Computer Education 503
Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students
1. In your experience, what section/s of this write-up is/are not applicable to our students and/or educational setup? Please explain your answer.
Though the idea of the author, as expressed in his article on “Increased Motivation and Self Esteem, sounds promising and challenging in reforming the educational system, nevertheless, some points need to be clarified on the important role of technology in education . It is really prevalent how computer plays an important role in the educational system on this highly advanced technological age. Nevertheless, I still believe that the self-worth of the students does not come solely from his/her ability to master technology. The self-worth and self-esteem of the student cannot be measured with their competence in mastering technology-based tasks. The role of the computer must be made clear that it is simply a means to an ends and not the other way around. What boost up the self-esteem of the student does not come from his ability to master technology but rather his/her ability and capacity to reach his goal through the help of his knowledge and skills in using computers. Once the goal of the education is not clearly defined, technologies may either be misused or abused, and thus, the self-worth of the person is measured superfically, basing only on his ability to master technology.
2. Change in student’s and teacher’s roles was seen as a positive effect brought about by technology. But how do you reach the kind of level (of change) described here (teacher becoming a facilitator, students are in the position of defining their goals)?
Considering the technology is valued within our culture and society nevertheless, a teacher-led lessons is still more needed in a classroom set-up rather than facilitating students. On the other hand, although facilitating is very much relevant in harnessing the skills of the students yet it is not enough to live in their own world. because if they are still in their primary education, their tender age needs to be guided.
3. Technology is a two-edged sword, its effects on classrooms and students could be both positive and negative. Under ‘more collaboration with peers’, the author talks only of the positive impacts of technology. What could be the negative impacts under this section?
There are two negative impacts working in collaboration with peers through the use of technology. First, considering the fact the power of technology to foster networking, students working in collaboration with other members of the group have the tendency to lose their creative ability by simply relying on others. Second, working in collaboration with other students through the means of computer does not only limit into a particular group but rather, with the help of the internet, other internet users can have access to it. Globalization of information is very much vulnerable to hacking and plagiarism. With the influx on outside sources of information, often times it is very hard to identify the originality and authencity of the information gathered.
4. For you, what is the most positive impact of technology on classroom and students? Why?
The positive effective of technology on classroom, it makes easier and fast for the teacher to transmit information to the students. Likewise, students can easily meet the dateline in submitting their papers/assignments through email. For that, technology is indeed a time-saving device. With the invention of laptops, palmtops, and other wireless device, they do not only make technology handy but space-spacing device. Although, this may sound costly, but most of the schools in the first world country, reading materials and books on various subject are installed in the laptops or palmtops of the students. With that, students don’t have to bring bundle of books during classes.
With the various softwares available in the market, students can work efficiently and fast: mistakes can be easily edited, mispelled words corrected, and above all, access to various topics and whatever fields are made possible through the internet.
Submitted by: Sr. Ma. Delia Q. Tan, SRA
Date: January 17, 2009
