The best method for improving educational standards is to utilize every tool available, including state-of-the-art technology. Computers and the Internet have expanded the way in which education can be delivered to the students of today. Today’s networking technologies provide a valuable opportunity to the practice of learning techniques. Educators are discovering that computers and multi-based educational tools are facilitating learning and enhancing social interaction.
Computer based telecommunications can offer enormous instructional opportunities, but educators will need to adapt current lesson plan to incorporate this new medium into all the classrooms. The only problem is that some of today’s schools are hindered by an underpowered technology based curriculum and, in order to stay competitive, the American educational system must do a better job of integrating. Computers have made a fundamental change in most industries, providing a competitive advantage that has come to be essential to stay in business.
Therefore, education must also use technology to improve the educational process instead of simply applying it to existing structures. School systems often consider acquiring an enterprise computer network, but justify its purchase by applying it to routine administrative tasks, or take period by period attendance. Although these tasks are important, they only represent a small part of what technology can do for an educational institution. Technology must go beyond just keeping attendance; it must focus on keeping students interested and productive.
Curriculum improvement is the best strategy to prevent dropouts; technology is especially useful in this regard”. Technology can provide a unique and compelling curriculum resource that challenges every student. The Clinton administration has taken steps towards improving educational standards via its “Goals 2000: Educate America Act of 1994” However, several interpretations of the Act never mention the use of technology. Advocates of the Act need to realize that Internet linked computers can provide more current information than what is found in today’s “exciting” textbooks.
For example, science textbooks and history textbooks are notoriously out of date. In contrast, the Internet offers students a vast pool of current scientific data. Most of the time the Internet makes learning fun, unlike the plain fashion of the “almighty” textbook. Computers and other technology can also heighten the learning process by actively engaging students in the task of exploring data. Some students may be tempted to simply download information from the Internet that does not have anything to do with a particular subject that they were asked to research.
This shows that the Internet may have a greater impact to education than to learn that information from a typical textbook. Since computers and the Internet have expanded the way with which education can be delivered to students, it is currently possible to engage in distance education on specialized subject and fields through the Internet. Distance education involves audio-video linkage of teachers to many students and even in remote areas. Video conferencing allows groups to communicate with each other. Desktop video conferencing promises to bring student together from geographic and cultural distances face to face via computer.
Students in New York City will be able to learn about a Chinese culture, not only through books, but also from Chinese students. Not only will the teacher talk to the students but also the students will be able to interact with each other. This will make the students more interested and fascinated with learning about another culture. Not only does the Internet, and video conferencing help education, also Microsoft has created new programs for designed for educational purposes, some of these are “Encarta World Atlas” and “Encarta Encyclopedia.
These two particular programs make learning easier and more enjoyable, all because of the use of the CD-ROM device. Instead of looking for a particular country and simply finding out where it is in a regular atlas, students can type in the name of that country, and not only will they find out where it is faster, but they will obtain more information about that particular country. Instead of having volumes and volumes of heavy encyclopedias, Microsoft has placed all of these massive books into one light CD.
This CD is much simpler than the unpleasant job of flipping page by page just to read about an uninteresting topic, such as history. But, with the use of this CD, not only do you receive regular information, but you may also view videos about certain people and battles. This makes education an enjoyable task. With “Microsoft Works” student will be able to cut and paste their way to make interesting multimedia research documents. This computer program offers a spell-check, thesaurus, and other helpful features which make writing that term paper easier.
These particular programs by Microsoft are only a few of the educational programs available to student. “The successful use of technology in a few classrooms is not enough, because developing a successful technology using school requires careful planning and must be a school wide priority with broad support from the community”. The traditional top-down, uniform distribution approach is almost never the best way because it limits innovation and development fails to provide equity and does not reflect the characteristics of the school community.
Most educational boards should be open to any new idea that technology has to offer. It would not be fair for a student in a particular city to get a better education than another student in another city. Technology is not meant to replace teachers; it is there only to serve students to make tedious tasks easier. Therefore, this technology should be offered to every student trying to get ahead of the competition. In doing this, it not only needs the support of teachers, but it also requires support from communities.
If technology in schools receives the support from entire communities, students in any area would be able to keep up with the competition. Some of today’s schools are hindered by an underpowered technology based curriculum and, in order to stay competitive, the American educational system must do a better job of integrating. Teachers must take a leadership position in designing and implementing a technology powered classroom curriculum, investing time and energy to become familiar with available resources.
The faculty at most schools should create a set of individual goals, including developing basic skills, defining core content and thinking creatively and clearly. Technology enriches curriculum by increasing the value and power of Traditional classroom techniques within the boundaries of school structure and schedules. Technology is able to help students in a variety of ways. By making learning more enjoyable and less tedious, student will want to learn and will not see education as such a difficult responsibility.