Computers Play A Critical Role In Education Today

Computers play a critical role in education today because of society’s mindset of what lies ahead for our children’s future. Our paradigm is shifting, so the students must be prepared for that shift. According to Engelbart, (1963) (Provenzo, Jr., Brett, & McCloskey, OSA, 2005) computers can augment or enhance the intelligence of its users and facilitate ones learning and understanding, producing better solutions to problems and making accurate responses possible.

Technology is lacking in this system because it has been doubling every 18 months and has been doing so for 40 years (McCain & Juke, 2001). As teachers, we should involve our students with utilizing the computer beyond the use of observing teacher made PowerPoint in the class; the students should learn how to make their own; they should know how to create their own databases and use the word processor accurately. The problem, however, does not lie with the teachers, it lies with the system. Because of this doubling process, integrating this technology into the classroom activities is difficult. But when we manage to do so, teachers must create and develop activities that will help students in developing their critical thinking skills while manipulating the computer programs.

Computers are under-represented by schools’ administrators. They want teachers to integrate the technology in their instructions; however, it does not allow access to certain educational sites for fear of the unknown. In addition, parents are given the choice to choose whether their child can use the computer in school; and, some choose that their child do not use them.

Computers are over-represented because, like everything else, administrators’ uniformly plunged into the technology bandwagon. And, once they have introduced it, they don’t know what to do with it and teachers are left to impliment the use of it. Not to speak poorly of the administrations, I do believe that they are doing what they can with what they have. The problem again is obtaining appropriate software and sufficient time in our test taking agenda to make good use of the new technology. Computers have infiltrated our learning arena and play a unique role in our education today. There are endless resources available to students via the use of computers. However, students need access to them. As teachers, we are still charting the possibilities. Teachers still have to find ways to infuse technology in the classroom without raising special attention to it. Children love the use of the computer; they spend more time on it and forget that they are learning or undergoing a learning process.

The use of computers is underrated in most schools. As time moves forward and everyone is on the same page, we, as educators, will employ the use of computers into the classroom that will enable the students to be successful both in school and in society.

Please post your comments.

Reference
Provenzo, E. F., Jr., Brett, A., & McCloskey, G. N., OSA (2005). Computers, Curriculum, and
Cultural Change. An Introduction for Teachers, Second Edition. Mahwah, New Jersey:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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