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INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO THE CURRICULUM

BY ANONYMOUS

M.ED, FACULTY OF EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE

EDUC 5220: CURRICULUM DESIGN AND INSTRUCTIONAL DECISION MAKING

DR. KRISTA GANGA

24 DECEMBER 2020
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Introduction

This is the 21st century, characterized by new innovations in all spheres of life. It is the

age of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, gene editing, self-driving cars, to mention but a

few. All these innovations are geared towards making life more comfortable and hassle-free. In

the history or evolution of computers, we see how different persons across borders strived to

improve upon the inventions of the tally sticks to the abacus, then the Napier’s bones, Pascaline,

analytical engine, and modern computers, all for the purpose of solving daily life problems and

completing mind-crushing tasks with ease. According to Bain, (1937) "technology includes all

tools, machines, utensils, weapons, instruments, housing, clothing, communicating and

transporting devices and the skills by which we produce and use them” and to the Merriam-

Webster dictionary, it is "the use of science in industry, engineering, etc., to invent useful things

or to solve problems".  The myriads of technological advancements recorded by the human

species cannot be relegated to the industries and offices, but need to be infused into the

curriculum in order to adequately prepare the students for their adult roles in this tech-driven

world. Consequently, researchers have found that using Information and communication

technology (ICT) in the classroom improves cooperation among learners and with teachers.

(Grégoire et al., 1996). Unfortunately, like everything, there is a good and a bad side. This

submission therefore seeks to discuss the positives and negatives that technology integration

brings to education.

Positive impact of technology integration in education

1. Enhanced Teaching and Learning:

A number of technological tools like projectors, computers, tablets, Power point presentations,

augmented reality software, educational apps, videos, simulations, etc. have contributed
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immensely in helping to facilitate the teaching-learning process by making the learning content

more readily accessible, understandable, and enjoyable to learners. (Davis et al., 1997)

Furthermore, due to the integration of learner-friendly components such as visual explanations

and music into tools such as educational apps and games, there is active engagement, sustained

interest, and room for more collaboration. Classroom management tools also help teachers keep

their data in a more organized and easily accessible way thereby facilitating more meaningful

and frequent feedback. In addition, technology helps learners make easier connection to real-

world experts. For instance, in the last school year, I noticed a waning interest in mathematics in

my math-loving students and sought ways to reignite the passion. I was convinced that the

solution to that challenge was only going to come if the students realized the usefulness of math

in the real world. My research took me to pbslearningmedia.org where I found videos of

professionals in different fields explaining the relevance of math in their professions. After

watching several of the videos, their enthusiasm was rekindled. This may not have been so easy

without the use of technology

2. Breaks geographical and cultural boundaries:

One of the 21st century skills that our learners should possess is global citizenship where

students ought to be given a global view of issues to enable them appreciate different cultures

and perspectives. This has been enhanced by the use of technology for distance learning, and the

learning of foreign languages. Furthermore, physical books and eBooks also supply contents that

promote multiculturalism. Most books today have stories from different cultural and

geographical locations that give the students a global view rather than a localized view, so my

students in Jos, Nigeria, may have a lot to say about cowboys in Texas not because they have
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been there, but because technology has made it possible for them to read or see a movie of

Texas.

3. Makes student assessment and tracking easier to manage

Using technology for assessment helps teachers to capture and record not only students’ scores

on tests but provides a more holistic view of the student’s learning journey.(Harlen & Deaken,

2003)  For instance, Games and software have in-built assessment strategies that help students

and teachers to identify areas that require extra practice and those that have been mastered.

During the COVID school closure, I assigned tasks to some of my students on Khan Academy.

From the comfort of my home, I was able to tell how long each child was spending on the

website, the skills that had been mastered, and those that needed extra practice. Also, on Google

classroom, all scores are automatically computed and the final results shown making it a time

saver for teachers.

Negative impact of technology in the classroom

Poor communication skills:

The increased use of technology in the classroom has given birth to a generation with poor

spelling, writing and communication skills which greatly impairs cognitive ability. This is as a

result of an over-use of online chatting shortcuts, laptop-note taking and relegation of

handwriting practice. According to Mueller & Oppenheimer, (2014).

The present research suggests that even when laptops are used solely to take notes, they

may still be impairing learning because their use results in shallower processing. In

three studies, we found that students who took notes on laptops performed worse on

conceptual questions than students who took notes longhand. 

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And Bounds, (2010) found that “writing by hand is more than just a way to communicate. It

helps with learning letters and shapes, can improve idea composition and expression, and may

aid fine motor-skill development.”

Furthermore, because students are mostly engrossed in gaming, they do not form interpersonal

relationships and hence find it quite challenging to properly collaborate.

2. Increasing Incidents of academic fraud:

With more advances in technology, there is an alarming rate of academic dishonesty globally.

Research has discovered that students are increasingly guilty of “using information without

proper referencing; using unauthorized materials during tests; and using another students

assignments from a previous semester.”  (Sayed & Lento, 2015). Furthermore, graphical

calculators, cameras, smart watches have been used to cheat in exams.

3. Distractions:

Modern students spend a great deal of their time texting and chatting, gaming or watching

movies even between and during lectures. This over-connection to the internet makes many

students disconnected from academics, sports and other physical activities causing increasing

rates of depression, behavioural problems and lack of focus on people. (Tenney School,

2015)

Conclusion
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References

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Bain, R. (1937). "Technology and State Government". American Sociological Review. 2 (6):

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Davis, N., Desforges, C. et al. (1997) 'Can Quality in Learning be Enhanced through the use of

IT?' in Somekh, B. and Davis, N. Using Information Technology Effectively in Teaching and

Learning, London, Routledge

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Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014). The Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard:

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Norman, S. (2016). Benefits of technology integration in the education sphere. eLearning

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Technology 

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