to incorporate these technologies into
blended learning programs, according to
EdTech Update.
IoT in the Classroom
You may be unfamiliar with the term
IoT (Internet of Things), but you likely use
it every day. IoT is a network of devices
connected to the internet that deliver
real-time insights to connected devices,
such as cell phones, laptops, or even your
television. These “smart” devices offer a
unique benefit in the classroom in the form
of interactive whiteboards, e-books, 3-D
printers, security cameras, and attendance
tracking systems. Use of IoT can remove
barriers to learning such as location,
language, and economic standing.
A recent TEDx article highlighted
a Fargo, North Dakota, teacher, Kayla
Delzer, and her use of technology in the
classroom. She believes it can revolutionize
education, but only if used correctly.
“Using technology simply for the sake of
using it is wasteful,” Delzer says. “If tech
doesn’t transform your classroom, your
teaching or your students’ learning, skip
it.” One easy rule of thumb: If a project
can be done using paper or pencil but
you’re doing it on a computer or device,
it’s not transforming your classroom.
The possibilities for technology in the
K-12 classroom setting are endless and, if
implemented correctly, change the course
of education as we know it.
CHANGE IN EDUCATOR
PRACTICES / SCHOOL
INFRASTRUCTURE
Although technology is getting all
the hype for being a game changer in
the education industry, the real success
comes from teachers and their active role
in ensuring the proper employment of
that technology in making a difference in
learning. According to Education Week, 90
percent of teachers agree that technology
gives them the ability to tailor lessons and
homework assignments to the individual
needs of students. Yet, teachers and schools
who rate their system-wide technology
integration on a lower scale don’t have as
much hope. Buy-in from educators, school
leaders and board members, parents, and
the community is critical when looking
to successfully integrate new technologies
into a curriculum. The change in how
teachers are teaching and how students
are learning requires a complete shift from
room layouts and resources needed for
students, to continuing teacher education
and administrative observations. Each
piece of the education puzzle needs to
be thoughtfully addressed in order to
successfully accommodate a new way of
learning.
“What technology allows us to do is
amplify and expand the repertoire of
techniques that effective teachers use to
elicit the attention, effort and engagement
that are the basis of learning,” Michelle
Miller says in Minds Online. “The tools
we use can and do change us but when we
use these tools mindfully, we can remain
in control of those changes, shaping them
to benefit our students.” As schools are
implementing the infrastructure needed
for technology advancements in the
classroom, teachers are being tasked with
providing their students with a more
individualized approach to learning.
Professional development for these
teachers is critical to ensure that they are
not stretched too thin and their budgetary
resources are properly allocated. Support
from administrators and coaching from
peer mentors in how to approach this new
way of teaching has proven to increase the
likelihood of success in the classroom. In
addition, classroom evaluations are being
reconfigured, as sitting in the back of a
classroom no longer accurately assesses a
teacher’s effectiveness in this new learning
environment.
The World Economic Forum states that
75 percent of educators and students feel
there is a gap in their ability to meet the
needs of a growing IT-focused workforce.
In addition, 90 percent of organizations
currently have an IT skills shortage; by
2020, it is estimated that there will be
1.5 million jobs in the digital industry
across the globe. These statistics alone
make technology integration into schools
a necessity. Not only will our young
children come out of their education
prepared for a role in a booming industry,
but our teachers will have the confidence
in knowing that they’ve provided
their students the best opportunity for
success. ■
MURRYSVILLE ❘
FALL 2018
17