The Impact of Technology in the Classroom: My Experience by Ben

The Impact of Technology in the Classroom: My Experience by Ben - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

In a world where technology surrounds us, it is easy to recognize the great significance that these technological innovations have on every aspect of our daily lives. When people generally think about technology and the classroom, a negative stigma can come attached. Images of teens with their cellphones and earbuds come to mind, who pay little to no attention to the valuable information being presented to them. Beyond the realm of these stereotypes, the use of many forms of technology can be quite beneficial, and from my experience it has greatly enhanced the classroom. No matter what subject is being taught or what skill is being obtained, the tools of technology always play a positive role in supplementing education.

Basic technology such as the computer and digital whiteboards have set a standard for education, making them as essential as a notebook or pencil. When diving deep into historical events, content beyond the textbooks enriched my understanding of what the teacher was orally presenting to us. Images and video presentations were essential in telling the complete story of a historical event. The use of class connection software in every classroom allowed me to stay organized and on top of my assignments. The ability to digitally submit my work and collaborate with classmates electronically has introduced a new level of education that is decisively positive.

While the benefits of technology in the classroom are applicable to every type of educational instruction, from my personal experience I have found that some classes have substantially more beneficial aspects than others. Throughout my high school years, I have taken courses related to STEM, including 2 years of computer science and robotics. The use of traditional computers combined with tablets allowed me to program and test my own mobile applications, and I was able to have hands-on experience. In robotics, the ability to program small robots with our phones made it easy for everyone in the classroom to learn how simple machines combine with electronics to power a mobile robot. Reading or writing about these topics does not suffice. My ability to apply myself in the classroom is augmented by technology. It gives us the tools to experience firsthand the necessary skills that are beneficial to our understanding of a topic.