Emma Heinlen - Technology: A Catalyst for Teaching and Learning in the Classroom

Technology: A Catalyst for Teaching and Learning in the Classroom, an article by Gilbert Valdez, Ph.D discusses the ideas of the utilization of technology in the classroom and both the positive and negative views dealing with technology. The author starts with a brief overview of how teaching has adapted into a very confusing task, dealing with ’numerous contradictory expectations’. He shows an argument stating that, “schools should not use technology for a variety of reasons ranging from creating social isolation to preventing students from learning critical basic skills”. Also students state that the activities were not helpful and the root of this is that teachers or whoever designs the use of technology expects very little for student’s decision making. Teachers don’t create complex tasks that would fully help students. Much of the reasons why teachers and administrators do not implement technology in the school system is because the purpose is not clear, participants are not involved in planning, communication is poor, cost is high, or teaching in itself is satisfactory. There is also analysis as to when it is appropriate for this use of technology to be placed in the learning environment. Many people argue that before 3rd grade would not be beneficial.

He discusses that technology can help teachers do everything which is required of them to do since they have to create an optimal learning environment. Technology is a tool He then goes on to discuss the availability of internet and how there are now very few differences in internet access between poor and wealthy schools. However although that technology can help students observe and “create multiple representations of mathematical ideas”. Valdez says that a key part in whether technology works in schools or not is how well the teachers implement the technology and mentions this throughout the article. Technology helps as a “personal tutor and information source to data organizer and communication tool”. It opens a wide range of assistant games and services to communication between different students in different cities to professionals. Overall, proper planning and utilization seems to be the largest problem when it comes to technology. The better implemented the technology, the better results with the students. Although there are some more administrative issues such as funding that would need discussion, our technology-based generation should also have educational technology in the educational setting.

Valdez, Gilbert. "Technology: A Catalyst for Teaching and Learning in the Classroom." Learning Point Associates. North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 2005. Web. 10 Sept. 2009. .