Use of IT in the classroom helps students learn

Universities were able to start the trend with their flexible funding, but high schools are following suit.  The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Technology has observed the use and possession of technology at students' fingertips and in classrooms throughout colleges for the past five years.  Taking a glance through the key findings will grab the attention of any educator's eye.

Not only have our students grown up and been immersed in the use of computers, these technology natives are also up to date: "Despite the current economic downturn, students are entering school with newer equipment, since nearly 8 of 10 (79.0%) freshmen owned a laptop that was one year old or less" (ECAR, 2009).  Who would have thought the day would come where a student would care more about having a new computer than having a new car?

So why do they want new computers and how does IT help a student learn?  Take a look:

Do you remember the History lecture you had on the Vietnam War freshman year?  How about that lesson you read out of the textbook on the first World War sophomore year?  No?  Maybe the DVD you watched on how the US Government works with its three branches senior year?  Still no?  Hmm... You remember the field trip to the Holocaust Museum, the Chemistry Labs, Home Ec. class, and Woodshop though?

With the technological advancements in today's world, it's becoming much easier for students to do.  And that, they are: "Participation in content creation and sharing is also revealed in students' responses to questions about contributing content to Web 2.0 user-driven sites.  44.8% contributed content to video websites and 41.89% to wikis, and a little over a third of respondents said they contribute to blogs (37.3%) and use podcasts (35.0%)" (ECAR, 2009).

We are working with students who always want to become involved, and these figures are proof enough.  Forums allow for students to discuss the hottest topics of our society.  Google Earth allows you to explore the geography of the world deep into a country, into a region, into a city, into a square mile, even in 3D now.  Save for the discussion that takes place in person, contributing as an expert to a wiki or a blog is similar to teaching on a topic when you know your content is to be viewed by a multitude of persons (especially when comments are allowed and questions are answered).  Some say students just don't take school seriously anymore.  Or maybe it just could be that students are discovering a more convenient and successful outlet to obtain their information.

So much is the millennial generation growing its use of IT in their everyday life that most students (60.9 percent) said in the 2007 ECAR study they believe it improves their learning when used in the classroom.  In the 2009 study, only 1 in 10 (11.5%) disagreed, saying the use of IT in courses did not improve their learning.  It's no secret that almost all careers in today's day and age requires some sort of technological proficiency.  Students know this.  Almost half (46.8%) agreed that upon graduation the IT used in their courses will have adequately prepared them for the workplace.  Critics may argue of incorporating IT into the lessons due to personal distaste, but proponents like Tory Iiyoshi, a senior scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching encourages educators to "start thinking from different perspectives.  How they can teach better or improve student learning is, I think, very important."

But will grades improve by just sticking a computer in the classroom?  Certainly not.  In the conclusion of the 2009 report, an excellent point was made: "No matter how extensively the mobile revolution--or any other technology-based disruption for that matter--impacts higher education, respondents to our survey consistently tell us that they want to see the use of IT balanced with the human touch in their academic environment."  Or to put it in a plain and succinct perspective of a student quoted in the 2007 report: "IT is not a good substitute for good teaching. Good teachers are good with or without IT and students learn a great deal from them. Poor teachers are poor with or without IT and students learn little from them."  Simply stated, wonderfully put.