Technology use for improving behavior and performance in elementary classrooms

¶ … students becoming more eager to learn with technology?

What affect does the use of technology in the classroom have on the students or interest in the curriculum?

Does the engagement in computer activities improve the concentration span of the students?

The reason why I chose these questions:

The reason I would find this topic exciting is because, my son is on an IEP with a learning disability in reading. I must say he has gotten a lot better with using the computer and the opportunity to learn on various sites as well as other different programs. This has motivated him to learn and he has gained confidence from it, so I felt it would become great to find out why is it easier for children to learn from technology than an actual teacher. Is technology taking the place of an educator?

Processes

The processes in coming up with these three questions are important. A typical person will do a Google search, which is exactly what I did in this particular case. For example, I typed in "effects of technology on children." As a result, a plethora of sites arose because of it. In fact, I found three key sites that are pertinent to this manuscript. These are as follows. For example, the website entitled" The Real Truth" (2009). When on reads this site, he or she quickly learns that it is about finding out if technology does stunt a child's social development. Upon further reading the data provided from neuroscientists, one realizes that social networking sites do make this occur and the evidence from the research proves it. This is signifcant because changes are needed by the parents and the children. Not only that, but also aggressive behavior that could become violent could result; consequently, people are getting addicted because of how prominent the Internet is used (The Real Truth, 2009).

What is interesting is that the American Psychological Association has done studies with technology and the effects of it on children as well. Now one has to remember that I am discussing that of students of all ages. Here is what APA had to say about this phenomenon. "For example, the amount and diversity of information available on the Internet, while potentially harmful because of its often uncertain origins, may also foster critical thinking, suggested some researchers" (Carpenter, 2000, para 8). They stressed that it is important to not count the positive and negative aspects of it, but to study this issue further. More information is needed with this matter, and this does explain partially the process involved in making sure that one understands technology in the classroom setting because of it (Carpenter, 2000).

A number of articles are present with this topic, so that one understands the effects of technology on youngsters. The author noted that there is a disconnect taking place between parents and children today because of technology. Because of this the culture has changed, a person has become revolved around the screen and information that is provided on the World Wide Web (CIO, 2003). Many schools are using this technology to teach kids how to use it efficiently. However, the opposite occurs because the person is relying on the technology more than his or her family by means of spending more time talking to friends on Facebook (CIO, 2003). This also includes using text messaging through the use of the parents providing their child a phone, along with relying on email that their educational insittutions provide their students; consequently, their attention span is shorter due ot focusing on the technology more than what is getting said from the adult on tasks that need done around the house or at school (CIO, 2003). However, a number of challenges are worth considering when dealing with this particular project.

Challenges

I discovered many challenges that arose from the research questions. The first is that I did not know where to begin on writing them. The only thing I knew was start with my own family, and then to possibly go from there. However, this was not easy because I did not want to offend any of those that I am related to during this entire process by making them out as horrible people; when that is not the case at all. In fact, I value each person dearly, but I also know that I cannot please everyone all the time. I learned that I needed to have patience through this process because my research will definitely benefit myself and everyone I encounter on a regular basis. After much discussion with my child and those we know, I was able to come up with the questions that I believed fit this research proposal well.

The other challenged that I discovered was that it is going to become difficult to monitor children's behavior in the home setting, so I wanted to make sure that this was done in their school. This allows me flexibility and the opportunity to work with the children's teachers in order that I see how it is used as well as how others are reacting to the technology in the classroom setting (The Real Truth, 2009).