-the importance of technology in teaching

From my experience of learning and from the journey of reading, I grasp something valuable which that the technology is really important in using and developing resources for teaching. From my point of view, technology can be a tool for the children to communicate with each others and as the result of this interaction process, the children become an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast. I also think that by using the technology, the children can actively explore by themselves about how to obtain, manipulate and generate the information. As we approach the 21^st century, we can see a major changes in roles of the teacher as well. From my observation, nowadays, the teacher is no longer the center of attention as the dispenser of information, but rather plays the role of facilitator, setting project goals and providing guidelines and resources, moving from student to student or group to group, providing suggestions and support for student activity. As students work on their technology-supported products, the teacher rotates through the room, looking over shoulders, asking when necessary and let the children themselves do their own exploration. This is what I intended in my future classroom one day. I want to give my pupils some superficial time for them to learn in their own by using the technology.

Through my reading, I also had gain knowledge that the using of technology can boost up the pupils motivation. Here is a quote from a teacher that I found really motivating in promoting technology in the classroom:

The kids that don't necessarily star can become the stars. [with technology]. My favorite is this boy . . . who had major problems at home. He figured out a way to make music by getting the computer to play certain letters by certain powers and it changed the musical tone of the note and he actually wrote a piece. He stayed in every recess. . . . When I asked him what he was working on, he wouldn't tell me. Then he asked if he could put his HyperCard stack on my computer because it was hooked up to speakers. I said "sure" and at recess. . . he put it on my computer and played his music and literally stopped the room. And for months he had kids begging him at recess, every recess, to teach them how to make music. And for that particular kid it was the world because he really was not successful academically and was having lots of problems. . . . This really changed him for that school year. -Elementary school teacher

~Kids like the immediate results. It's not a result that you can get anywhere else except on the computer. . . . For them it really is a big deal. Much more so than I ever though it was going to be. --Elementary school teacher

~Technology is the ultimate carrot for students. It's something they want to master. Learning to use it enhances their self-esteem and makes them excited about coming to school. --Fifth grade teacher

~The computer has been an empowering tool to the students. They have a voice and it's not in any way secondary to anybody else's voice. It's an equal voice. So that's incredibly positive. Motivation to use technology is very high. --Elementary school teacher

Now, I strongly admit that technology should be an integral part of the learning environment. Children nowadays are immersed in a daily life full of computers and other technological advances. I recommend that the schools in Malaysia should reflect this change in the classroom. Integration of technology does not mean placing a computer in the corner of the classroom and leaving it un-touched throughout the semester. Thus, technology must be incorporated in all aspects of the curriculum for our students’ benefit.