Technology in Schools Essay
Megan Senn 1
Period 7
5/11/14
Tech Trek (1,106 words)
As I walk through the dimly lit halls I feel a sudden pain as something yanks on my aching back. Shockwaves of pain shoot through my spine as I struggle to support the enormous weight pulling me to the center of the earth. Each step I take is made more and more difficult due to the bricks they call “textbooks” that I am forced to carry around; each one weighing a good 10-15 pounds and all shoved tightly within my ever-exploding backpack. For years I have imagined how much easier it would be to carry around a simple e-book or laptop that contains an exact copy of all my textbooks. I imagine the ease of being able to pull out my fully typed lap report or essay and being able to send it to the teacher via e-mail. Thankfully, schools have been transitioning into a more technological era and are taking the steps necessary to implement technology into the classroom. There are many aspects a school has to consider when making this technological leap, but the most important factors by far are the engagement of the students, the ease of the technology in the classroom, and the relationship between the teacher and the student. While some may argue that technology can decrease the engagement of the students and “may seriously mess up children’s informational metabolism” (Source C), if used in the right environment and context, technology can, in fact, engage students even more. When used in an educational way, a laptop or tablet can be exactly what a student needs to get their undivided attention. Kids already live in a day and age where the internet and its mountains of information are available at the touch of a finger. When they go to school and are forced to use traditional dictionaries and encyclopedias, it’s like being transported back to the Stone Age. Why not build
2
that Empire High School in Arizona is making “the laptops the key ingredient of the cake”. By adjusting school
Period 7
5/11/14
Tech Trek (1,106 words)
As I walk through the dimly lit halls I feel a sudden pain as something yanks on my aching back. Shockwaves of pain shoot through my spine as I struggle to support the enormous weight pulling me to the center of the earth. Each step I take is made more and more difficult due to the bricks they call “textbooks” that I am forced to carry around; each one weighing a good 10-15 pounds and all shoved tightly within my ever-exploding backpack. For years I have imagined how much easier it would be to carry around a simple e-book or laptop that contains an exact copy of all my textbooks. I imagine the ease of being able to pull out my fully typed lap report or essay and being able to send it to the teacher via e-mail. Thankfully, schools have been transitioning into a more technological era and are taking the steps necessary to implement technology into the classroom. There are many aspects a school has to consider when making this technological leap, but the most important factors by far are the engagement of the students, the ease of the technology in the classroom, and the relationship between the teacher and the student. While some may argue that technology can decrease the engagement of the students and “may seriously mess up children’s informational metabolism” (Source C), if used in the right environment and context, technology can, in fact, engage students even more. When used in an educational way, a laptop or tablet can be exactly what a student needs to get their undivided attention. Kids already live in a day and age where the internet and its mountains of information are available at the touch of a finger. When they go to school and are forced to use traditional dictionaries and encyclopedias, it’s like being transported back to the Stone Age. Why not build
2
that Empire High School in Arizona is making “the laptops the key ingredient of the cake”. By adjusting school