A 2006 article by Royal Van Horn explains the importance of technology in school when such equipment is aimed for specific classroom use and not just evenly distributed. This even distribution of technology may seem fair in the big picture when looking at the school as a whole, but it is important to see what are the needs of each classroom. Van Horn tells he has helped in the design of several school and it his experience that gives insight that some classrooms aren’t going to use the 4 or 5 computers in a classroom when only a couple are truly needed.
Certain idea popped up to me while reading this article. One can be summed up in a quote. “The hidden assumption is that teachers will be flexible enough to integrate these computers into their instructional day” (Van Horn, 1). Van Horn was speaking of how schools are built as one big facility with the same technology within every classroom. The quote tells that teachers won’t always need to use technology in their day-to-day activity. It is possible that the teacher’s don’t have the use at all for some technology in their classroom setting. Although it’s good to work with technology such as computers in all areas of education, teachers may prefer sacrificing less technology for more space in their classroom. Elementary teachers could use the additional space for more active lessons and head to computer labs when the whole classroom needs equipment.
Van Horn stresses the need for technology to be used for more than just a visual aid. He suggests that curriculum needs to call for more spoken texts through the use of audio technology. Of course one of the most important and useful things learned in school is typing, especially through the means of Microsoft Word or some other word processor. It is important to form thoughts through texts, but Van Horn wishes to see more use of spoken speech. Such means can prove to be important to a student, for example, allowing students to hear themselves speak will bring to their attention any slurs, mispronunciations, or other speaking errors they may not have caught before. It’s better feedback to hear yourself speak than for a teacher to tell you later what worked and what didn’t work in your speech or presentation.
I can connect such experiences to my role as a student. In a class this past semester my freshman year I was able to hear myself speak from a presentation I did in my class. However, this feedback came with a little more than just an audio recording of me since it was on video. Seeing myself gave me a little more feedback than just hearing myself speak. I was able to see just how I presented myself and how much I was engaging the class. As a student, I’ve found video to be just as effective tool to audio technology.
I am hoping as a future educator that I can apply technology revolving around audio and video. I’ve messed around in the past with some video editing technology and have some experience with Garageband when comes to purely audio. Utilizing either means be an effective education tool when explaining some concept. I could create my own educational video. This could prove effective to the students because instead of seeing some random narrator, I would be able to have the kids more engaged with a familiar face.
The tools of achieving these things can only be reached through communication from the administrators with the teachers and knowing their individual needs. Van Horn’s main drive in the article is to be aware that the technological needs of one teacher will not be the same as the next. Personally, as a future educator, I would love the access to a Mac computer than that of a Windows. I find the Mac to be an easier system, a more reliable system, and one that’ll allow me to achieve certain tasks unachievable with a Windows. Access to this technology and other desired ones would only be gained if the needs for each classroom were looked out for. Such technology like a SmartBoard would be a great standard object to have for classrooms, but when a set number of computers are being jammed into classrooms and not being used, that is a waste of resources. I know I would prefer a couple Macs than 4 or 5 Windows computers. It is evident to look out for the needs for each classroom and how the technology will be utilized.
Nick, nice take on the article. You brought to light some things I didn't see. I especially like your insights to the oral/visual presentations versus just the written word. Especially at the elementary level, I think all the students should be given the opportunity to be a "star" and what better way to accomplish that than by video-taping a presentation. There are so many lessons our students can learn through the use of technology. Not just the "book" information, but also possible other areas of interest, be it with computers, photography, scientific inquiry or the ability to be comfortable in front of an audience. The potential is limitless. I also like the idea of which you speak concerning educational videos being presented by a familiar face. Well done Nick!
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