Pat Macdonald
Does Technology in the Classroom Really Enhance Learning?
Technology impacts several people on a daily basis, whether it’s using a computer for research, utilizing all of the resources a cell phone has to offer, or just watching television with people’s spare time throughout the day. Technology provides people with insight on breaking news throughout the world, and it also provides them with tools needed to converse with friends and family. Others firmly believe that without technology on a daily basis people feel “off the grid” or lost without it because it is a frequent resource used throughout the day. Technology gives people multiple different resources to accomplish things and have productivity throughout the day.
Technology can create relationships in the classroom by being used efficiently and effectively. If classes get canceled or the professor can’t make it, then classroom discussions can still happen over email, tablets, computers, video chat, and messaging. This allows the professor to stay more on track with his/her scheduled teaching plan. We also see relationships being built when students have to work in group projects where they possibly may have to work outside of school to complete the given tasks on time. This gives the students the chance to be independent and have some responsibility on their own because they do not have the teacher hovering over their shoulder. This may cause relationships to be built because people may have to reach out of their comfort zone and talk to others that they may not normally talk too. This also allows the professor to have more time in class to focus more on the materials that are needed to be taught.
This can be a beneficial point for students grades because they have more time to focus on lessons that are difficult and make it better for them to comprehend them. This is beneficial in a classroom because it keeps everyone on pace with each other and provides everyone with the social skills that they need to have. This can be acknowledge, “With communication technology, you can improve the content and quality of in-person contact” (Smith 5). This single handedly expresses the thought of someone having to talk to another person that they wouldn’t normally talk too, hence the topic of building relationships. Another thought is, “text messaging and smartphones have wildly transformed the way people connect with each other” (Smith 1). This most nearly means that people can connect “outside the box” meaning that if they don’t have great social skills they can make some sort of relationship to an extent with others due to the technology available today.