The Educational Value of Technology is Dependent on the Teachers Who Use Them

Are laptops in the classroom truly useful?
That depends on the teacher!

Whether it be a computer, a smart board or access to the Internet, the typical modern day classroom has now been renovated to be more than just a place for textbooks. In a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of schools with access to technology has increased substantially over the years. In 1994 only 35 percent of public schools across America had access to the Internet and in 2002, just 8 years later, that same percentage has grown to about 99 percent. It is now 2012 and it is nearly impossible to see a modern American classroom without some form of technology, however this isn't necessarily a good thing.



Classrooms utilizing computers, laptops or even iPads are always questionable as to whether or not the technology being used is actually enhancing the teacher's curriculum. Furthermore, with life becoming virtual, popular distractions such as Facebook, Twitter and other forms of technological entertainment have become just as accessible, if not more, with laptops and computers allowed in class. Another note to consider is the heavy price tag that comes with buying and equipping classrooms with computers, smart boards and other forms of technology. With life becoming much more electronic, the pressure of adding technology to schools has never been stronger, however are schools sacrificing too much investing in educational technology? The answer to that question is determined by the leader of each and every classroom in America: the teacher.

Classroom Technology Is A Resource, Not A Replacement For The Teacher
It must be realized that technology is as useful as the user behind it. In terms of educational value, the teacher must utilize technology in order to perfect the presentation of course material to the students. Technology will always be a resource, not a replacement for the teacher. Nelson Padua-Perez is a Computer Science professor at the University of Maryland who has been teaching introductory programming courses for 13 years and he expands on this idea.

Improper Utilization of Technology Leads To Distracted Students

The familiar college lecture hall filled with laptops and students

With technology relying heavily on the teacher, it is important to highlight improper utilization of technology in the classroom setting. As any college student knows, there is the all too familiar lecture with everyone on their computer mindlessly switching between their respective email, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Although there are some students who utilize their laptop for notes and research, the amount of students without a program or webpage irrelevant to the class they are currently sitting in is without a doubt small if not nonexistent. Professor's who allow there students to bring laptops to class without a course related purpose are subject to distracted students and an overall improper educational setting.

As mentioned before, technology is as useful as the users behind them and with a professor providing close to no guidance in terms of using the technology beneficially for the class, the students might as well be back in their dorms surfing the web than in the classroom. Min Yun, a current University of Maryland student, shares his experience with using laptops in an under utilized manner.

listen to ‘Min Yun on laptop use in AOSC200’ on Audioboo

Integrating Technology With Engaging, Relevant Course Material Beneficial For Students and The Course Itself

JOUR289i engages students to tweet about their reports under the hashtag #info3pt0
Students stay engaged with technology while taking the course!

Technology, when used by the professor in accordance with the course material and curriculum, can improve the enthusiasm of students and enhance the course material learned. JOUR289i, titled Information 3.0: Exploring Technological Tools, is a class offered at the University of Maryland that allows its students to use technology such as the Internet, laptops, educational software (wimba) and even iPads with relevancy to the overall course material. Ronald Yaros, the course professor, utilizes technology by not only having assignments on the course webpage, but assignments elsewhere such as blogger.com and twitter.com. The course engages its students to become better reporters and through blogger and twitter students hone their skills in reporting concise news.



Furthermore the use of iPads and  has allowed students to go outside of the classroom setting and record multimedia to enhance not only the student's reporting skills, but the educational value of the iPad and its apps. Yaros has used technology as a resource that engages students while they learn not only from him, but on their own, about successful backpack journalism and online blogging. Steven Ma, a current student from his course, sheds his perspective on how technology has enhanced his experience with the class.

listen to ‘Steven Ma on technology use in JOUR289i’ on Audioboo

Beneficial Uses Of Technology For A Computer Science Professor And His Programming Courses
Technology has plenty of beneficial uses in courses as long as it is utilized in the proper manner. Even Professor Padua-Perez holds his lectures without laptops even though the course is a computer science course that requires technology for coding the assigned java projects. He feels that laptops are unnecessary during lecture and that is clear indication of the professor recognizing when technology is useful and when it isn't. Professor Padua-Perez explains his views on how technology has improved the computer science course.

Overall technology will always be beneficial as long as the teacher can integrate it successfully in the course. As always there will be teachers who feel their course can be enhanced with technology while others feel that technology is truly limited when it comes to enhancing the course material. That being said, schools must recognize when technology is useful based on the curriculum and the teachers that lead them. Equipping classrooms with technology has a hefty price tag and it must therefore be done in a frugal manner. Millions of dollars are spent by schools each year in order to maintain educational technology in the classroom, and with budget cuts and teacher layoffs, schools must remember that technology is only as good as the teacher who uses it.