Technology is spreading throughout our society, including in classroom settings. It has been incorporated into a variety of school’s curriculum in hopes for increased academic success. “Revolution in Teaching and Learning” by Carole Eaton from the T.H.E. Journal (August, 2005) describes the success of Fairmount Park Elementary School's technology efforts, for after implementing technology heavily into the curriculum, their test scores improved dramatically. The following is my personal response to the article.
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The article “Revolution in Teaching and Learning” by Carole Eaton from T.H.E. Journal (August 2005) presented the concept of intensely using technology in the classroom for greater educational success. In this article, Eaton reveals the journey of an underperforming school that solved their academic woes through technology. She integrates her strong belief of the use of technology in the classroom throughout the article by revealing the achievement of Fairmount Park Elementary School and their 124 percent increase on an Ohio standardized test after receiving the NCLB Title II D: Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant.
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Because of the EETT grant, Fairmount was able to invest in numerous technology products. One element implemented into the school that Eaton shares is not only a stationary, but a mobile computer lab (p. 22). I found the mobile lab to be an extremely interesting tool. The idea is great, but having to rotate the computers between classrooms seems like it may be more of a hassle than it is worth. If handled properly, however, I think that it could be a very powerful instrument. Having the computers at the children’s desks could help the teacher integrate technology into a variety of subjects. As stated by Eaton, computers target a variety of learning styles; thus, teachers could address each child’s individual needs through the mobile lab with more ease and frequency (p. 22).
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My favorite quote by Eaton in this article reads “Engagement is a crucial component; without it you have their bodies, but you’ll never capture their minds” (p. 22). Being a current student myself, I strongly agree with this statement. The many aspects of technology that were implemented into Fairmount definitely engaged the students in their academic achievement. Eaton shares that many of the students were so engaged in their assignments that they were asking to stay in from recess to continue their school work (p.24)!
Graphic: http://www.southampton.liu.edu
When first implementing the new extreme use of technology, Eaton suggests that some teachers were apprehensive to embrace this premature way of learning. She quickly comforted them however, with this imperative statement, “’ I don’t want you to change the way you teach. I just want you to use another layer of tools. Continue to use manipulatives, textbooks, exercises, and other things you’ve come to rely on. But now you’ve got a new set of tools that can help’” (p. 22). This is a huge factor in creating an acceptance of any new theory among teachers. I agree that technology increases student’s achievement along with other methods of instruction. I am sure it was important for the teachers of failing students to not feel as though their way of teaching was ineffective, but to learn of other methods as well.
I believe that this was the main component that enabled what Eaton calls a cultural change in schools. She goes on to say that implementing technology heavily into the curriculum changed people; for example, teachers who hated technology fell in love with it and gained stronger bonds as a teaching staff (p. 24). This is a monumental step for teachers, as many teachers are set in their dated teaching traditions. I am convinced that the constant educator training assisted in this transition of teacher mindset because it allowed the teachers to work together and understand the influence of technology better (p. 24). I hope that when I am a teacher, this type of training will be offered to me as I apply the technology concept into my classroom.
Graphic: http://www.southampton.liu.edu
This article has made me desire to use technology in my future classroom as much as possible. It would be wonderful if I were able to have the same equipment that the teachers and students of Fairmount Park Elementary School enjoy in my future classroom, such as the SMART Boards and mobile computer lab. Unfortunately these uses of technology are rare in schools, but this could change if teachers, principles, and administrators were to read this article and recognize the effect technology has in the classroom. Therefore, I would recommend this article to all educators so that they could see how successful technology can be for academic success. I, like Eaton, believe that using technology can change students’ desire and growth in education. Hopefully, when I use technology in my classroom, I will see the outstanding results in my students that the teachers of Fairmount Park Elementary School have enjoyed.
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