Term Paper Categories
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Technology Is Changing Education
| Term Paper Title |
Technology Is Changing Education |
| # of Words |
1202 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) |
4.81 |
Technology is Changing Education
Fernando Leigh
English Composition and Rhetoric
Research Paper
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 under-powered
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" (Kinnaman 78). 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" (Thornburg 23).
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 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 th...Read entire document
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