Teach English in Jinhai Shequ - Shanghai Shi

New Technology in the Classroom and Its EffectTeachers from around the world integrate technology into lesson plans, often not realizing the effects on the teaching environment. Many technologies that are being used in today?s world have been used since most people my age have been in elementary school and therefore, many students today don?t appreciate the convenience and accessibility of those technological advances. For example, if I were to ask my mother what it was like when she was in High school, she would likely never mention: computers, calculators, SMART classrooms, whiteboards, etc. and probably re-illiterate about how I have it easy compared to her school days. According to Classroom of the Future, ?Computers are now a part of how children learn, play, and communicate,? thus, why many students can take new technology for granted; they use it every day in and out of school. The issue with new technology in this research paper is not what students appreciate, but rather the effects it can have on teachers, students, and the overall classroom experience. Does new technology have a positive, negative, or a neutral effect on the average class? The answer to that question depends on a couple variables; the teacher and the student. Most teachers approve the use of technology in the class, while others claim it can lead to students being distracted from the lesson-at-hand. According to Technology Brings New Tools to Classroom, new technology can allow students to ?slack-off,? in reference to computers that are placed at every desk. Through my person experiences, I can attest to both the positive and negative claims. Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular choice amongst college professors when presenting a lesson. PowerPoint allows teachers to create slides that have a vast array of animations, sound effects, and pictures that can grab a student?s attention. However, a poorly executed PowerPoint presentation or lesson can be filled with long paragraphs of information on each slide, annoying sound effects, and poorly chosen animations. PowerPoint is not a bad classroom technology when used most appropriately. This is a prime example of poor teacher competence dealing with new technology. To effectively use PowerPoint, teachers and presenters should keep each slide minimal in information and size, and must not use sound effects during lessons or presentations; unless you are preparing a kiosk presentation, then it may be more appropriate to draw attention to the display. New technology can also affect students during a classroom lesson. According to the U.S. Department of Education, ?the most common? teacher reported effect on students was motivation? (Effects of Technology on Classroom and Students). New technology can effect student motivation for a variety of reasons. One reason is because technology, such as a computer program, can act as a nurturing teacher, providing the necessary positive feedback, and hints for students to continue their learning experiences while keeping frustration to a minimum. Other motivational functions that new technology can possess are fun experiences. Nowadays, children of all ages use teaching computer games to help with subjects such as math, science, and the languages. You may remember the once popular language game called Hooked on Phonics; this game provided Children with fun and challenging games that teach basic english language functions such as grammar, pronunciation, and sentence structure. All-in-all, new technology in the classroom affects student and teachers alike, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse; in fact, according to a 2007 GenevaLogic Report, ?an increase in new technology use can create new challenges for teachers? (Classroom Technology & Teacher Student Interaction). These new challenges are mostly related to teacher-student interaction. The answer to the question, ?does new technology have a positive, negative, or a neutral effect on the average class,? really depends on the competence of the teacher when it comes to technology and on each individual student?s technical skills because younger children are more likely to be distracted from technology in the classroom than older students. References Classroom of the Future. University of Maryland Advanced Computer Studies. 2006. Retrieved July 26th, 2011 from http://www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/kiddesign/cof.shtml Classroom Technology & Student-Teacher Interaction. 2007 GenevaLogic Report. 2007. Retrieved July 26th, 2011 from http://www.netop.com/fileadmin/netop/resources/products/education/vision/whitepapers/Vision6_Whitepaper_Classroom%20Management_EN_Print_NRB.pdf Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students. U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved July 26th, 2011 from http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html Technology Brings New Tools to Classroom. WMUR New Hampshire Channel 9 News. January 21st, 2010. Retrieved July 26th, 2011 from http://www.wmur.com/r/22304990/detail.html