How does the technology benefit West Salem High School students and teachers? Teachers and students shared their thoughts on how it affects learning and teaching.
Recently at WSHS, new TVs were installed in each classroom replacing the older projectors and smartboards. A Grand Canyon University Article called How Using Technology in Teaching Affects Classrooms, reads, “For nearly the last 20 years, technology has been used in the school curriculum for teaching and learning purposes alike.” After the outbreak of COVID-19 a few years ago, learning turned to online demonstrating how technology can be a vital part of the education system.
Technology for the last few decades has been a necessary resource for students and teachers. Many schools only use analog tools such as books, notebooks, whiteboards, and posters in instructional design. However, most schools tend to balance out these tools with technology to have access to all the benefits of each resource. In response to the preferred resource, Kappy Nicholson said, “I actually like both. Like we use the e-book for the math textbook, but I also have a notebook where we do in-class activities and homework and notes and stuff. So I do a combination. I like both.”
For students, assignments online can have positive outcomes. According to freshman Nicholas White, “It can make things easier to organize. So like if I have a couple of different documents or spreadsheets that I’m using on an assignment it helps keep everything in one place so I can easily access them.” With the help of computers, students can easily access grades and course information during the school year.
Although computers are helpful, paperback assignments aren’t so bad. In response to which he prefers, Nicholas shared, “I think I prefer paperback. Just because it’s a physical assignment. It’s harder to lose. Whereas on the computer, it kind of gets lost in everything else.”
Furthermore, recent new TVs were installed in each classroom, but teachers have their downsides to their abilities. Nicholson shared her thoughts, “It is not a touchscreen. So if it was a touchscreen it would be a lot more interactive and I could have students come up and be interactive with it and myself but we don’t have that capability.”
Would students gain a better learning experience if they could interact with the core lessons? With the help of technology, students can better complete their schoolwork, effectively have a better learning experience, and keep and maintain their grades.
