Technology + Education = Educational Psychology?

Continuing on from my previous blog regarding education and technology, I thought it would be important to point out that I am currently taking a course known as Educational Psychology. Dr. Patricia Alexander is not only my professor for this class, but she also wrote the textbook we are using for the course. The textbook is titled, "Psychology in Learning and Instruction."

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Luckily for me, Dr. Alexander devotes a whole chapter to technology and how it has been effective in the educational process. She states that, "educational technologies are commonplace in schools and classrooms--so much so that their presence and their power are simply accepted without question or reflection," (270).

In addition to how much technology has evolved the educational process, she also talks about the effects of technology, more specifically the assisted effects and residual effects of computer-based technology (274).

Assisted effects are the effects shown WITH technology. For example, if I am unsure on how to do a math problem, I could look up how to do it online. This shows me using technology to learn something.

Residual effects are the effects shown AFTER the use of technology. After being exposed to how to do the math problem online, I should be able to do the problem on my own without technology.

These type of effects can help show how much technology can (or cannot) be beneficial in a classroom setting. With the computer fighting for the lead as the most commonly used technological device (perhaps it has already taken the lead), there is a never-ending list of things it can do to help educate students.

1. PowerPoint lectures (as some of us students are already familiar with)

2. YouTube videos

3. Microsoft Excel/Word etc

4. Pictures/Videos/Movies other media

5. Virtual Classrooms

6. Internet

And the list goes on.

Now you might ask: What does this have to do with psychology? As stated earlier, this class is known as Educational Psychology. The reason why technology comes into play, is because the class is about educating the student in the best way possible, and using technology is without a doubt, one of the best ways. Not only does it capture the student's attention, but using technology also helps to relate to the student. In my personal opinion, having a professor use new technology would certainly grab my interest, thus allowing me to become more focused on the lesson, that is, if I am not distracted by other technologies...

Technology: Classroom Future vs. Classroom Failure

For the past couple of days, the main question for our class has been whether or not technology is beneficial for educational purposes. And if so, how has it been used to educate?

Well, for the first question, it is certainly difficult to say that technology is not beneficial, considering the fact that society uses technology every day, and in most cases, its necessary. I can't remember the last time I was in a classroom in which the professor did not use the computer to convey his or her lecture. Can you?

Naturally the computer has become the number one source to communicate information, whether it is inside a classroom or not. It has PowerPoint, Word, the internet, etc. In addition, the majority of the younger generation have computers, therefore, it would make sense that teachers would use this as a bridge to connect with their students.

With the world of technology vastly becoming, well, our world as we know it, it can be foreseen that it would certainly change the way our classroom looks and works. We've already seen these changes. Lessons were taught in a variety of ways, ranging from verbal lessons only and chalkboards, to overhead projectors to the computer. While we still see chalkboards in classrooms today, it is very seldom that we ever see the teacher actually writing on the board.

As far as becoming a classroom failure, distraction may be the number one downside to technology (in my opinion). While having a computer allows taking notes easier and faster, no student can deny the fact that computers also offer ways of distraction, especially with the internet just a click away. Other problems that may arise are technical difficulties, which were clearly seen during the Virtual Classroom our Jour289 class had the other day. However, technical difficulties can usually be fixed. Distraction...not so much.

With that said, I will end this blog with a YouTube video shown in one of my classes. It not only talks about technology, but it takes a look at our society, and our world from the past, present, and the future. It really makes you think about how much can change in such a short amount of time, just like the look of our classrooms.