Enhancing the Student Learning Experience – Where to Find Balance? High Tech vs. Low Tech

In a world where online connectivity resembles a spider web, teachers may feel it is important to find balance. Classrooms typically have the bare bones of school supplies – desks, chairs, and whiteboards. However, there ways to transform classrooms. Teachers are in search of the balance- technology applications that meet the needs of their students while including social interaction to engage while online.

On the other hand, when computers are contributing to learning, magic happens. Between the years of 2015 and 2017, teachers reported assigned laptop usage grew twice as much (Mathewson). They also found that students who use laptops in class are more likely to take plenty of notes, collaborate with classmates, and conduct in-depth research on the subject (Mathewson). Given the right software, and that students learn to use them properly, computers can turn into a classroom staple. The potential to have a more valuable and optimum education broadens as more and more technology becomes available.

Why Not Use a Variety of Applications

Mary Burns and Sharon Adams cover uses of software in Chapter 4 of their article, “Connecting Student Learning and Technology”. They start by affirming that devices and computer programs must enrich student learning, otherwise it is not to be used in class (Burns & Adams). One of the uses of computer programs includes students compiling their library of fauna, such as birds and bugs. Each student was to record what they saw on school grounds, then study it to add information to a big document. That document would later become full of names of species, photographs, and characteristics. Another case included when students were asked to create folklore using a program called AppleWorks. The teacher would ask students to create their own stories on the computer using what they just recently learned about folklore (Burns & Adams). During the creation of stories, students must recall previously taught information and apply it creatively to their current assignment. Teachers would assess them based on how well they understood the original folklore.

Due To Covid-19 Is There Misuse or Lack of Interest in Technology?

Any education professional is likely to experience unengaged students who use technology for leisure in class. Also, the availability of computer software does not automatically mean that students will find them helpful or interesting. Since March, there has been a struggle; teachers have been rushed into converting all content online but this is not the solution. The solution is redirected from being inherently more technology to the quality of its use in teaching. Even if we had the most top-of-the-line, innovative devices and software in our classrooms, student learning all depends on its quality of use. In other words, will students learn what they need to, given their learning methods? Are we allowing the technology to engage students? Teachers can aim for a high-quality learning environment using constructivist theory, with or without computers.

References:

Adams, Sharon & Burns, Mary. (1999). Connecting Student Learning and Technology.

Mathewson, Tara García. “As More Schools Assign Laptops, Students Say They Learn Differently.” The Hechinger Report, 30 Mar. 2020, hechingerreport.org/the-learning-experience-is-different-in-schools-that-assign-laptops-a-survey-finds.