As students, school was a mythical place of boredom mixed with some really fascinating classes. We trudged through the subjects that we did not enjoy so that we could spend more time on the subjects we loved. Our parents would constantly tell us how things have changed since the time they were in school to our school days. Sure, as we roll our eyes, the Egyptians were building the pyramids when our parents were in school.
While that is more than a slight exaggeration, we realize that as we make new discoveries, learn new things that the way we teach out children changes as well. We are now the parents who feel so out of the loop when it comes to today’s school system. Our children are having to do more and more computer based learning than we ever had to do in our college computer course. And our children are only in elementary school! How does a parent keep with all the technologies in the classroom? We begin sounding like our parents lamenting the good old days, but how do we know that these technologies are good for our schools?
Many school teachers have seen children’s interest in technologies and are tapping into this. Every level of education is grasping to the connection of the internet, using the computer to do more assignments, and even developing courses and degree programs on sites like elearners.com. Kids today want to see images, videos, and pictures while the teacher is teaching her lesson. This means if the students are learning about China that they can access information about China—pictures, videos, etc. This helps the students learn. These teachers have realized that computers, the internet, and learning technologies are the gate way for a brighter future. When students become engaged in more than one sensory function, every student learns better. So, if a teacher can help show, sample foods, or listen to music from another culture, the students learn more and are excited about learning. So, yes, these learning technologies are a good things for the schools today.