Technology in the classroom

The Age, Joshua Jennings, 17 September 2007; The Age, Margaret Cook with Joshua Jennings, 17 September 2007

 

Australian classrooms began experimenting with the educational side of technology in the 1990s, with Methodist Ladies College pioneering the way with the ‘laptop revolution’. Since then, the private education system has embraced technology as a helpful and practical educational tool.

Carey Baptist Grammar School’s deputy principal says that ‘there’s no question that technology provides enormous benefits in the learning process and, as the cost of technology comes down, its accessibility is increasing.’

Muriel Wells from Deakin University believes that teachers need to learn how to use laptops ‘creatively and to draw on
the things children are interested in, such as “social software” (blogs, podcasts etc) that involve interaction and collaboration, not just reading and writing.’

Today, many schools are adopting all kinds of different technology in a bid to make the classroom experience truly
digital. For example, students from Bendigo Senior Secondary College use iPods in their language classes to record
oral presentations and to listen to lectures.

German language teacher Richelle Hollis says that the iPod technology ‘provides students with an opportunity to explore and take things further than what they would perhaps do if they were just having a conversation with me in class.’

Norwood Secondary College on the other hand has implemented the use of ‘clickers’ into their classrooms. Clickers are ‘mouse-sized, hand-held infra-red transmitters’ similar to those used by the live audiences on the television show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Clickers allow ever student to answer the same question and then discuss the results as a class.

Education Consultant Dale Spender believes that digital technology is ‘empowering students in ways that blackboards
and textbooks never had.’ However specialists say that Australian schools are only just beginning to understand the potential of using technology for educational purposes.

As technology becomes more common in the classroom, education researcher Marc Prensky believes that ‘teachers will still have a big role, but a different role. It won't be the role of imparting information; it will be the role of building critical thinkers.’

Australian company Etech, together with Apple Computers, are currently trialling the use of iPods in Australian schools.
To see an interview with Etech’s CEO, Geoff Elwood, click here.

Related Item: To read about the inequities non-government schools face in relation to Information and Communication Technology, click here.

 

 

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