Technology integration
Technology
integration in the classroom can also support classroom instruction by creating
opportunities for students to complete assignments on the computer rather than
with normal pencil and paper.In a larger sense, technology integration can also
refer to the use of an integration platform and APIs in the management of a
school, to integrate disparate SaaS (Software As A Service) applications,
databases, and programs used by an educational institution so that their data
can be shared in real-time across all systems on campus, thus supporting
students' education by improving data quality and access for faculty and staff.
"Curriculum
integration with the use of technology involves the infusion of technology as a
tool to enhance the learning in a content area or multidisciplinary setting...
Effective integration of technology is achieved when students are able to
select technology tools to help them obtain information in a timely manner,
analyze and synthesize the information, and present it professionally to an
authentic audience. The technology should become an integral part of how the
classroom functions—as accessible as all other classroom tools. The focus in
each lesson or unit is the curriculum outcome, not the technology."
Integrating
technology with standard curriculum can not only give students a sense of
power, but also allows for more advanced learning among broad topics. However,
these technologies require infrastructure, continual maintenance and repair –
one determining element, among many, in how these technologies can be used for
curricula purposes and whether or not they will be successful. Examples of the
infrastructure required to operate and support technology integration in
schools include at the basic level electricity, Internet service providers,
routers, modems, and personnel to maintain the network, beyond the initial cost
of the hardware and software.
Standard
education curriculum with an integration of technology can provide tools for
advanced learning among a broad range of topics. Integration of information and
communication technology is often closely monitored and evaluated due to the
current climate of accountability, outcome-based education, and standardization
in assessment.[8]
Technology
integration can in some instances be problematic. A high ratio of students to
technological device has been shown to impede or slow learning and task
completion.[9] In some, instances dyadic peer interaction centered on
integrated technology has proven to develop a more cooperative sense of social
relations.[10] Success or failure of technology integration is largely
dependent on factors beyond the technology. The availability of appropriate
software for the technology being integrated is also problematic in terms of
software accessibility to students and educators.[9] Another issue identified
with technology integration is the lack of long-range planning for these tools
within the educative districts they are being used.[11]
Technology
contributes to global development and diversity in classrooms while helping to
develop upon the fundamental building blocks needed for students to achieve
more complex ideas. In order for technology to make an impact within the
educational system, teachers and students must access to technology in a
contextual matter that is culturally relevant, responsive and meaningful to
their educational practice and that promotes quality teaching and active
student learning
ducation is a very integral part of our society, a social
institution that shapes individuals and teaches them how to act and behave in
certain situations. In simpler time education was a big contributor to society,
helping it evolve into something more acceptable. In a time when people were
grouped based on their socioeconomic status, people who had a better education
were able to overcome these barriers. As we know today from observing societies
that lack education, that it has played a huge role in the development of
humans, and has resulted in improvement in many ways, in the way we live.
Societies which have poor or no education, are often considered backward and do
not have the same standard of living as of the more educated societies.
Education, for a very large part, can be credited with the
advent of technology and technological boom that allowed human beings to speed
up their discoveries and innovations, in a manner that has left no field
untouched by technology. From Business to STEM fields, technology has become a
great facilitator; even the functions of a society have altered with
technology.
The changes in society have mostly been due to how information
is transmitted, with people being constantly plugged in and constantly staying
informed of what’s going on in someone’s life or what’s going on all over the
world. However, whether it is social media or some other form of technology,
education as a social institution has been affected by the rapid growth in
media.
Media has always been a social institution, lots of perceptions
and norms in a society are based on the information they receive. Take colonized
regions as an example, even at a time when there weren’t any newspapers; the
colonizers were still able to maintain control over people by establishing
themselves as the better, superior party. So clearly, based on this we can see
that the media has always been a social institution. As technology starts to
grow into every aspect of our lives, media is the prime source of information
and a growing necessity for life on this planet. TAs it continues to change the
world as we know it, today we will only be talking about a certain aspect of it
– today we will talk about the importance of social media in learning as well
as what is the importance of media in teaching?
So the reason the advent of technology was mentioned earlier was
because of the changes it has brought about in our lives. Specifically, with
the contributions to information and communication technology, the education
sector has been able to benefit greatly. If you log on to Google and search
the role of mass media in education
Wikipedia page, you will probably find a
lot of useful information that can help inform you, but this will be a more
analytical take on the topic.
The improvement in how we communicate and interact with people,
has affected how children are educated. Our parents were taught in a more
complacent and rigid style. There was a right answer and a wrong answer to
everything, however in the current education system, children are encouraged to
explore the world on their own terms. One way in which education has been
affected by media is the books. Not a very long time ago, secondary school
students were given huge heavy books, which would make carrying backpacks very
difficult. Today many schools use digital portals to issue books to their
students, and workbooks are much lighter and portable. Many schools have
replaced textbooks with tablets and PCs instead; this has helped students
prepare from a very young age, for the digital era. Many schools have also
stopped giving paper-based homework to their students. Students are expected to
submit their assignments online. Schools that use such a system have invested
in building their own portal, where they can create accounts for teachers,
students, and administrators. This portal is then used for a variety of
purposes; teachers use it to assign homework, maintain records and calculate
grades. Students use it to access lesson plans, study material, and resources,
and submit all their assignments. Administrators use the portal to maintain
checks on teachers and students and make announcements. Gone are the days of
morning announcements and updates, several schools use text messages to
directly inform parents and students of things, they also have social media
pages on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, so that they can keep in touch
with their stakeholders. While the portal system has been under use by
colleges and universities for several years, schools have also started to
acquire this system.
Digital Media in
Education
Another way we have seen the role of digital media in education
evolve is how students actually gain information. In the age of the internet,
students have access to unlimited information, knowledge at their fingertips
has caused many students to not pay as much attention in class. Physically
going to class in colleges and schools, is becoming redundant, there are so
many other places students would rather be if it weren’t for attendance
requirements, no one would have gone to class (let’s be honest here, even if we
couldn’t find course content anywhere else if there were no attendance
requirements, none of us would ever go to class, period.) Due to the
availability of video lectures and other resources, learning has become far
more accessible. Another way digital media has affected education is through a
variety of other technologies, such as smart boards and smart podiums which
allow teachers to easily draw graphs and bring out images and other resource
material to improve the learning of their students. Many teachers today use a
variety of tools to improve learning in their subject; these tools include
various activities, books, digitally published research papers and
PowerPoint’s.
Media in Distance
Learning
Another way, that media has affected learning and education is
through using distant learning programs. Many universities from around the
world now offer remote learning programs which allow students to enroll in
courses from their own remote locations. As the access to education improves
around the globe, there are still many people who are unable to attend colleges
because of their locations. Developing countries where the societal norms do
not support women leaving the house have benefitted greatly from remote
learning programs. These programs allow students to continue their education,
without leaving their homes. Many students who would not be able to afford to
live in the country can also enroll for such programs and are able to learn
without having to bear the extra costs of living and boarding in a foreign
country. Such has been the role of mass media in distance education, allowing
students to benefit from a university’s curriculum, allowing them to pursue
their dreams and improve their future without having to burden themselves too
greatly. Another method of distance learning that has recently become more
popular is MOOC courses. MOOC courses are short courses that are often offered
for free, by many Ivy League schools. These courses are available in the form
of video lectures and small worksheets. These courses are helpful for students
and adults looking to learn new skills or get information about a new topic.
Mass media has not only succeeded in making education more accessible it has
also made it more engaging and fun.
Social Media in
Education
Even the role of social media in education has become
undeniable. Many students use social media and the information they gain from
it as their primary source of knowledge. Random facts and news headlines
designed to give away the most information in the shortest amount of time is
how the newer generation is programmed to take in bits of information. Social
media is a tool that organizations use to ensure communication with their
stakeholders. Today social media has become a terrifying force, being used to
correct social ills. So many public officials resign when their scandals get
leaked on social media, with the #MeToo movement, much high profile Hollywood
Actors and Producers, were forced to step down from their positions. In the
education system, there might have been some mistakes being made, such as about
of racism and unfairness, where a social media campaign has been able to call
attention to the issue.
Since Social Media, has become a tool for social accountability,
it has also become a very important tool for researchers and academicians.
Since so much of the world is now using social media, and it has become a force
to reckon with – not only has social media become a field of study, it has
allowed many studies to be conducted as well. Using tools like Survey
Monkey and Google Forms, many researches
have been able to collect data and build a much larger sample size for themselves.
Although there is a greater chance of a validity error, in this case, it is
still being used as a method to gather information.
Media & Health
Education
So ever since social media became a very large source of
information and social action, there is also a lot of research available on the
internet regarding health. One thing we all must appreciate the vast amounts of
information available online is that there is no price on it and a lot of the
resources available are for free. This has allowed people to become more
informed and has enabled them to make better decisions. This means better
decisions for their own health. There are also internet support groups and
other platforms which have allowed people to find a place where they can
belong. People, who suffer from stigmatized illnesses, are often cast out from
society, but with media, they can not only hope to understand their own
condition better but also find people who suffer from similar conditions. Many
parents who have children suffering from Autism have been able to form
communities online, which allows them to share different milestones in their
child’s progress and discuss better treatment options. Even information on
topics that may be considered taboo becomes easier for the youth; any questions
that one might have about their bodies can be answered through the internet.
The internet has also proven to be very helpful when it comes to raising
awareness, so when it comes to breast cancer awareness or ALS awareness, there
have been several campaigns all across the globe which has helped save lives.
So the role of media in health education has been very beneficial.
Media &
Environmental Education
As has been mentioned earlier, a key theme in this piece is the
power of social media. Global Warming and climate change are the next big
challenge for humanity, and there need to be greater actions taken to curb the
effects of commercial activity on our environment. People are still reluctant
to admit that climate there are many
people who are busy trying to come up with better and more innovative
solutions, but these solutions cannot fix the world on their own. The internet,
the social media, and even traditional media are now taking responsibility of
educating the masses about the impending doom of climate change lest collective
action is taken. The role of media in environmental education is key to raising
awareness and promoting sustainable solutions.
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