Effects of Technology in the Classroom

There are many effects of technology in the classroom and students, not just at the elementary level, but for all grades. Some of these include changes in student and teacher roles, increased motivation and self-esteem, development of technical skills, and accomplishment of more complex tasks. Furthermore, technology activities and interaction in the classroom leads to more collaboration with peers, increased use of outside resources, and improved design skills. When students are using technology as a tool, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information. The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate, or display information. Technology is valued within our culture. It is something that costs money and that bestows the power to add value. By giving students technology tools, students are being given more meaning to their school activities.

There are many positive and negative effects of technology in the classroom. As listed above, technology can be a great resource in the classroom and in preparing students for future encounters with technology in the real world. Students, even at the elementary school level, are able to acquire an impressive level of skill with a broad range of computer software. Many times, students develop these skills in the classroom. Teachers have observed that students are able to handle more complex assignments and use higher-order skills because of the supports and capabilities provided by technology. The effect of technology cited by a great majority of teachers is an increased ability to help students work cooperatively with each other and to even provide peer tutoring. Although the use of technology has many positive aspects, there were still concerns about appropriate student conduct, the distractedness computers can cause, and the time taken away from traditional and useful classroom activities. Teachers need to use technology as a helpful tool but not as a necessary requirement in order to make technology the most effective in the classroom.