From paper to tablets, pens to styluses, and chalkboards to Smartboards, the use of technology in classrooms continues to increase.  With each passing year it becomes more prevalent in our society and students need to be able to utilize this new information to create a new skill set, discover new information at the touch of a button, and become better adapted to the world today.  Now I'm not here to argue that there's no use of technology in classrooms already, or that students would have no idea how to use technology without these newer tools.  What I am here to explain is that there are many tools that are available to students that can not only enhance the learning experience, but also cause students to become more interested in learning.  The age at which ed-tech and other sources of technology are being introduced to students is also decreasing.  This means that teachers have the opportunity to show students the correct way to utilize the many things it has to offer as well as reinforce positive use.  The sooner schools learn about the positive effects that these programs and devices can have, the sooner students will be able to reap the benefits.  

I was able to experience the rapid increase in education technology, or ed-tech, firsthand as I moved from middle school to high school.  Throughout grade school and middle school I would only use computers for school work such as when I would occasionally need to type a paper or look something up.  Then everything changed when I received a tablet that I used all throughout high school.  I began to do most of my work on the computer, and found it to be an amazing resource during my four years.  Furthermore, I am an education major so this is a topic that I have knowledge about and continue to learn more about as I advance my studies.  Recently I was able to observe classes at Dent Middle School here in Columbia and all the students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes that I observed used Chromebooks (like tablets).  I was surprised that the use of technology was starting so young, but it got me thinking about the issue.  These students were experiencing change just as I had when going through school and they were simply being provided with the tools that are relevant to the time.  "The ratio of students to computers in 1983 was estimated at 168 to 1" and today it is 5.3 to 1 (Carver 110).  I think this dramatic change shows just how much the world really is changing for the better.  As mentioned above, technology continues to advance and develop which is resulting in more use in the classroom.  It may seem like this would only apply to a small group of people, but, in fact, it would affect more people than one might think.  It involves children in school currently as well as their families, but also future generations of children in school and their families.  Ever since technology began making its way into education in such a big way this has been a topic that is discussed.  However, the issue will only continue to grow as technology progresses and its use increases in the classroom.  I personally want to address this topic because as I further my studies in education I will see this more and I think it is an important issue.  I support the growth of technology in education and I think it is important for the topic to be discussed.  People may think they are not affected by it, but I think not only those directly involved such as teachers, students and parents, but all people should be informed about what is going on in schools and the world of technology today.  

When talking about ed-tech it is important for people to know exactly what kinds of tools and technology we are talking about.  The most popular tools utilized in the classroom are the ones that are used by each individual student. These include tablets, Chromebooks, and even iPads.  Each of these have many features that can help students in the classroom.  One important feature is that tablets and iPads have the ability to be used for typing as well as writing.  This allows for students to take notes in the way that they choose and it also allows them to easily annotate documents.  Using technology for schoolwork also keeps students organized.  They can use programs such as OneNote where notebooks can be created and work is automatically saved and they can separately save all of their work and documents into folders for classes.  The use of these individual tools, even though they are very important in the ed-tech discussion, are not the only types of technology that are used in the classroom.  One other important tool being used is the Smartboard.  These are similar to projectors, but with many extra features.  The teacher is able to write on the screen with a stylus as well as scroll and click on the board rather than the computer.  Although this may not seem much different than a regular whiteboard it can be much more useful.  One major benefit is that the teacher is able to save the work from the board so it can be accessed again.  This allows for re-projection of notes or work done by the class on previous days that would have had to be erased on a regular whiteboard.  Although this may seem like only one small difference I was able to see it make a great impact on a classroom during my observations.  The students worked on problems each morning and the work was saved by the teacher.  Students that missed class or needed extra help were then able to go back through the week to help them understand what they were learning.  Utilizing all of these tools can create a successful classroom environment and help foster knowledge among the students.  

One major benefit of ed-tech is that is prepares students for the world.  Just as the use of technology is increasing in the classroom it is also increasing in every aspect of life.  It is becoming more and more important for people to be "technology savvy" when applying for jobs.  People may argue that even without ed-tech students would not be technology illiterate, which may be true, but they are much less likely  be knowledgeable about programs that matter.  They may know how to control video games, but not make a good PowerPoint.  They may know how to perfectly edit an Instagram photo, but not how to use an Excel spreadsheet.  They may know how to conquer every level of a video game, but not conquer a ten page paper such as this one.  Incorporating these programs and giving students and opportunity to learn these skills is vital to their futures.  Benjamin Herold in Education Week gives a lot of information about education technology such as students being given computers or being allowed to bring their own.  "The idea is that this allows '24-7' learning at the time and location of the student's choosing" which can lead to more success in the classroom (Herold).  Students have more control over their learning environment as well as access to a wider range of materials (Sayparn).  This can be very helpful especially to students who may struggle in the classroom.  Students may be "too confused or embarrassed to ask questions because they don't want to show their ignorance but with individualized computer instruction, students can always immediately request help if something is unclear" (Sayparn).  This can be extremely helpful to students who may be shy or nervous, but still want help to succeed in the classroom.  Along with preparing students for the future it can also give students a future.  One example comes from Turkey where, although they have one of the lowest per-student spending on technology in grades K-12, they are using technology to reach students who may not have that opportunity ("Can Technology ... ").  They are bringing mobile classrooms full of technology to students who do not have access to it.  Not only does this show how important it is, but it shows how we should not take what we have for granted.  

Not only can ed-tech prepare students for the world, but give them a greater experience in the classroom.  With all of the technology available there are so many opportunities to take advantage of everything one can learn.  For example, a school in Durham, North Carolina is going on virtual field trips.  The educator interviewed, Darcia Jones, has been creating virtual field trips for twenty years, but with the advancement of technology they are becoming more high tech and giving the students an even greater experience.  The class uses a program called Discovery Education to visit places including "Ford's Theatre 150: Remembering the Lincoln Assassination; Auschwitz: The Past is Present Virtual Experience; and 'Read To Discover a World of Infinite Possibilities' with President Barack Obama" (Meyer).   The students are able to experience these amazing field trips without even leaving the classroom.  One of the programs being used in classrooms in addition to Discovery Education is Google Expeditions.  This program uses a Google Cardboard headset and a smartphone.  The student puts the headset that holds the smartphone in front of their face and they are able to experience places in 360o as if they were actually there.  There is also NASA's Eyes which, according to a teacher who has used the simulation, "allows a student to navigate throughout our solar system in three dimensions using real-time satellite data" (Meyer).  These programs are even less expensive than one might think.  While it seems like they would be outrageously costly most of them are very accessible.  Aside from Google Cardboard, most of these classroom experiences are more about the program than the device, but even including Cardboard they are still inexpensive and some are free.  Teachers simply sign up for a software and hardware kit through Google and a pair of Cardboard viewers costs about ten dollars.  There is also a lot of transition to online textbooks and other open educational resources.  As textbook prices increase it is becoming harder and harder for schools as well as individual students to purchase new ones.  In one survey it was found that "nearly three-quarters of respondents (73 percent) said they now use open educational resources more than textbooks" (Schaffhauser).  Through the use of e-books and ed tech they will be able to use the most current materials without having to purchase physical textbooks every year.  Although I have talked a lot about computer technology, these were all examples of other ways technology can make a classroom environment better.  Some other examples also include "word processing programs that encourage communication and writing skills; spreadsheet software promotes mathematics; database software promotes organizational skills; and modeling software enhances the application of science skills" (Sayparn).  These new programs that are being developed are also advancing children's ability to learn languages in school.  In most schools it is required to take a language and the use of technology is aiding in the success of students in these classes.  Students are using mobile apps and online platforms to further their education in languages.  Because students are learning languages it allows them to become more culturally aware and can be a life skill that they can take with them.  

One study conducted by Lin Carver backs up the claim that technology has a positive effect on classrooms.  Although she talks about the pros and the cons, she seems to advocate more on the side of technology in the classroom being positive.  She draws information from other studies, but she also conducts her own study with information on both the positives and negatives of classroom technology.  This study was conducted in an open-ended format.  This means that "participants could identify as many are as or factors as they felt were relevant for each question" (Carver).  This meant that they could give one or many answers.  The study also found that, of a list of benefits, 59 percent of respondents said technology increased student engagement and about a quarter of the respondents said it increased understanding (Carver).  Some of the other information found was that technology availability is a major concern, but teachers wanted its use because students seemed to be more engaged when they were using it.  It had also been found that not only do more teachers have access to technology, but they are also increased in the amount who have internet connectivity.  In a survey of 1,000 teachers it was found that "just under 3 in 10 respondents (27 percent) said they lacked a sufficient number" of tablets and computers in the classroom (Schaffhauser).  Another issue that people find with ed-tech is that schools lack internet connectivity.  In results from this same survey it was reported that "this year far fewer teachers lack the Internet connectivity they want for getting their students online (16 percent) compared to last year (35 percent)" (Schaffhauser).  

Another tool used in many classrooms is an iPad.  Although many students use iPads outside of the classroom for things like games, they are being transitioned into use in the classroom as well.  One main reason for this is the use of online textbooks, as mentioned earlier.  Using iPads gives students access to online textbooks in class and at school as well as at home.  While this can be a great advantage, students need to try harder to stay focused and it makes it easier for them to get off task.  With an iPad, unlike a tablet, you can login to text or download apps.  This can be a distraction during class time as well as during the time a student has to work on homework.  I have seen this first hand in the brother high school to mine.  They are issued an iPad but, while I saw some of them using it for schoolwork, I saw more using it for apps.  I even see this here at the University of South Carolina.  The football players have access to iPads to use for school, but while I do see them using it to take notes or help them in class, I see a lot of them simply playing games in class or while they are supposed to be doing homework.  This is one of the arguments against using technology in the classroom.  It can contribute to the learning experience of the student and be extremely useful, but a student has to be responsible with the tools they are given.  This can be translated to all different areas of ed-tech.  From individual materials such as iPads or tablets, to class materials such as Smartboards the students need to be mature and responsible.  

There are many supporters of this technological movement, but where there are supporters to an issue there will always be opposition.  While there are many positive reasons why ed-tech should be used in the classroom, there are people that are still against it.  One reason for this is that they think it can be a distraction.  They think that when students are given this access to the internet in class it makes it easy for them to be off topic and not paying attention.  Along with this comes the concern of students possibly cheating.  Coincidentally the answer to these two problems comes from more technology.  Speaking from experience it is extremely easy to become distracted when using a computer in class.  You have social media, online shopping, and Netflix right at your fingertips during class.  However, there are many programs that teachers can utilize to handle these distractions.  Programs such as DyKnow allow teachers to block websites as well as monitor the screens of the students in their class.  They can also use this program to create class sessions and have their students turn in assignments electronically or even work on projects together.  Both parents and administrators are blocking students from certain websites and searches, but IT directors are trying to take control of this to not only protect the school from what can be seen on the internet, but also what cannot be seen like viruses (Ribble).  

As for the issue of cheating, I have found that using technology can actually help to decrease this problem in some situations as well.  With programs such as Turn-it-in and Safe Assign students electronically submit work that will then be compared to other students and online sources to be checked for plagiarism.  Another important issue that needs to be addressed when talking about education technology is that of schools having the means.  Schools are having problems with things like "infrastructure (not enough bandwidth to support all students accessing the Internet at the same time) and deployment (poor planning in distributing and managing thousands of devices)" (Herold).  These problems are extremely important to the overall decision of whether to implement ed-tech or not, but as with any issue there are bound to be problems, and in this situation I believe the positives outweigh the negatives.  One reason I believe this is because many of these problems are decreasing each school year.  Schools continue to gain more access to tools as well as internet access.  This can clearly be seen in the study done by Schaffhauser, mentioned above.  But aside from this there are still all of the positives.  For example, "more state-required summative assessments in U.S. middle and elementary schools will be delivered via technology rather than paper and pencil" (Herold).  This means that students who have knowledge of and access to technology have a better chance of performing successfully on these required tests.  This knowledge will also help them in future endeavors such as jobs as technology continues to increase in every aspect of life.  Furthermore, ed-tech has the potential to be a pivotal instrument, but teachers have to be able to properly use and teach it.  It could potentially be a problem for older teachers because they did not grow up with all this technology so they may not be able to use it as well.  It was recently found that "96 percent of teachers report that technology plays a significant role in their classrooms" which shows the popularity, but it was also found that "only about half of teachers see the value in today's edtech tools" (Pianta).  However, if teachers learn how to use these tools and the positive affect they can have it can change their classroom for the better.  

Before I wrap up this argument there is one more thing that has to be addressed.  These tools are used to help students be successful in the classroom and even help them be successful in their future.  I am not arguing that without them students would have no knowledge of technology or would fail in the classroom.  However, I am stating that when one or many of these devices or programs are utilized it can have a positive effect on individual students as well as the class as a whole.  If these specific tools are not implemented students would still use technology, but it would not contribute to their learning experience like it could if they were to use these new tools.    Overall, there are a myriad of benefits that technology can offer students.  We need this use of technology if we want this generation and coming generations of young children to have the best education possible.  More tools will continue to be developed and there will be more and more opportunities to better education with technology.  With ed-tech students are becoming more prepared for the future as well as being able to have amazing experiences.  Although there can be drawbacks, the positives strongly outweigh the negatives.  It is important for people, teachers and students especially, to be educated on this topic because it would affect their entire school experience.  Students should have the opportunity to use this great resources for their studies and to further their education.  As Nelson Mandela once said, "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."  If we want these next generations of children to be educated thinkers, and leaders we need to provide them with the type of education that will lead them to that success.  We need to provide them with these ed-tech tools to allow them to succeed.  

 
