Week 2

Discuss at least 3 of the issues shaping the role of technology in education. Discuss at least 3 of the things we have learned from the history of educational technology that can help us shape today’s uses.
There are many issues that shape the role of technology in education. One extremely important one is our country’s economic downfall. Because our country is experiencing this downfall, there is very little funding for the education field. Another issue is the reliance on the Internet and distance-education. Because so many are now relying heavily on distance education, the drop-out rate is steadily rising. This increases the digital divide. Yet another issue is plagiarism. Since there is a greater access to the internet and all the information provided there, there are many new ways to cheat.
One of the things that we have learned from the history of educational technology is that teachers do not tend to incorporate the use of technology into their curriculum. We can use this information by striving harder to incorporate technology and change this past image. Another thing we have learned is that technology changes faster than the educators can keep up with. It is virtually impossible for a teacher to be proficient in all areas of technology. However, in order to help with this problem, schools and boards should provide many opportunities for professional development to help curtail this problem. Lastly, another thing that we have learned from history is that teachers will always be more important than the technology itself. Although it is highly beneficial to have technology integrated into the curriculum in order to keep students engaged and help them learn, it is absolutely essential to have someone to teach the material first. If there is no teacher, nobody learns the information.