Laptops in schools to improve reading, writing and independence
Recently i read the article ‘Study shows classroom laptops can improve reading skills’ posted on k-12 computing blueprint. When reading this article i was intrigued by the statements made concerning the positive effects of laptops in schools. The article states that laptops allow less teacher talk time and more individual and group work time. I also believe that laptops will allow less teacher talk time whereby students are able to research and follow easy instructions and complete on task work. However, my concern with laptops in the classroom is that children will be constantly distracted by the computers and will therefore fall off tasks. The article also states that the students will find learning “more interesting and motivating”. This is defiantly true, however teachers will need to be well aware of each individual’s participation in the class and their ability to stay on task. Therefore i feel as a teacher i would encourage the use of laptops in the classroom, thus introducing technology in the classroom. However teachers need to maintain strict guidelines and restrict the use of laptops to specific learning activities, timing and/or KLAs.
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Dear Phoebe,
I am please to see that you have visiting your blog more frequently and have managed to make some recent contributions.
The link to the article you are referring to in this posting is not live and so I’ve not been able to access the actual article you are citing. However, you do raise some interesting points about the use of laptops – their strengths and limitations. I wonder how your belief that their use should be controlled, in effect, by the teacher sits with the idea of autonomous learning and personalised learning. Doesn’t access to a rich ICT environment allow for more personalised learning? What do you think? What role might a teacher play in such an environment?
Glynis
yes it should provide personalised learning, however, giving children all access to anything on laptops can cause havic rather than increasing their education. Allowing children to use laptops within the educational context both their curriculum knowledge will improve as well as their technology knowledge.