7.+Positive+development+for+schooling+and+student+learning

There are many positive outcomes for teaching and using new technologies in classrooms. The demand to incorporate technology into everyday curriculum has required teachers engage in training to stay ahead of the students. Teachers are finding different ways to teach and have had to rethink the way classrooms are designed, rethink the structure of curriculum, and rethink the way in which teachers, students, and parents communicate. It's led to an increase in teacher trainings, it's created new jobs, and it’s led to entirely new sections of student handbooks as well as curriculum. All technology plays a significant role in the curriculum from kindergarten up, so much so that it is almost invisible. Students as young as kindergarten work in computer labs every day, while upper primary grades are learning to create presentations and access the Internet for research. Middle school students use digital cameras, camcorders, scanners and microphones to work with richer digital media, creating such projects as movies, photo albums, brochures and more. High school students have full-featured laptops and use them in nearly every classroom to enhanced projects, take notes, take tests and make new medias. There are many positives to using technology in the classrooms**.** In a recent study done by the Education Cisco System it was concluded that ‘Students respond better to topics that are incorporated with technology.’ (Halliday, J 1999) One teacher in America is using technology ‘every day for instruction, and has been piloting a program that uses PalmOne Handhelds with Internet access. The classroom is equipped with enough handhelds for each student to use for activities that range from vocabulary to virtual tours.’ (Thomas, 1996) This shows that classroom teaching is changing and technology is being used to help further the students’ knowledge. The students are learning with technology and using it to their advantage.  New technology in the classroom is an advantage for all students. Whether it is using computers or producing new medias such as podcasts it is a definite benefit as it is keeping the children and teachers up with current technology.

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This video was taken from YouTube. Halliday J 1999, The Graduate Diploma in Education Technology: The Development of an Online Programme, UNITEC Institute of Technology, retrieved 31 March 2008, < http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/melbourne01/pdf/papers/hallidayj.pdf > Thomas, K. Glennan, J. & Melmed, A. 1996, //Fostering the Use of Educational Technology: Elements of a National Strategy//, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh.

YouTube 2008, //Teachers and Technology,// retrieved 2 April 2008, < http://youtube.com/watch?v=WWcp8smECj8&feature=related >