Impact of Interactive Whiteboards. Retrieved March 23, 2004, from www. beam.co.uk/pdfs/RES03.pdf