Technology Trends in the Classroom

Interactive whiteboards such as Smart Boards seem like such an incredible idea. Who wouldn't ooh and aah at a normal looking white board that contains so many technological tools with the touch of your finger? 

Well, recent trends in the use (or lack thereof) have shown differently. Schools who have spent thousands of dollars on this innovative way to improve learning are seeing their teachers under use, misuse, or ignore their interactive whiteboards. Many teachers are not properly educated in the variety of tools to be utilized with this technology. It is not used for its full potential and schools are not getting their money's worth. Other teachers may not even use it at all, using it as a place to hang posters or worse, staple students' projects like it's a bulletin board! Other are found hidden away in closets, completely unused and wasting the school thousands of dollars. 

I have seen Smart Boards used in classes and received a short training on its many uses. I do see the excitement and interest it could provoke from students when used properly. It is also an excellent way to get students up and engaged when they are given the opportunity to interact with the board. Especially in special education I see the advantage of displaying classroom items such as an interactive calendar, schedule, or attendance. Students who learn best visually would benefit a lot from interactive whiteboards.

Although I do understand the advantages of this technology, if given the option as a teacher, I would opt not to have one in my classroom. I would feel pressured to use it to its full potential knowing how much it cost the school. I would also consider that all my time spent trying to figure out all of the tools would be better spent on being creative myself and working with tangible objects to encourage learning in my classroom. I would prefer to plan lessons in which I could engage my students more with each other and myself than with another screen. 


Another piece of technology that is trending in classrooms is the use of mobile devices. Smart phones and tablets have always been banned from classrooms, but recently educators have been trying to find a way to use them as a tool to transform education. Especially with the outbreak of educational apps, many teachers have come to the conclusion that if they can't beat them, they might as well join them! If they can't keep students from using devices, they should let them use them for educational purposes. 

I would be interested to experience the effective and educational use of devices in the classroom. I know that it can be engaging for students and when they are engaged, who knows what they are capable of doing? 

From my own experience in a high school classroom, I have not seen any good use of technology. Students are allowed to use their phones for music if it helps them focus on individual work. However, it does become too much of a distraction. I could see the same thing happening with educational apps. Students most likely will become distracted and off task. It is just too easy and tempting to switch from the educational app, to a social media app or a game app. As a special educator, I would prefer not to use this type of engagement strategy in my classroom, because of these concerns. I understand this is the age of technology and we need to embrace it, but at this point it seems too risky to allow my students to use their devices in class. 

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Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying was defined by the Cyberbullying Research Center as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices”and includes four elements:

• Willful: The behavior has to be deliberate, not accidental.
• Repeated: Bullying reflects a pattern of behavior, not just one isolated incident.
• Harm: The target must perceive that harm was inflicted.
• Computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices: This, of course, is what differentiates cyberbullying from traditional bullying

Cyberbullying is considered to be especially damaging emotionally and psychologically because it is repetitive and the victim most likely has some kind of relationship with the bully through the internet. 

Stopbullying.gov provides a Lifeline for those who are left helpless and hopeless after being Cyberbullied: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The Cyberbullying Research Center did a random sample from one school in the Midwest in February 2015. The results showed that 34% of the students in the sample have experienced cyberbullying at some point in their lifetime.   

Resources for educators, teens, parents, and adult victims are provided through the Cyberbullying Research Center.  Here is one resource, 10 tips to prevent bullying: