technology in classes

Conchurl

hi im doing an essay on the use of technology in the Irish language classroom i know there is many advantages of this but could anybody here tell me about any disadvantages of using computers, ipads, websites or apps etc in the classroom.

spurious

iPads
They can have whatever they want running at the same time as they are supposed to be looking at an e-book.

They are WAY ahead of the teachers in terms of finding ways round the netnanny software and accessing pages we would rather they didn't.

They soon cop on to Viber, WhatsApp and the like so that they can message each other when they are supposed to be doing work.

The one big plus is that they are not weighed down with heavy bags of books anymore.

Teacher Computer and a projector
Fantastic - can't think of any real negatives.

carolzoo

ipads

we don't use them in our school but I have heard that students can access the internet using them so disadvantage would be that students can go on to other websites during class

other disadvantages -

• deterioration of students eyesight due to looking at a monitor all day.
• If dependant on the web - and everyone using the web - then slower internet response
• might be difficult to get students to write into copies when could type info on screen

advantages

students who are dyspraxic could be enabled to write their answers on screen to practice for the state examinations when they will be using word processor

byhookorbycrook

Biggest issue is lack of ICT resources in Irish. Teacher and projector is only a modern version of chalk and talk, need to make the IWB truly interactive.

dambarude

I'd have to agree with what byhookorbycrook said. The few resources I've seen for use in Gaelscoileanna really are very poor.

Another cost I've seen in schools is that of maintaining equipment. E.g. replacing laptop batteries /broken laptops/ ink cartridges etc. And that's before software has started going out of date. We're still really in the first wave of ICT in schools, but before long a lot of packages and hardware will be obsolete.

rainbowtrout

Same as everyone else, access to other websites when they should be doing classwork designated by teacher. Hard to monitor every student at all times because you can't see all their screens, far easier to see if they have a book on the desk on the right page.

Resources are variable in their quality and quantity.

Students might not want to return to written work - which is how they are going to be assessed in all subjects for the forseeable future.

Student 'forgets' to bring iPad to school, has no access to all books for the day (assuming school is operating on all books in eBook format).

Perhaps some over reliance on copy and paste answers to assignments due to ICT technology being used for classwork.

Some students (but not all) expect all education and learning to be in the form of a game or entertainment because that is what teenagers primarily use the internet for.

whiteandlight

As a second level teacher without their own room, set up time is a nightmare and has a huge impact on the amount of technology I use in the classroom. If its a 35 minute class you can feasibly take 5 minutes off for students to get in, get the roll taken, books out etc. If you add onto that settting up a projector, connecting an iPad or slate to you laptop etc you can easily lose even more time which is just not practical when I can use a whiteboard which while it may not be as interesting at least allows you to get more done in the time allocated

I have an iPad and apple tv which I would love to use in the classroom for mirroring and writing on the board while circling but I simply cannot get it set up in a time that would make it practical. Having said that the situation is not helped by the tech in our school, in another school it may not take as long

gubbie

dambarude wrote: »

Another cost I've seen in schools is that of maintaining equipment. E.g. replacing laptop batteries /broken laptops/ ink cartridges etc. And that's before software has started going out of date. We're still really in the first wave of ICT in schools, but before long a lot of packages and hardware will be obsolete.

I agree with that. I wanted to use data logging equipment for the physics science investigation a few months ago - data logging equipment wouldn't connect to the lab computer (it had no usb drive) and the laptops were actually too slow (I'd say only around 8 years old) to download the new software. I could have used the graphical calculators that were attached to give a digital reading but only one had working batteries.

I probably could have gotten it to work in the end, I'm fairly good with technology but something like that would have been a nightmare for someone who doesn't know much about technology. But technology moves along so quickly that before you know it, what you have is completely redundant.

Also, I've never had an iPad but I've had touch screens and those things break a lot easier then books. I'd say over the 8 years in Primary Schools parents should consider themselves lucky if they only end up buying 2

In all fairness there should be another better alternative than the iPad. The iPad being used as a book was just something they put in to make more people buy it. What schools need is for the kindle to come out in colour or at least be able to put a parental lock on the iPad which prevents the kids from using the internet.

looksee

Mobile phones are not allowed, but then students are asked to do research. So when you see the obvious signs of phone usage (amazing how many students think you don't know what they are doing if they keep the phone under the edge of the desk ) and tell them to stop they can do injured innocence and claim to be looking up the meaning of a word, or whatever...

I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who think you will not notice the game or football site they have open and 'hidden' behind a legitimate page.

'John, close that game!'
'What game miss?' (don't call me miss!)
'The one I can clearly see at the bottom of the screen'

byhookorbycrook

On the plus side, we have been using pbworks with some classes for homework, children can't "forget" homework, if it's written there for them!

We have also been using a 3-d immersive pilot scheme similar to second life, for a virtual science project. The children organised times to meet online at home as well, and as teacher ,I was able to monitor all the chat-as were parents.Some parents may be wary of such technologies, but once it is explained to them and they realise they can also monitor goings on, there should not be an issue.

carolzoo

byhookorbycrook - from your previous posting to me I gather you are a primary teacher.

Primary school children might be easier to cadjole into using ict correctly and not abusing it by going on to different websites etc. Parents also probably more involved at this level in helping children with their homework, participating in virtual activities.

In secondary there is less parental involvement in helping with homework etc and in school we are dealing with teenagers obsessed with the internet and their phones!

The homework point you made sounds good - is it that the teacher writes the homework and it's automatically on the students ipad or something?
I am not sure what pbworks is!

byhookorbycrook

PBworks is like a wiki, class teacher can ost homework for individuals or groups or whole class. Slow broadband is the bane of every teacher's life and the well intentioned NCTE broadband filter can prevent access to some site,s but it does block facebook and bebo thankfully!!

jonseyblub

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

PBworks is like a wiki, class teacher can ost homework for individuals or groups or whole class. Slow broadband is the bane of every teacher's life and the well intentioned NCTE broadband filter can prevent access to some site,s but it does block facebook and bebo thankfully!!

Edmodo (http://www.edmodo.com/) would be an alternative to PBworks. It requires much less technical know-how. I use it with all my classes and the kids find it handy to use.

spurious

I forgot Moodle - fantastic thing - can't think of a disadvantage for it either.

amen

can anyone tell me the advantages of technology in the classroom and some long term studies showing how technology has improved the ability of pupils to learn the subject matter ?

KrustyBurger

ICT in the classroom encompasses a myriad of resources from basic powerpoint slideshows to online collaboration.

We use edmodo. It's free and requires little to no ICT skills. I put my notes, links to videos, youtube stuff and it also allows you to make quizzes which it will grade. (v handy!)

I download youtube videos but it takes time and alot of effort to source to the right segments for class.

Pluses - it keeps them engaged, they love edmodo, it's what they're used to. They know nothing of the world without the internet, mobile phones and such. They're on fb all the time, instant is the name of the game.

Minuses - they still have to work and study and I'm finding that some of them think that they'll learn by osmosis. This despite extensive workshops on study skills etc.

They're is no escaping the study no matter what technology is available. Unfortunately I believe this message is lost on the students.

Tom Dunne

Here's an interesting article from last December questioning whether the iPad is ready for use in the classroom.

whiteandlight

The osmosis perception is a serious issue and not just with technology. In my current school I am blue in the face telling students that they have to learn it, practise it etc.They seem to be under the impression that I should be able to implant it in their heads. No matter how many notes, innovative technology, grinds etc that are used-students have to be open to learning!

SpatialPlanning

Hi all.

I'm looking for opinions and/or advice on the use of smart technology, specifically iPads, in an ESL setting.

I am teaching English in a small school in South Korea at present. Recently my school was chosen to be one of the pilot schools in the area of smart education. My 5th and 6th class students will each have the use of an iPad which they will use when accessing online story books. I think it could turn out to be a very positive experience for them as the excitement levels among students has noticeably risen since they discovered what would be happening.

In preparation for this we have been using our computer lab to try and teach the students how to use the websites and access the story books.

I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on what problems myself and my co-teacher might face? What will be the most difficult part of introducing a new technology?

Thanks for the help!

amen

Here's an interesting article from last December questioning whether the iPad is ready for use in the classroom.

I can't afford the €34.95 required to read the article. Whats the summary
A: Makes a difference
B: Makes no difference
C: too early to tell.

If its A or C we shouldn't be using it.

What I don't get is we have schools falling down, not enough teacher to teach the basics and yet schools are spending on IT when the money would be better directed to basic facilities and increasing the number of teachers.

Tom Dunne

amen wrote: »

I can't afford the €34.95 required to read the article.

Seriously? Crap, sorry about that. I downloaded it through my university catalogue, so they must be paying for it, or paying a subscription.

amen wrote: »

Whats the summary

Basically that the iPad is not at the stage yet to make a difference in the classroom.

amen wrote: »

What I don't get is we have schools falling down, not enough teacher to teach the basics and yet schools are spending on IT when the money would be better directed to basic facilities and increasing the number of teachers.

I would imagine ICT is seen a a panacea - for what is a relatively small amount, the perceived rewards gained could outweigh the cost.