Smart Classrooms Smart Classrooms in Educationin Education

By: Nicole Horner By: Nicole Horner

Kelsey RichKelsey Rich

Maureen LessmanMaureen Lessman

Technology DebateTechnology Debate

The rise in the use of technology in The rise in the use of technology in classrooms has changed the environment classrooms has changed the environment

students learn in both for the better and the students learn in both for the better and the worse. Those who support smart classrooms worse. Those who support smart classrooms

feel the Internet supplies additional feel the Internet supplies additional valuable information while machines help valuable information while machines help classroom time run more efficiently and classroom time run more efficiently and

smoothly. Those who believe technological smoothly. Those who believe technological changes to the learning experience are not changes to the learning experience are not

beneficial feel that teachers are being beneficial feel that teachers are being replaced while class time is being cut short replaced while class time is being cut short

with technical glitches and uninformed with technical glitches and uninformed teachers. While creating many new teachers. While creating many new opportunities to better the learning opportunities to better the learning

experience, smart classrooms have also experience, smart classrooms have also brought many opportunities for disaster. brought many opportunities for disaster.

What is a smart What is a smart classroom?classroom?

Smart ClassroomsSmart Classrooms are updated classrooms that are updated classrooms that contain machines and programs of new technology contain machines and programs of new technology used to intensify the learning experience. Some of used to intensify the learning experience. Some of

these modern tools are PowerPoint, laptops, Internet these modern tools are PowerPoint, laptops, Internet and Web, projectors and visualizers, microphones, and Web, projectors and visualizers, microphones,

and cameras. Most of the tools are used in the and cameras. Most of the tools are used in the classroom during the lesson so what is taught can be classroom during the lesson so what is taught can be heard and seen better. The Internet and Web can be heard and seen better. The Internet and Web can be

used in the classroom to obtain helpful information or used in the classroom to obtain helpful information or at home to attend online classes or do work outside at home to attend online classes or do work outside of the classroom. Schools and universities usually of the classroom. Schools and universities usually

provide their students with these instruments in the provide their students with these instruments in the institution through taxes and budgets while institution through taxes and budgets while

individuals at home have to make the purchases individuals at home have to make the purchases themselves. themselves. Smart classroomsSmart classrooms are intended to are intended to amplify education and prepare students for the amplify education and prepare students for the

future. future.

A typical smart classroom ^

Projector ^

A highly useful aspect of the Internet

Positives…Positives…The benefits with using these The benefits with using these smart classroomssmart classrooms are are

immense, when used properly. The web creates unlimited immense, when used properly. The web creates unlimited access to classrooms and information. For example, access to classrooms and information. For example, students who partake in online classrooms may find students who partake in online classrooms may find

themselves overcoming their shyness and participating in themselves overcoming their shyness and participating in discussions while being able to attend the class when they discussions while being able to attend the class when they are free. Students no longer revolve around their classes, are free. Students no longer revolve around their classes,

but classes now cater to their specific schedule with but classes now cater to their specific schedule with intense flexibility. Visualizers and projectors show graphics intense flexibility. Visualizers and projectors show graphics

on a larger scale while zooming in on small intricate on a larger scale while zooming in on small intricate details. Microphones and portable mice make it possible details. Microphones and portable mice make it possible

for professors to walk around the classrooms without for professors to walk around the classrooms without trouble. Computers not only provide a more entertaining trouble. Computers not only provide a more entertaining

way of learning, but enable students to communicate with way of learning, but enable students to communicate with their peers across the world. Technology provides a chance their peers across the world. Technology provides a chance

at progressing the learning environment if taken at progressing the learning environment if taken advantage of. advantage of.

Negatives…Negatives…The problems with using technology in the classroom The problems with using technology in the classroom are that many teachers are unaware of how to use the are that many teachers are unaware of how to use the machines or how to create lessons with all aspects of a machines or how to create lessons with all aspects of a

program. When teachers do overcome this obstacle, program. When teachers do overcome this obstacle, some students refuse to take advantage by surfing the some students refuse to take advantage by surfing the web, talking to friends online, cheating, or distracting web, talking to friends online, cheating, or distracting

themselves with the Internet. Many machines themselves with the Internet. Many machines malfunction or break, needing technicians help or costly malfunction or break, needing technicians help or costly

repairs. Assignments are known to be lost in the repairs. Assignments are known to be lost in the technical world and cannot be recovered. Some students technical world and cannot be recovered. Some students

complain of an online class as depressing due to its complain of an online class as depressing due to its isolation, impersonal approach, and possible isolation, impersonal approach, and possible

misunderstanding or miscommunication with the misunderstanding or miscommunication with the teacher. Since the technology is recent, those who have teacher. Since the technology is recent, those who have not grown up using it may have trouble adapting to the not grown up using it may have trouble adapting to the software’s operations. With all these problems, many software’s operations. With all these problems, many

people feel its better to use conservative teaching styles people feel its better to use conservative teaching styles that have existed for many years.that have existed for many years.

You Decide…You Decide…Modern students have the chance to use Modern students have the chance to use

opportunities that new technological advances opportunities that new technological advances have given them to enhance their education. have given them to enhance their education. Whether or not they use these programs is Whether or not they use these programs is

dependent on the teacher and student. If the dependent on the teacher and student. If the teacher is knowledgeable with the use of the teacher is knowledgeable with the use of the

machines and the student cooperates with the machines and the student cooperates with the guidelines of that learning experience, then guidelines of that learning experience, then

learning can become interesting, utilized to its learning can become interesting, utilized to its fullest potential, and even fun! There’s no fullest potential, and even fun! There’s no

stopping the overwhelming increase in technology stopping the overwhelming increase in technology throughout the world. People can either develop throughout the world. People can either develop

their intellect taking advantage and being their intellect taking advantage and being accustomed and familiar with these changes or accustomed and familiar with these changes or

are forced to struggle with them everyday as the are forced to struggle with them everyday as the rest of the world adapts regardless to them. You rest of the world adapts regardless to them. You can either join the revolution or be left behind, can either join the revolution or be left behind,

you decide. you decide.