Technology in the Classroom Stimulates Learning Essay -- Education Sch

Technology in the classroom, is it good or bad? I think this is a question that will be debated for many years to come. There are those who believe that we must have technology in the classroom so that we can move forward as a society. In a speech given by Roy Pea and Larry Cuban, Roy Pea quotes the Labor Secretary’s Commission on the Achieving Necessary Skill, or SCANS, as saying â€Å"Those unable to use technology face a life time of menial work.† Others believe that technology replaces learning and is actually making us stupid. Some believe that the costs out weigh the benefits and others who believe the opposite. I believe that technology in the classroom can only help to enhance and stimulate learning and prepare students for the future. The government has even acknowledged the need for technology in the classroom. In the â€Å"no child left behind† bill there is a section that covers this very topic. This section is known as the â€Å"Enhancing Education Through Technology act of 2001†. â€Å"The primary goal of this part is to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary schools and secondary schools.† Technology is everywhere and as educators of future generations we cannot simply ignore it or its influence in our daily lives. The world of education is constantly changing. The demands on teachers and students are ever increasing. Students are being expected to learn harder math concepts earlier in their educational careers. For example, my son is taking Pre-Algebra in the seventh grade. Without the use of technology, how can we expect teachers and students to keep up with these demands? Technology can allow teachers to provide their students with visual examples of concepts they ar... ...ts to develop marketable jobs skills. They are learning how to use technology to get the most from their education. We are preparing our students for the future and all the changes it will bring. Kathleen Patrice Gulley wrote â€Å"Given the role that education plays in preparing students to go into the world, it seems clear that there should be a connection between the world and the classroom. Unless education reflects the world in which it exists, it has no relevance for the students.† If we do not incorporate technology into our classrooms we are failing to give our children the best possible education and the skills necessary to be successful in the future. Resources http://tappedin.org/info/teachers/debate.html http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESE02/pg34.html http://jep.csus.edu/journal2003/paper5.htm http://www.standards.nctm.org/document/chapter1/index.htm