Technology in the classroom enhances learning

This week under the topic “Technology in the classroom enhances learning”. The great debate in which Amanda, Nancy, argued for the agree with stance and Trevor, Matt argued the disagree stance. Both sides made meaningful and insightful arguments around their stance respectively.

Like most of us, I am in favour of the Affirmative. The points that stood out to me were thoughts around the idea that technology alone will never make education take one step forward, but devices and related technologies will play an important role in the hands of teachers who know how to properly integrate technology with daily teaching. As Tarina mentioned in her post that “the integration of technology into a classroom needs to be purposeful”. What strategies related to electronic devices would bring on an engaging classroom and how to steer clear of distraction that comes along with the use of technology may be the two major problems to take into account in the current school context.

Your classroom would not be enhanced by simply using technology, instead, lacking a well-organized technology use may fail you to achieve your initial purpose. When I first used Quizlet in my classroom, I took it for granted that my students’ interests in the learning of Chinese characters would be aroused by this what’s so-called “technology-enhanced learning”. But it was a totally messed up experience that they kept asking me to allow them to stream the Youtube video or to download Roblox rather than concentrating on those flashcards on Quizlet.

• Why was it unable to be effective as it was supposed to be by replacing a real-life flashcards game with a visual one?
• What else I need to improve my teaching skills?

I had been struggling with these upsets until I realized this enhancement was still in the first phase of the SAMR model created by Dr. Rueben Puentedura. As it is explained followed:

“At this stage, technology is directly substituted for a more traditional one. It is a simple, bare-bones, direct replacement”.

This simple replacement comes with no functional change. It was still a teacher-based classroom setting and limited student participation and on-task peer interaction.

Coming up with these thoughts, I started seeking genuine technology-enhanced teaching strategies in order to achieve the second and the third stage of SAMR model. Since I combined Kahoot games with the learning materials on Quizlet, in comparison with their previous low participation, students have come to start taking the initiative to review and learn those contents posted on Quizlet. The combination of Quizlet and Kahoot! is a method that has enriched the quality of student learning in my classroom, with a positive impact on classroom dynamics, engagement, motivation and improved learning experience. As Amanda said, Technology is not making kids use Google to find answers of questiones but enhancing meaning and learning because kids become curious and they want to deepen their learning.

Overall, I agree with the statement that technology enhances student learning. This is true across every grade, school size, and school type — technology has changed the entire system of learning. And yet, pervasive as it is in the current educational context, it should be noted that any innovation may come with issues and side-effects that challenge teachers, students and the whole society.