Technology in the Classroom

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Karen Craig
EDU 533W Micaela Boesche


There are many schools today that are well equipped to handle a curriculum heavily based on technology use. However there are more where perhaps the best they have is a computer lab for limited student use. With such a heavy emphasis on the importance of technology in the classroom today, this can pose a problem for less fortunate students. It doesn’t seem fair to give assignments requiring computer use when some students have limited or no access.
In her article, Who are today’s Learners? Christine Greenhow offers some great advice on how to “get to know your students’ out-of-school technology access”. The price of computers has been continually becoming more and more affordable, and this trend will continue. I would guess that someday soon, all students will have a computer at home. Until then, there are many variables to consider, and I would use Greenhow’s techniques to find out as much as I could about access outside of school before deciding on how much technology to use in my curriculum. Some may have friends or relatives who would allow them to use their computer for assignments. I will make sure that any technology based assignments are manageable, and can be done in a reasonable amount of time in a school computer lab or library, so as not to impose a disadvantage. I have had some fun in this class setting up different sites for students to visit. I will have them available for students who wish to use them, but at this time I can’t say it would be a requirement.
In the article Social Justice Choice or Necessity, Swain and Edyburn point out some great resources to help schools get computers into the classrooms. As we become more and more technological in the schools, I think these programs will grow, and soon, all students will have opportunities.