Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many

Technology in the classroom and broadening students understanding of it is a must in today society. The real world that students will eventually enter is flooded with technology and they must be able to adapt. There are many articles that discuss how technology is motivating and can build self-esteem in students. Instead of the students being the recipients of materials they are able to play an active role which in the end engages the learning process. This also as stated in the article allows teachers to work with many different learning styles. Not ever child is able to take in information the same way and with technology we can aim to demonstrate one assignment in many different ways.

Technology can bring out so many good things if used properly both in the workplace and the school system. Communication is faster and more efficient. People with unique and innovative ideas about teaching techniques and so on, can now share these things so much faster than before. Researching has leaped bounds in the sense that students/people are able to access information easily that would once have never been accessible at all. I just think that if everyone embraced technology, we would be able to do so many great things especially in education. Learning techniques and classroom ideas are always in need for improvement and Technology can really help bring about some new and interesting thoughts and plans

Integrating technology in schools and curriculum will be beneficial for the students. It will keep the students engaged in the classroom and be able to experience opportunities that were not available previously. Since the students will be more engaged and interested in the classroom, their test scores and knowledge will increase. It will benefit the students with the always changing technological world that we live in as well.

The ability to incorporate technology in the classroom is becoming more and more important, because not only does it open the doors for students to learn an unlimited amount of knowledge, but it also helps prepare them for higher education and for jobs in their future.
I went to a high school that had it's heart in the right place but did not have he funding to incorporate anything but the most remedial technology into our school, and it made my transition into college more difficult, because I felt very far behind the other students.
And in a world where technology is ever changing, it's extremely important that the next generation have the knowledge and ability to continue moving forward.

I believe this will be the biggest change we see in the future as far as education and classroom learning goes. It is important that schools and educators keep up with the ever changing technology in order to keep up with our students. Most parents will tell you now that their kids can navigate computers and other technology a lot more easily than themselves. That is why it is even more important that educators can be knowledgeable on technology to consistently challenge and teach students new and exciting things. The only problem faced now is most low income schools are unable to provide these new technologies to the classrooms. I have some nieces in Omaha, NE and once they hit the eighth grade they each receive a Mac book and are able to use them in classrooms to complete assignments and communicate with teachers outside of class and they then take them home to do homework and study. It creates a great excitement for them to learn and participate.

Today, children are being raised in a technology world at home and in school. As a teacher of 3, 4, and 5 year olds, and a parent of a first grader, even at an early age technology can play a significant role in a child's learning experience. Using technology in the classroom helps collaborate a combination of different learning styles and interactions between peers and students, and ultimately can maximize a child’s knowledge and understanding of the content area being taught. In addition, technology assists to stimulate interest and sustain engagement of students throughout a lesson.

To me, frustration occurs because funding in school districts is not always available (especially in the small rural communities) for the necessary technology needed in the classrooms. Funding sources should be increased to help optimize the technology available for students so that ideally all students have an equal opportunity, whether living in a small, large, rich, or poor community, to receive the benefits technology in the classroom provides.

As a parent of two children just entering their school career, I see daily the importance of technology in the classroom. From the ease of communicating with their teachers via e-mail to quickly accessing a plethora of information online about a particular topic they have learned about in class, technology is imperative in today's classroom.

Our children now have instant access which allows them to obtain and retain even more information than before. By the age of 4, when my son wouldn't know something he would say "let's Google that". Translation: I want to learn more.

When technology is used properly in the classroom not only does it facilitate better and more engaged learning but there is the aspect of being "green". Why print thousands of books and worksheets when it can all be done electronically?

In my opinion, we as educators, must stay ahead of the curve as we use technology in our classrooms. Of course, there is always that little issue of funding....there never seems to be enough, does there?

An interesting collection of thoughts from 2008. So, how are we doing in the 2012 classroom?

As an older student taking a few Mathematics and Education courses, I find that technology via the internet provides an unbelievable amount of leverage for learning. Thirty years ago I found math somewhat difficult to digest.....the primary sources of knowledge were the teaching assistant and the book. Today, I just type in the math concept and there are 40 or more internet sites that will help me understand differentiation using the chain rule or the best way to solve optimization problems, detailed solutions included. If only this was the case years ago what would I be doing today?

So, back to my original question regarding the classroom. My guess, from strictly personal observations, is...not so good. My fellow (and much younger) mathematics classmates are surprised when I tell them about this site or that site that explains various math concepts that we all struggle to understand and apply. They know how to find places to dine, sports scores and the least expensive price on the hottest new fashion but don't seem interested in using this technology as a learning tool. As teachers and mentors, we need to make an honest effort to redirect some, but not all, of our students interest in technology toward academic applications.

Technology continues to rapidly evolve around us. I believe that this makes it a very exciting time to be a teacher. There are so many different resources that technology provides access to. This access helps give students far more information then a mere textbook could provide, and makes it even easier for these students to retrieve their information.

The best part about all this?

Students like technology. They live in a world where technology has been around them since birth. They have grown up with and have seen its evolution. They embrace it everyday through the use of their smartphones, computers, etc.

When you bring technology into the classroom you create a more interested student.

Integrating technology into the classroom is a very worthwhile goal. Schools need access to funds to be able to provide technology to every classroom. Proper training on how to use this technology is also needed.