Week 2 Trends in Technology: 5 Emerging Tech Trends for K-12 Education

Technology trends that can and will take further root in educational institutions in 2011, and facilitate engaging, productive teaching, learning, and communication.

1. There will be more momentum for mobile devices in the classrooms with an eye toward affordable alternatives to traditional 1:1 programs.
2. Web-based instruction will gain more traction.
3. More tech-based monitoring and assessment tools will be incorporated into the instructional mix.
4. The cloud will help ease the financial burden on schools while helping to expand technological capabilities.
5. Teachers will have access to expanded professional development programs.

                             


Technology trends for grades K-12 can be a good thing or a bad thing.  After reading some information about emerging tech trends for K-12 education, I thought, now why who they introduce technology to Kindergartens.  What kindergarten would be interested in technology, besides playing, napping, eating snacks, and learning how to count and say their ABC's.  Then I thought, technology would be a good thing for them because now a days kids are learning at an early age.  Some parents are introducing technology to their kids at the ages of 18 months.  When emerging or introducing tech trends, I think its a good idea for elementary kids especially for those who loves to learn. 

On the Other hand, emerging tech trends for middle and high school is a different story.  For example,  last year I know atleast one middle school whos students received laptops (notebook).  These students were allowed to take these laptops home, but of course to study and do homework.  Some students abused the laptop by using it as their personal computer.  They were on the internet, on facebook, youtube, and etc. instead of studying and doing homework.  Some students even got their labtops taken up because they were on the internet in class.  So personally, how can a student focus on work or the teacher in class when they have access to the internet.  Now, I know if college students does it, then what makes them think that middle school and high school students wouldn't do it.  Although they say this generation now is all about technology, yes, that is true, but are they using this technology for education? or Are they mostly using it for games, communication, entertainment, or just using or getting it because they parents can afford?  I most certainly think that there should be more rules incorporate when it comes to technology in school, especially when students have access to it all day.  Teachers taking up laptops and other education devices may not solve the  problem.  Whatever rules are incoroporate, it should have a big affect on students to keep them focus on work and their teachers.

Now emerging tech trends for middle and high schoolers is also a good thing.  There are students who doesn't have access to a computer at home.  There are kids that have parents that doesn't get envolve in their class or homework. These new tech trends can help students learn the easiest and fastest way.  It can prepare students for high school and college.  It can prepare younger students on how to write a paper, a memo, how to make a web page, or anything that is knowledgable for the future.  It can also be beneficial to the parents.  The parent can check their child laptops to see what all they learned for that day or week, check to see if they have homework, look at their grades, and etc.  This is beneficial for the teachers as well.  Teachers can see how the student is progressing, it shows them which students are learning and which students are not, and it shows which parents are envolved in their childs education.  There is so much a student can learn by using technology.

I agree with each of these items as technology trends that can and will take further root in educational institutions, and facilitate engaging, productive teaching, learning, and communication.