Is Technology affecting Students and their Education?

What causes distractions in the classroom? Is using electronics beneficial for student learning?
By Kimberly Inga

Source: The Real Story of Classroom Technology in the OECD Report

Education in todays digital age

Technology has changed education around the world. According to Purdue Universitys
article on, How has Technology Changed Education, technology has brought us access
to a whole new world of education. During the Feudal Society, only the wealthy had
access to books. But today, massive amounts of information such as: books, photos,
audio, and videos, are available at ones touch through the internet worldwide.
Currently, new technology has brought more teamwork and communication undreamt of
in the past into classrooms. Seeing this, America has used technology as an ability to
enhance students way to learn. These are some ways how technology is used to help
students;
Discover different subjects supported by research done by scientists.
Students can share what they are learning with teachers in any curriculum.
Students can participate in group projects using technology-based tools, such as
Google docs, pikto chart, and weebly.
Purdue University points out, how the walls of the classrooms are no longer a barrier for
students. Since technology enables new ways of learning, communicating, and working
collaboratively.

What does this mean to teachers in regards to teaching their

students?

Most teachers agree that technology has both improved, and hurt their students
education. Here we will see how students use technology as one of their sources.
Matt Richtel confirms, In the Pew survey, which was also done with the
College Board and the National Writing Project, roughly 75 percent of
2,462 teachers surveyed said that the Internet and search engines had a
mostly positive impact on student research skills. And they said such
tools had made students more self-sufficient researchers. However by
doing so, created problems where students dont remember what theyve
grasped because of doing quick research. Reported the NEW YORK
Times in an article, Technology is changing how students learn.
The result conducted by this survey where students who would search for a quick
answer, had problems remembering the answers later on. But having technology in
hand, still helps students learn how to find any answer to their questions. Therefore
according to Richtel, the results depend on how students behave to this technology.

On the other hand, putting technology as a main source to students education, produce
different results.
Benjamin Harold, an education reporter and a policy researcher implies,
In a recent study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, found that students ages 15 years old in other countries use
computers most in the classroom, and scored the worst on international
reading and math tests.
From this research done by Harold we can see that technology is not always helpful to
some students to gain information. Even so technology will still be taught the same way,
so the student must learn in a more involved matter .
Source: Does Technology belong in Classroom discussion?

How technology helps Students

Technology prepares students for the workforce.

Allows teachers to deliver more customized learning content and lessons, while
allowing students to learn at their own pace and ability level.
Interactive textbooks often have web-based sites that include assessments,
animations, additional materials, videos, and other materials to support the
learning of new content.
Owning a digital book such as an ipad is cheaper and more resourceful
(Mcknight 2).

From this article by Mcknight a doctor and author of, Top 12 ways Technology Changed
Learning, she acknowledges the benefits of using electronics to help students. In so that
we can see what has become available for them and encourage them to rightfully use
them responsibly. For this reason is because of the many benefits and opportunities
students are given to use electronics.

How Technology can interfere with Education

According to Concordia University and ProCon compares,
 Owning a technological device can come with some health problems if overused.
Digital devices provide a disconnect of students from face-to-face social
activities, family communications and nature. Digital devices in the classroom
would probably lead to an even greater disconnection.
Technology can encourage more cheating on tests and assignments. (Concordia
4).
Distractions at home or in the classrooms. Some schools can limit the availability
of websites that can be viewed on their network,but students can find links that
slipped through the system. At the same time students may focus mainly on their
social life instead of the lesson plan (ProCon 5).
Looking at the negative effects of electronics can do to anyone especially a student can
be what gets in the way of students learning capabilities, viewed by Concordia
University and ProCon that brought this to attention. However both articles agree that by
changing how technology is used will change how it is perceived.

Students under controlled usage

The role parents play
Whether being an independent student with responsibilities, or still living under
supervision, technology should be used in an appropriate manner, to help one grow with
knowledge. In regards to parents however, Jim Shelton a deputy secretary at the US
Department of Education agrees that, Parents play a key role in fostering the effective
use of technology to support learning. Also technology allows parents to become more
engaged with the learning process, and with information about their childs progress and
the ability to communicate online with school teachers. As well as with schools, parents
have the important responsibility to teach their children how to be mindful and be safe
digital citizens. Ultimately, technology should not be overlooked as a problem but as a
gateway into safer searching.
 WORK CITED

"How Has Technology Changed Education?" Purdue University Online. N.p., 21 Sept.

2015. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

Richtel, Matt. "Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say." The New

York Times. The New York Times, 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

"Top 12 Ways Technology Changed Learning." TeachHUB. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb.

2017.

"Pros and Cons of Allowing Digital Devices in the Classroom." Concordia University

Portland Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

"Tablets vs. Textbooks - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb.

2017.

"What Is the Impact of Technology in the Classroom? A Q&A with Jim Shelton." The

Aspen Institute. N.p., 29 Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Feb. 2017.

Photo: Emma Tunbridge/Corbis. "Does Technology Belong in Classroom Instruction?"

The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 10 May 2015. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

Lapides, David. "The Real Story of Classroom Technology in the OECD Report."

EdBlog. N.p., 30 Sept. 2015. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.