Educational Debate Persuasive Paper
As school teacher’s jobs become scarcer it is imperative that each student get the proper education and respective needs that they each deserve while in the classroom to ensure that the schools are committed to providing a better way of life for our future. Since there are so many students in one classroom it becomes difficult for teachers to work individually with each child. Recent research shows electronics to have a significant impact on student’s academic behavior in the classroom and at home. Techniques for creating an environment for students to advance in would be incorporating technology into their everyday hands on structured learning environment.
With all the new technologies out there today from cell phones, to iPads it is extremely rare to see a child who is not plugged into technology. Just from looking around and watching children advance in computer or video games it is safe to say that technology has some form of lasting effect on the way children in this generation learn. If that same technology is put into the classroom environment of each child maybe just maybe there would be a positive change in the outcome of a students learning. ("Teen Ink", 2011).
Technologies such as Smartboards are interactive computerized chalkboards. This device allows students and teachers to participate as they would in a normal classroom except with the ability to save lesson plans written on the Smartboard just as you would save items on a computer.
Teachers struggle with being able to keep students attention over long periods of time. With the Smartboard the ability to have the children interact with one another on the same PC through writing reading and other programs is at everyone’s fingertips. ("Teen Ink", 2011). Another benefit of having the Smartboard in the classroom would be that lesson plans and interactive notes from both students and teachers could be recalled at any time.
Some say why not just add PC’s to every classroom? This could very well be another option however the cost and concern of these young 5 year olds working on such expensive equipment could be a major cost and concern. The Smartboard allows teachers to only have to monitor one piece of equipment at a time and cuts back on costly repair. ("Teen Ink", 2011). Most teachers can attest to Smartboards being a major asset to any classroom and that each student has enjoyed the idea of being able to interact freely while still learning how to read, write and use technology all at the same time.
The Smartboard device will be able to help teachers to meet the ISTE National Educational Technology Standards. Teachers will be able to pass on a strong understanding of technology use to their students through their own practice and hands on interaction with technological devices such as the Smartboard. Smartboards can also be used to help aid teachers in creating lesson plans for each week just as they would on a PC. While creating these lesson plans on the Smartboard we could also incorporate the knowledge of technology use by allowing students to participate and write on or interact with the device daily. The child interaction with the device then becomes a quick evaluation of their understanding of technology and how well they use technology to help them learn. All in all the Smartboards would be a huge asset to my classroom and many others in all school districts. The benefits as far as productivity for teachers are concerned and the enhancement of knowledge for students is enough proof in itself.
Since majority of the schools and classrooms today in the United States are multicultural classroom environments, teachers must be prepared to incorporate ways to make sure that the all students in their class are successful learners. Technology is a great way to open a child eyes to new exciting ideas. Always having the student’s undivided attention and making sure that they are fully engaged in the lesson so that they can understand and ask a question if needed is extremely important to child advancement. Also having students work together and interact with other students allows the student a chance to learn in context. Basing lesson plans around themes to ensure that the students are learning through repetition and or fun examples. Students must also be able to communicate through non verbal communication such as typing and by being able to distinguish and comprehend alternate responses. Allowing students to practice and make mistakes on a computer where they can easily be corrected and they can learn from them is also a great way to help students learn. Providing time for them to practice and interact gives other students the time to teach them as well as their teachers. Some students learn better with hands on so activities based on this concept would also work great allowing the students to better retain information through visual aids like Smartboards. Finally a great way to make sure that these steps are effective is through routines. Making sure that the students feel comfort in what they learn by knowing what to expect from the lesson plans and the technology will instill a sense of ease for them when trying to express their thoughts. (Critical Multicultural Pavilion, 2012).
Each teacher should have their day start out with a peer interaction exercise, preferably a new exercise each day to make sure the students remain intrigued. The peer interaction exercise will ensure that all students are communicating properly and that each day they are reminded about respect toward one another’s educational needs. (Critical Multicultural Pavilion, 2012). Every teachers goal should be that each day all student be paired with a different student and a different technological learning tool. Students can talk about whatever they like for approximately 15 minutes, but keeping in mind that at the end of the exercise they must tell the class one thing that they learned about their peer that they did not already know. The exercise is designed to increase communication, establish friendships and show and gain respect for each other.
In any school multicultural classroom environment respect would be the foundation to a successful learning environment, which is why teachers should incorporate respect into every lesson plan. Some ideas for teachers to use with their children would be a cluster desk exercise, separating the children into small groups based around a PC other technological device. Then divide the groups evenly by ethnicities, allowing each group to be very ethnically inclined. Students can then use the technology to create power points or spreadsheets to discuss the topic at hand aloud with their peers, stating what they already know and how they know. (Critical Multicultural Pavilion, 2012). This activity engages the students to become more technically inclined with note taking and vocal about their thoughts and to express what it means to them to be of a certain decent while allowing them to share their stories and the knowledge that they possess because of it. This process would also allow other students to work and learn from their peers as well as understand challenges or struggles that their peers may face by being classified as a certain decent or group in life.
Being a child that comes from a certain ethnic background or way of life can be very hard emotionally, financially and academically. Most students within a multicultural classroom will speak English as a second language or maybe even very little at all. This is not only challenging for them but also for their peers as well as for teachers. Teachers can explore language through their culture while instilling in them the art of the English language. The activities that will take place in the classroom will include a full on class participation learning environment through technology. (Critical Multicultural Pavilion, 2012). Teachers can still follow the curriculum provided to them but at the same time allowing each student to develop their knowledge through interaction and hands on interaction.. By allowing the students to learn from what they already know and using spell check or other sources to retrieve information ensures that they do not feel any less knowledgeable than their peers.
Since feeling less knowledgeable often stems from learning disabilities or a certain way of life this will be yet another challenge that our children will have to face within a multicultural classroom environment. Children with special needs do not deserve to feel like any less of a person than their peers, as teachers try to create an equally fair environment for them all. While making sure that special needs students get the proper education that they require and other students do as well, do not plan on changing the participation structure but rather enhancing it allotting a time for tutoring through technology. ("Critical Multicultural Pavilion, 2012). Creating an activity time for tutoring would not just benefit the special needs students as other students without special needs have questions as well. This tutor time allows the special needs students to not feel segregated or any less important than their friends as they all work together to enhance their knowledge. Using online sources for student interaction and tutoring sources is an added benefit to technology today.
A student with special needs does not always mean having a learning disability but maybe handicapable needs as well. For students with handicapable needs teachers should plan on making sure that they get equal opportunities just like the other students. Recess is a very important time to children, allowing them to interact and take a much needed break from learning and technology. ("Us News Education", 2012). Just as teachers should carry respect throughout their in class lesson plans the same should continue on the playground at recess. Each day at recess try to incorporate a new game to play, making sure that every student is included in the activity. It is so important that each student respect their peers and understand what is must feel like emotionally and physically not to be able to run, jump and play like their friends. Students need to use their imaginations and create new games involving everyone. Just like the more capable students can, the handicapable need to know that they can as well with help from their friends.
All teachers value their job and love being able to create an environment for their students that will positively affect their lives. Each student will be able to do the same for their peers after leaving the classroom. They will be able to teach and learn from one another throughout every exercise, technological or physical and whether it is through culture, language, the arts, disabilities or even capabilities. ("Us News Education", 2012) The class motto should be “No one left behind…EVER” as a constant reminder each day of the power they possess as a whole.