Education and Technology

Most parents are unaware of what occurs in the classroom on a daily basis outside of what their children tell them and when there's an issue that arises. Technology is being used more and more each day for many different reasons and we wanted to discuss some ways in which technology is improving education. According to a research study by Common Sense Media published in October 2011, “computer use is pervasive among very young children, with half (53%) of all 2 to 4 year olds having ever used a computer, and nine out of 10 (90%) 5 to 8 year olds having done so."

So below is a list of ways in which technology is being used in the classrooms today:

Teacher's websites: Gone are the days of classroom newsletters (for most teachers) instead teachers are utilizing the internet and their own private websites to communicate with students and parents. Those who are still using newsletters as a way to communicate are now sending them via email versus printing them and sending them home.

Online Gradebooks: These are being used by school districts to allow students and parents to stay abreast of grades, assignments, and attendance as well as a method to communicate with individual teachers.

Video Sites: There are several video sites that students use like YouTube, Khan Academy, and Teacher Tube, these are sites that students can use to find out a wealth of information on any topic.

Assessment Tests: Part of the reason that Common Core was implemented was to provide students with a method of being assessed via computer so that teachers would know where their students were academically at any given time and could adjust what they are teaching based on those results.

Textbooks:  Believe it or not a lot of schools are no longer using textbooks instead they have shifted to using Ipads that are loaded with textbooks, the schools online gradebooks, and other school resources so students are no longer carry around several textbooks they now only carry their iPad which contains all of the information that they need for all of their classes.

STEM: The acronym STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This program was started by Judith A. Ramaley, the former director of the National Science Foundation's education and human-resources division. This approach to education is designed to revolutionize the teaching of Mathematics and Science by incorporating technology and engineering into regular curriculum by creating a "meta-discipline." 

STEM requires students to be actively engaged in problem solving within the classroom.

Want to learn more? Ask your child's teacher how technology is being used in their classrooms?

Nashville Learning Center
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