Before stating the issues of using technology in the classroom, it is good to know some of the benefits of classroom technology. Technology use by the students and teachers can make learning faster and more interesting. Technology can also enhance critical thinking skills by providing teachers with more dynamic lessons. Teachers can increase their student's interest in the material by playing videos, making power points, and using smart boards instead of lecturing and writing on a chalkboard.
While all of these benefits of technology provide hope in the future of education, there are still issues. I want my blog to focus on one in particular. In my opinion, the biggest issue with our technological revolution in classrooms is money. How are schools going to afford technology? For schools with a surplus of funding, this will not be an issue. But what about the schools in districts with low SES. Those kids will get left behind the others. There is already a education gap between high SES and low SES. I think technology could possibly widen this gap.
I think most will agree that technology in the classroom can only be a benifit for teachers and students. However, not all students will be privileged to the same quality of technology as long as it cost money to buy technology. Students who live in my neighborhood will automatically be behind students in a school district like Chatham simply for the fact that we do not have the money they have. This is a problem that needs to be fixed before we fully evolve as schools into the era of technology.
