With the rise of the computer in the workplace, it follows that technology education should be fundamentally important in schools. The number of jobs that require computer skills is increasing, and many areas of business that used to be analog are now digital, like the stock market, art and design for advertising and business, and record-keeping. But how much will a lack of technology in schools put students at a disadvantage?
More often than not, when schools fall behind in a subject, it is in math or science. These two areas are usually thought to be ones that aren’t helped by more technology in classrooms: math learning can actually be hindered if students’ calculators can do the work for them. However, this is a somewhat narrow view of how technology can be used. Often times, schools will implement computers for use in internet research and computer programming or web design classes, and that’s where their usefulness ends. With some creative thinking and helpful software, though, computers can be powerful educational tools in almost any discipline. Students can be given quizzes online or through software that can provide instant feedback and help if the student gets a question wrong, and guide the student step-by-step to the right answer. Any teacher knows that to be able to give that kind of individual attention to each and every student is nearly impossible on one’s own. In this way, computers can actually help to make up for large class sizes and high student-to-teacher ratios that might otherwise be a detriment to learning and individual attention for struggling students.
It is important to remember, though, that technology is never a replacement for a good teacher. The guidance students get from a computer does not and might never compare to the interaction between teacher and student. When used in the classroom and at home, though, technology can be an excellent complement to a good teacher. The internet is a powerful tool: it is easy to forget, with all the entertainment and wasted space, that the internet is still a repository for all of the information in the world. If students want to learn about a particular subject, they no longer need access to a library and the proper reference materials. But guidance from teachers is still required. Too often, students are given research time in a school’s brand-new computer lab, but spend all their time on Facebook or playing Flash games. It is true that technology can be a distraction, but with proper guidance it can be invaluable for research and learning.
Most importantly, schools that are lacking in technology are simply not preparing students for the world they are soon to enter. With so many jobs requiring computer skills, students must have early access to computers in order to learn the ins and outs of working with them. Even before entering the workplace, college is a technology-rich environment in which having a computer and the skills to use it can give a student a leg up and allow him or her to take better notes, possibly leading to better performance on exams. With the rest of the world so immersed in technology, schools must do what they can to include that same technology into education.
Alexis Montgomery writes for Remote Desktop Mac where you can discover the benefits of remote desktop software and receive a free 30 day trial.