Dear Parents,
I would like to welcome you to this blog, which aims to inform you about the PTA’s fundraising efforts and to keep you up to date with the latest news about your child’s education at Sycamore Street Elementary School. One of our top priorities this year is to make sure our classrooms are equipped with the technologies that enable them to learn faster and better and to be prepared to face the fast-changing world. On behalf of the PTA, I would like to encourage you to get involved with the fundraising efforts that will guarantee that our students will face the challenges of the 21st century head on!
Although some may believe that technology doesn’t have a place in the classroom (“Our kids spend enough time texting and playing games at home—we don’t need to them to goof of in the classroom!”), experts believe that today, our students need technology to become active learners and be better prepares for their careers.
According to a recent research project sponsored by the U.S. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, Dept. of Education, technology helps support thinking processes, stimulate motivation and self-esteem, promotes equity, prepares students for the future, support changes in school structure, and offers ways to explore technological capabilities. When students are using technology as a tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast.
Theories of Learning:
We base our teaching methods on two basic theories of learning:
Objectivism/Behaviorism: This theory is based on the idea that knowledge has a separate, real existence of its own outside the human mind. Learning happens when this knowledge is transmitted to people and they store it in their minds.
Learning Theories: Objectivism
Constructivism: According to this theory, we construct the knowledge in our minds by participating in certain experiences. Learning happens when we construct both mechanisms for learning and our own unique version of knowledge—which is influenced by background, experiences, and aptitudes.
Learning Theories: Constructivism
Short-Term Goal: Our goal is to acquire three types of technology in our classroom:
Computer Terminals. Students can learn independently, research and develop digital skills in the classroom. They can use computers for word-processing or mathematical or scientific projects, as well as sharpening their skills in various subjects.
Data Projector. Teachers can use overhead data projectors to share information with the students in more compelling, easier to read and understand ways.
Internet Access. Students can research individual subjects, work as teams to gain deeper understanding of topics and develop efficient ways to investigate and research subjects.
There are numerous ways in which technology can be used to improve our students’ achievements in the classroom and the world at large. Here are a few brief points to consider:
- Technology enables us to gain student attention.
- Supports manual operations in high-level learning
- Offers ways to demonstrate real-world relevance to learners.
- We can illustrate connections between skills and applications.
- We can save time on production tasks.
- We have quicker access to information sources.
- We save money on consumable materials (pens, papers, notebooks, textbooks)
- We prepare our students for skills that will help them in the real world.
- Students develop their technological, information and visual literacy.
The best educational communities use ways to merge objectivists and constructivist theories of learning. “Teachers will always use some directed instruction as the most efficient ways of teaching required skills; teachers will always need motivating, cooperative learning activities to ensure that students want to learn and that they can transfer what they learn to problems they encounter” (Roblyer & Doering, 2010, p. 43)
No matter which theory we rely on, it’s easy to see that using technology in the classroom is the right approach to preparing our children for the exciting possibilities of their future.
Working Together
I know that as caring parents, you all play a very important part in the overall educational life of your children. So, I ask you to join us in exploring better ways to bring technology into our classrooms. At a time when our school is facing drastic budget cuts and financial hardships, we rely on your assistance more than ever before. Please let us know how we can serve you better by posting comments and questions on this blog. We all share the same goal and purpose, so please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information on this and other related matters. Also, we want to get your suggestions about how to raise adequate funds for our technological needs, so please feel free to share your ideas with us through this blog.
References:
Learning Theories. Retrieved from www.learning-theories.com on March 5, 2010.
Roblyer, M.D., & Doering, A.H. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching. (5th ed.). Boston: Allen and Bacon/Pearson.
Disclaimer: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.
