Now more than ever, we live in a technology-driven world. Every aspect of our lives has become almost dependent on the advancement and innovation of new technology. With that being said, schools, especially in recent years, have been keeping up with the latest technological trends, reaping the benefits of enhanced learning experiences and improved student engagement. Still, this shift might come with its own set of challenges.
In some classrooms on campus at Quartz Hill High School, teachers have decided to completely integrate their curriculum onto an online platform. Though this approach can open doors to new opportunities, it also has the ability to create barriers to accessibility, engagement, and effectiveness of online learning.
Benefits of Technology in Classrooms
One very important benefit that comes with online integration is the ability for students to have access to their classroom resources at all times. It allows for better organization and a more straightforward way to access homework, classwork, and lessons. Not only does it impact organization within the individual, but it also allows group work to become a much simpler task.
A Quartz Hill High School student, Xavior Lira, voiced his opinion regarding the conversation surrounding technological integration, “ I have found it so much easier to complete all of my necessary assignments because of apps like Google Classroom and Canvas. With my busy schedule, I find it difficult at times to sit down, pull out a piece of paper, and do all of my work by hand. It just takes too much time, and I can also become forgetful of what assignments I really need to complete.” When questioned further about his opinion on how technology has benefited group work for him, Lira responded with, “ I work a job, and it’s hard for me to find time to actually get together with a group of students in order to work on a group project, but I have found that communication with other students has become so much simpler once our work was online.”
Challenges of Technology in Classrooms
Though many students can agree that there are undeniable benefits to having our classes online, some students, like sophomore Magdalena Josevska, have a different perspective on the topic. When asked if she felt that adding more technology into classrooms was a good or bad thing, she answered, “ I think that using technology for school can end up being a lot less wasteful when it comes to having to buy books and can be a good experience however it takes away the hands-on learning when it comes to assignments.” She, as well as many other students, feel that one of the most important ways to acquire new knowledge is to get involved with it, and technology creates a sort of barrier.
Magdalena also continued by saying, “ The integration of our school work online can also make addiction to technology worse than just using a cell phone a few hours a day because now it has become integrated into our everyday lives way more.”
Looking forward, I feel that it is almost impossible to go back to learning without the use of technology at all, but I also feel that it is vital that schools and teachers maintain a happy balance between hands-on learning and technological learning. Student development is based on experience and involvement and I feel that technology may be taking those important aspects away.
