Technology Changing in Schools: Future changing of the classroom

By Abdullah AlBanyan

 

Technology has the power to transform the way people learn. Schools worldwide are expanding their use of electronic technology in the classroom. At AIS-R, we students rely on technology to enhance their learning of the school's curriculum.

 

In fact, AIS-R has progressed in the amount of technology used in the classroom. Currently, AIS-R is using computers, Ipads, and Smartboards as the main method of learning. Evidence shows that AIS-R’s use of technology has gone up substantially.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although, the curricula and theory have changed little since Victorian times, according to the educationalist and author Marc Prensky. "The world needs a new curriculum," he said at the recent Bett show, a conference dedicated to technology in education. "We have to rethink the 19th Century curriculum.”

He feels a whole new core of subjects is needed, focusing on the skills that will equip today's learners for tomorrow's world of work. These include problem-solving, creative thinking and collaboration.

 

Mr. Prensky believes we have little choice, however: "We are living in an age of accelerating change. We have to experiment and figure out what works."

 

“We are at the ground floor of a new world full of imagination, creativity, innovation and digital wisdom. We are going to have to create the education of the future because it doesn't exist anywhere today."

 

However, changes are already afoot that will transform the traditional classroom. A perfect example of this is the flipped classroom.

 

The "flipped" classroom - the idea of inverting traditional teaching methods by delivering instructions online outside of the classroom and using the time in school as the place to do homework - has gained in popularity in US schools.

 

The teacher's role becomes one of a guide, while students watch lectures at home at their own pace, communicating with classmates and teachers online.

 

Salman Khan is one of the leading advocates of "flipped" classrooms, having first posted tutorials in maths for his young cousins on YouTube in 2004. Their huge popularity led to the creation of the not-for-profit Khan Academy, offering educational videos with complete curricula in maths and other subjects. Khan Academy is one of the most popular resources for AIS-R students and contributes to students all over the world.

Ms. Gally, an 8th grade Algebra teacher uses this method very often.

 

Technology use in the classroom is believed to be carried on in the future. Adam Cross, a tech teacher at AISR supports this claim. “I believe that digital technology will allow education to become more personal. At the moment, video lessons and online courses are increasing in popularity and I believe this trend will continue.”

 

Technology has evolved substantially all around the Earth, but Mr. Moody, an 8th grade STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) teacher thinks that the technology we use in the classroom is a small part of what we’ll be using in the future. “I think the future of technology in education has yet to make its grand entrance. We are just on the cusp of making virtual reality and haptics something that will become mainstream in the next 5 - 10 years."

 

The technology used in AIS-R’s classrooms are very vital to what we are learning. Technology can expand the audiences. In the 20th century, the audience was teachers and peers. With the technology we have today, the audiences can expand throughout the world.

 

Although, A lot of people have a different view on the idea of technology in the classroom. Employees of some of the biggest tech companies in the world take their children to a non-technological school where any type of technology in relation to the knowledge of the students are frowned upon.

 

The Waldorf School of the Peninsula, one of many schools found in Waldorf believe technology inhibits creative thinking, physical activity, human interaction and attention spans. They focus on teaching through hands on, creative tasks.

 

There are 196 elementary students going to that school and three quarters of them have parents working in high tech companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Intel. All of which are related to technology.