Classroom Comprehensive Technology Plan: Increasing Productivity and Efficiency of Students and Teachers
The comprehensive technology plan has the overall goal of producing quality learners who are ready to face life after school. To be able to do this, I as the teacher must be able to incorporate inside the classrooms the actual technologies used in the real world so that my students will not stay naïve. Even if my students are well taught on theories, but they do not know how to apply these in the real world, then all the learning that they gain from school will be nothing because what is important is how they will apply these in the real world. However, in doing so, ethical issues must also be touch as it is part of my job as a teacher to not only teach the students the facts but also to mold them as people who have good values.
As a teacher, I wouldn’t be able to achieve this goal if I am not knowledgeable on the latest technological trends. This just means that I have to do double time in learning getting acquainted on these new technologies and find ways on how I can use these tools to increase my teaching-learning environment. It would not be good to see and my students will also lose their trust in me if they will see that that are more capable of utilizing these new technologies than I as their teacher. The teacher must always be at least one step ahead of its students.
Though the technology plan focuses on the use of computers as an aid in teaching, the more important aspect of this is how it can help the students, and I, as the teacher in enhancing the teaching-learning environment and the students productivity and my efficiency as the teacher. With this plan, it is expected that the students will be more productive. They will be able to produce faster outputs since they will be using technological devices for their notes and their reports for example. Instead of writing down notes, which would entail the use of other resources and time, they could just record lectures and listened to them again so that in case they weren’t able to understand them during the actual lecture, they could be able to review.
Aside from this, they would be able to do their homework while on the road. With the capabilities of new technology today, a student does not need to actually visit a library for his references because while on the road, he can access the e-libraries and do their researches. This can increase their productivity as they save time and can do two things at a time so that when they arrive home they can concentrate on their other activities. With the notes readily available on the web, students who were absent can catch up with their classmates. This just means that they have increase access to their lessons improving access to education.
In addition to these benefits for the students, their critical thinking skills will be enhanced since they will have opportunities to voice out their assessments and findings on discussion boards. They would be able to comment on issues surrounding them enhancing their analysis skills. Since these types of discussion boards are not only open to the students, their parents and other people from around the world can post their comments making them aware of what other think or increasing their awareness of the environment around them.
For the part of the teacher, productivity and efficiency will be greatly enhanced. The teacher will not be relying only on the textbooks for her lessons because he will have access to other resources available on the net especially best practices of other teachers which he can adapt to increase his effectiveness as a teacher. His notes can also be saved so it is readily available for references in case he needs them again in some other classes. The teacher can also join networks where he can get tips on how to present his lessons to class. By putting his lessons readily available online, he can also help his students and their parents because those parents who want to monitor their children would know if they will have homeworks or what lessons are they in or what projects their children have.
This can also be used as a tool in monitoring the teacher which will eventually lead to increased productivity and efficiency because if their topics and coverage is already available on line, they will see to it that they cover all their topics on time as they know that their students parents and administration can get updates on how the class is taught and on what topic are they already in. In addition to these, there will be increased interaction between students and teachers strengthening the role of teachers as facilitators and improving communication between the two which is helpful to increase the productivity of students.
Implementing the Comprehensive Technology Plan will boost student-learning and will enhance the teaching learning environment. This will also increase the moral of both the students and the teachers for they know that they are not left behind in terms of utilization of technology inside and outside of their classrooms.
References
Best, Stephen (1997). Developing A Comprehensive Technology Plan. Retrieved from http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sdbest/techplan/macul1.htm
Microsoft Inc (2013). Developing and Accessible Technology Plan. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/enable/business/plan.aspx
Stillman, Anne (2012). Technology Increases Student and Teacher Productivity. Retrieved from http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/duneland/chesterton/technology-increases-student-and-teacher-productivity/article_e211c838-271d-5e2b-958e-82d29bd5504c.html
