Erin Davis

Mrsdavismarinescience.weebly.com
EDU-225
December 7, 2014

Entry 2: Technology to Enhance Instruction

Integrating Instructional Technology

Instructional technology in classrooms is an amazing way to motivate students to learn.
Compared to twenty years ago there are a variety of ways students can learn. Today teachers
have the ability to teach using computers, interactive white boards, tablets, and many other
different types of technological equipment. Different types of technology would allow teachers
to get the students more involved in learning, they would be more willing to do classwork or
homework, and teachers would be able to have thousands of different teaching resources from all
over the world. A few very useful types of technology that help facilitate and enhance learning
are computers, ipads/tablets, and hover cams.
Computers
Computers are an essential part of the classroom, especially in science. According to the
National Science Teachers Association, computers should have a big role in the teaching and
learning of science. Students would become more active in learning and research. The computer
offers the teacher more flexibility in presentation and better management of instructional
techniques. It also allows students to have an important resource for learning the concepts and
processes of science through simulations, graphics, sound, data manipulation, and model
building (The Use of Computers in Science Education, 1999).
Ipads/tablets
The ipads or tablets could be used for reading eBooks. These interactive books have
features of word-by-word tracking, picture animation, and recording their own voice while
reading (Hutchison et al., 2012). Students could download books and have them literally at their
fingertips. There would be no more lost books. After reading the books they would have the
capability of taking a quiz after reading. This would help with comprehension. Teachers would

be able to use many different apps as well for math, science, spelling, reading, etc. just about any
topic there is to learn. Ipads and tablets are also portable so the students could have the capability
of using them at their own desks.
Hovercams
Michael Overton, a Special Needs teacher at Rancho Verde High School stated that one
of his favorite sources of technology to facilitate and enhance his teaching is the Hovercam. The
Hovercam can be used to go over homework assignment or classwork from a page, while it is
shown on the whiteboard or screen. Mr. Overton uses this mainly for Geometry. He will go to
the page in the textbook and bring it up on the Hovercam. While it appears on the whiteboard he
is capable to work our problems or circle answers. The Hovercam is also great for recording mini
lessons. If Mr. Overton is absent, he can record a lesson along with him teaching the lesson and
the students will not miss out on anything.
Pros and Cons of using Technology to Facilitate Learning (200-300 words)
According to University of Oregons Instructional Technology in the Classroom article,
there are quite a few pros and cons. A few positive aspects are that lecture material is better
organized. Teachers have the ability to show power points or to organize notes in a more
fashionable manner. This allows the students to be more organized and more willing to learn.
Students also seem to be more relaxed. They do not have to determine what is important and
what is not. Another major positive point is if the student is absent for a day or two, or maybe
even a week, they have the ability to get online and retrieve any missing assignments and/or
lectures. This is a great way for students to keep up with the class. Students are also more willing
to communicate with the teacher through email or another type of technological communication
(Bothun, n.d.) Some cons to technology in the classroom may be the obvious power outages, a

broken piece of equipment like a mouse, and websites not opening at the right time. If a piece of
the computer breaks down, whether it be the mouse or PC itself, then the teacher must go back to
paper teaching. Chances are they will not have the backup on paper because everyone is set up
for technological teaching. Every once in a while the screen may freeze in the middle of a lesson
and stay that way unless the computer is rebooted, which then means the class will get distracted
and lose interest.
Wired and Wireless Classrooms (100-200 words)
A wired classroom would mean more speed for the internet. The more speed there is the
faster webpages will produce, and the chances of having to wait two minutes for a webpage to
download is unlikely. The capacity is bigger with wired as well. When users are using
multimedia tools, the computer will not slow down (Choosing a Technology Rich Classroom,
2007). High school students may get restless and distracted if the speed is slow. This would give
the student a reason to start chatting or getting into other things. The main negative point to a
wired classroom is the fact that it is not mobile. So students would have to stay within range.
Students would not have the option to study from home if they are ill. In a wireless classroom the
students can roam around the class if needed while researching a subject. This helps especially if
they are working in groups.
Conclusion
Technology in classrooms is a great way to facilitate and enhance the way a teacher
teaches. With computers, ipads/tablets, and hovercams teachers has the ability to keep students
engaged, willing and wanting to learn. Students seem to be more attentive when they are learning
on a technological device. They have the power to work at their own pace, communicate with the
teacher privately, and make up work if absent just be getting online. The hover cam makes it a

lot easier to teach out of the textbook. This combined with the whiteboard makes for a great math
lesson. Technology has grown immensely over the past twenty years, where will it go in the next
twenty years? Based on the present, it can only get better. Who knows, in the next twenty years
the computers may just be the teachers.

References:
Hutchison, Amy & Beschorner, Beth, & Schmidt-Crawford, Denise (2012).
Exploring the use of the Ipad for Literacy Learning. The Reading Teacher, vol. 66 (Issue
1).
Bothun, Gregory (n.d.). University of Oregons Instructional Technology in the
Classroom. Available online at:www.zebu.uoregon.edu.
(2007). Choosing A Technology Rich Classroom. Available online at:
www.technologyrichclassroom.blogspot.com
(1999). The Use of Computers in Science Education. Available online at:
www.nsta.org
Personal Interview with Michael Overton, Special Needs teacher at Rancho Verde
High School, Perris, CA