New technologies in the schools

Nowdays we are surrounded by new technologies, it is therefore important that from school we teach students to give a correct use of them.

With this aim the Spanish education system has launched project “School 2.0”: "Project school 2.0 is a project of integration of the technologies of information and communication (technology ICT) in schools which provides the personalized use of a personal computer for every student. But it is not just give each student a personal computer, is also implement the "digital classroom" of 21st century equipped with technological infrastructure and basic connectivity to open the classroom to the reality…"

The first step was to provide personal computer to students ages 10-11 and later students between 11 and 14 years old.

Step by step are transforming classrooms in "digital classroom" are replacing the blackboard by digital whiteboards, computers being installed for teachers, Wi-Fi in the classrooms, etc. This has caused the main problem today, bad preparation of teachers to teach using new technologies, while the Ministry of education has launched on-line courses on instruments ICT for teacher training, they are few performing these courses and therefore not be maximized resources available to the classroom.

School 2.0 proposed use digital tools to complement the traditional model of education, enhance visual learning of students, enhance their participation, their motivation and theircreativity, provide attractive and documented classes and much more.

The creation of these digital classrooms is an adaptation of the school organization, including staff of the center.
On the other hand, the extension of classroom space will result in the
contacts and mentoring with families could be done through virtual classrooms. This represents a radical change in the way of teaching, learning and assessment.

The participation of the families of the students is one of the essential parts of the program, because the computer is a personal instrument of each student. The involvement of students and families in the use and care of equipment and proper use of connectivity is a task to do together.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Education

After reading about new technologies in the classroom I can find advantages and disadvantages in the use of these.

Advantages:

Nowadays, the educational one must know a little each thing, from the instrumental and operational point of view (connection of equipment of audio, video, etc) handling and update of software, design of pages Web, blog and many things more.

The teacher learns with his students, teachers with teachers, thanks to the cooperation and work in equipment.

The motivation of the student increases, and this one quick greater attention to the explanations, since the children usually are customary to the monotony of the traditional system.

Digitalization of the majority of the information (as much dependency of pencil and paper does not exist)

Greater access to the education of the students with special educational needs

Disadvantages:

Frequently the teacher feels overwhelmed by his work reason why often they prefer the classic method.

Given to the amount and variety of information, it is easy that the student relaxes and wastes time sailing in pages that does not offer benefit him. The student can waste his objective and its time.

The students can feel saturated and in many cases they decide "to cut and to stick" information without processing it.

Bad use of the new technologies of the pupils.

Technical Problems.

The joint work between school, family and society is necessary for good results of the implementation of these new materials.
The family has been facilitating the work of the child and take care of materials. And the society has in its hands many possibilities of action like for example in Spain there are companies that offer internet at students of compulsory education, with nine euros per month they can sail by internet from 18:00 to 21:00. In addition, filter prevents access to content unsuitable for schoolchildren and thus guarantees using safe.

Finally, during my degree I had the opportunity to practice in some schools, these schools were ICT schools, and see how used new technologies makes me ask me if to invest that money in updating classes and provide them with all kinds of progress had not been better to use some of that money in teacher training. We would have less material but use we would do them would be much better.

If you want to know more about that you can read this web page, Click here (It´s in Spanish) or you can ask me what you want.