Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom by Amy

Learning Inside and Outside the Classroom by Amy - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

Being born in 2002 I have seen how much the world has changed in the past few decades with its rise in phones, communication, and also its way of educating new students. I can vividly remember back in elementary school when we would spend time practicing cursive and have classes with traditional pencil and paper. But nowadays, computers and online classrooms fill the eight-hour school day. Some people can consider all this technology a negative effect on students because it could be a “distraction”. However, the use of technology at my school has improved my learning environment and skills outside the classroom.
I got my first school-given Chromebook in my sophomore year of high school. Previously, students could only use them in class but now we were able to take them home. I remember being excited about having one and I started my homework right away. I was amazed at the variety of resources at my fingertips compared to a folder that was about to explode with handouts and papers. The thing I enjoyed seeing the most was all my classmates having a chance to learn the same way I did. There is a minority of students who cannot afford to get textbooks or struggle to learn just by lecturing. But since everyone has Chromebooks these kids are introduced to new ways of learning that can help them grow. For example, my cousin struggled through the third grade but her school allowed her to catch up in an online classroom specifically made for students like her. The abundance of media and resources gives an opportunity for all types of students and has created a flexible and equal learning environment at my school and others.
In addition of technology, the role of the teacher has expanded. Many people say that technology is replacing the teacher but I believe it has helped me learn more outside the classroom. For example, teachers can list resources on pages in the online classroom when a student is gone. I know that interactive calendars with daily agendas have helped me become more organized and get ahead in my AP classes. Along with being given more resources, teachers can also show students concepts that they couldn’t teach by themselves. I remember in my current-issues class we started learning about terrorism. That year, my teacher decided to change how she previously taught the unit. Instead of teaching it through packets she let us do the learning ourselves. She would set up online modules with videos, articles, and news stories. This expanded my understanding of these events and a better idea of how terrorism affected the world socially and politically. Technology is helping students learn and connect inside and outside the classroom.
Although technology has done all these things at my school the most important thing I have learned is what it is like to be a digital citizen. Using technology can come with its shortcomings such as security, fake news, and addiction. However, the use of technology has taught me how to use it responsibly and safely. I have a better idea of what is factual on the internet because of how much I use it at school. I have greater trust in what I read and what I do. I know that what I post and what I search for affects my identity and future. The implementation of technology is preparing students for the future and what it means to learn and be safe on the vast internet.