Technology Teaching in the middle of nowhere West Texas
The future is now
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Technology advances can be seen everywhere in education. New Generative AI programs, virtual reality, augmented reality, and 3D printing can all be seen in today's classrooms. The technology of education, once a mere facilitator, now shapes how we learn, teach and interact in schools. It's redefining traditional learning methods and making new paths for educational inclusivity and future readiness (Vorobyov, 2024).
“Technology is a game-changer for education – it offers the prospect of universal access to high-quality learning experiences, and it creates fundamentally new ways of teaching,” said Dan Schwartz, dean of Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE), who is also a professor of educational technology at the GSE and faculty director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. “But there are a lot of ways we teach that aren’t great, and a big fear with AI in particular is that we just get more efficient at teaching badly. This is a moment to pay attention, to do things differently” (Spector, 2024).
Today, where digital literacy is as critical as traditional literacy, preparing students for a digital future is a fundamental goal of education. Technology in education goes beyond teaching the standard curriculum; it involves equipping students with the necessary skills to navigate and succeed in a digitally driven world. This preparation encompasses technical skills as well as critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability—skills essential for success in the 21st century (Vorobyov, 2024).
With the COVID-19 pandemic, Google Chromebooks and iPads quickly made their way into classrooms. Now, we are seeing more advance forms of technology leading the way to the future of education.
(YouTube: Generative A.I. in Education by TEDx Talks)
Generative AI
AI is making its way into the educational sphere by means of automating grading and feedback and providing personalized learning opportunities.
Pros
It can save the teacher time by doing the grading and giving feedback on their behalf.
It provides greater insights into a student’s learning patterns.
Cons
Teachers can learn a lot about a student’s learning patterns by doing the grading themselves.
There’s a personal element of care when a teacher gives personalized feedback (rather than letting a machine generate one).
(Fulton, 2019).
I have started implementing lessons in Generative AI into my classroom. AI has a positive side in helping grading and lesson planning. We also need to teach students now to begin questioning and critiquing the development and use of AI.
“AI is not going away,” said Victor Lee, an associate professor at the GSE and faculty lead for the AI + Education initiative and who is also director of CRAFT (Classroom-Ready Resources about AI for Teaching), which provides free resources to help teach AI literacy to high school students across subject areas. “We need to teach students how to understand and think critically about this technology” (Spector, 2024).
Ozona Elementary School Students watch 3D printers during a summer program presented by the Crockett County Public Library. Photo by the Crockett County Public Library.
3D printing
3D printing has already seen an impressive application in the world at large. These printers can create anything from car parts to artificial organs. In the classroom setting, 3D printing can create hands-on models that students can investigate and interact with. For example, students could learn about the geography by studying a 3D map of an area.
Pros
It engages students and gets them curious.
It reduces the time teachers need to spend on creating their own models (e.g., for a science class).
Cons
3D printers can be costly.
One might argue that 3D printing technology means students won’t get to create their own physical models, but there’s nothing suggesting that the two can’t coexist.
(Fulton, 2019).
A few years ago, the computer science students at our high school acquired 3D printers through a grant and used them to make Christmas ornaments and keychains as fundraisers for their program. I still have my Christmas ornament they made.
Public libraries are implementing 3D printers in their facilities to draw younger members. In fact, our local public library brought a program about 3D printers where students got to see the printers in action and make little keychains for themselves. My son was all over this! He was fascinated and has been fascinated every since.
Companies such as MakerBot are filling that gap with specific training aimed at both teachers and students. MakerBot’s 3D printing certification programs are self-paced, online courses for individuals or entire districts. Students learn about 3D printer operation and design thinking. The teacher’s course is more involved, with units on product operation and troubleshooting, as well as curriculum development and classroom integration (Gimbel, 2019).
“The availability of 3D printing helps educators to leverage technology and apply math modeling in teaching math concepts in most classrooms,” said Reuben Asempapa, assistant professor of mathematics education in a blog post for Penn State Harrisburg. “[I]t makes mathematics more meaningful. … It shows how we can make use of math to investigate real world applications” (Gimbel, 2019).
(YouTube: CNET)
Augmented reality and virtual reality
The use of immersive technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality is also expected to surge in the classroom, especially as new high-profile devices integrating these realities hit the marketplace in 2024 (Spector, 2024).
The educational possibilities now go beyond putting on a headset and experiencing life in a distant location. With new technologies, students can create their own local interactive 360-degree scenarios, using just a cell phone or inexpensive camera and simple online tools (Spector, 2024).
One of the primary uses for this technology in the classroom is to take students on virtual field trips to places otherwise inaccessible. For example, a student could take a virtual field trip to ancient Egypt or to the bottom of the ocean. Pros
It provides engaging, real-life experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Appeals to learners who like to see and experience things instead of merely reading about them.
Cons
Students using virtual reality may develop a lack of spatial awareness in the real world. In other words, they could bump into something in the real world while immersed in the virtual one.
Motion sickness can develop in some students due to their eyes sensing movement while their body does not.
(Fulton, 2019).
“This is an area that’s really going to explode over the next couple of years,” said Kristen Pilner Blair, director of research for the Digital Learning initiative at the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, which runs a program exploring the use of virtual field trips to promote learning. “Students can learn about the effects of climate change, say, by virtually experiencing the impact on a particular environment. But they can also become creators, documenting and sharing immersive media that shows the effects where they live” (Spector, 2024).
(YouTube: An Introduction to Technology Integration by Edutopia)
Integrating in the modern classroom
A 2024 report by Instructure finds that the use of edtech tools in school districts has ballooned. In 2018, school districts used an average of 841 tools each during the school year. This year, that’s tripled to 2,739. With so many tools and devices being used in and out of classrooms, researchers say that now, more than ever, teachers, schools, and districts must “consider the scale, efficiency, and effectiveness of their tech” (Boryga, 2024).
Integrating technology in education requires a multifaceted approach to overcome significant challenges. Various stakeholder groups can take the following steps to improve collaboration:
• Educational institutions and governments should partner to provide technology access by initiating programs for affordable devices and reliable internet connectivity in underserved areas. This could involve school subsidies or grants for technology acquisition and infrastructure development. Policies and funding to ensure equitable access to digital tools are also crucial.
• Collaborating on cybersecurity is vital. Tech companies can offer educational institutions tailored cybersecurity solutions and conduct workshops for educators and administrators. Regular training sessions on data privacy and security protocols for educators and students can create a safer digital learning environment.
• Institutions should establish continuous training programs for educators, developed in partnership with tech companies. These programs should focus on the latest educational technologies and teaching methodologies. Offering certification and incentives can encourage educators to participate actively.
• Tech companies can work with educators to develop curricula that meaningfully integrate technology. This collaboration ensures that the tools provided are technologically advanced, pedagogically sound and relevant to current educational needs.
• Governments can play a critical role by creating policies that support technology integration and providing necessary funding. This could include tax incentives for tech companies in educational technology, grants for schools to purchase and maintain digital tools, and funding for research in edtech solutions.
These steps can allow stakeholders to work together more effectively and overcome the challenges of integrating technology into education, leading to a more inclusive and advanced learning environment. Effective collaboration stands as a key solution to these challenges.
(Vorobyov, 2024)
Discuss with students how they can use technology to engage with curricular content on a deeper level and to show what they know. Let them know that using technology creatively to demonstrate their understanding is not only accepted, but embraced. This gives kids license to explore active uses of technology and motivation to think outside the box (Tutt, 2024).
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