Effects of Education Technology in the Elementary Classroom on Leaners Interaction

Introduction

Use of new technologies helps people to change their way of learning and thinking. The computer is predominant everywhere and some schools have incorporated them in the school systems. Exposure of children to early childhood experiences helps to maximize development and growth. They are supposed to be introduced to the pleasure of discovery and learning wonderment. Introduction of computers in elementary school is important because it helps in optimize children potential and improve their learning process. They help to enhance both student and teaching achievement. Children across the world have passionate about the computer. Thus when introduced in school programs they can learn the network at early stages; thus in future, they are not left behind by the technology. Introduction of computers at the first stage helps in the competitiveness of careers in the future. It's a great foundation for one professional and personal life and that why they are supposed to be introduced in elementary education.

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Statement of the Problem

Use of education technology to change education is of interest to legislators, local education agency and educators. A lot of money has been allocated for teacher training, computer software, and hardware. Critics have questioned the impact technology has on learning and teaching. Although research on the effect of the education technology on children achievement is known their problems on the impact the technology has on learning environment in elementary school classroom mostly on hoe learners at all ages interact and their reaction with one another when technology is implemented in their learning process. Many schools have problems in digital era transformation while their classroom operates in the industrial age model. There is a need for additional knowledge and insight on the effect technology have in affecting students interactions in the learning environment in an elementary school class.

Background

Education technology has received considerable attention in the past few decades. This is because it helps student learning. With the development of the internet, hardware and software application many schools have focused on acquiring computer network and hardware application to fulfill educational technology objectives and goals. The availability and access to computer technologies have increased in the world. The innovation had improved because before there was just one computer used in the classroom, one computer lab with software with limited skills to school with network computers which are used to run different software application used in the curriculum. The ratio of student to the computer has reduced rapidly with time. There is an initiative where students are provided with computers which they can use both at school and at home. Due to this teachers need to restructure their ways of teaching. There is a need for teachers to have training and knowledge because it's an important component in the incorporation of the computer in the elementary classroom. According to software and information industry association educators are an important element in the success of the technology. For the success of the technology, there is a need for teacher training and the preparedness of the teachers because most teachers lack the knowledge of computers.

Purpose of the Study

To get in Digital Age Classroom at the same time using new information technique and technology tools, school personnel buy and implement many educational technology applications aiming to engage the student and improve teaching and learning. There is some improvement in achieving whiteboards, upgraded computer labs, and classrooms that can handle computers which can be used across the curriculum. There is an understanding of the integration of the new technology on the curriculum yet there is less knowledge on the impact on learner's interaction at all ages. This study aimed to describe, analyze and observe the effect of education technology in the elementary classroom on learner's interaction.

Research Question

What are interaction changes observed between students in elementary classrooms because of the integration of technology in their learning environment?

The primary objective was to observe different elementary schools, describe and analyze the effect of education technology in the elementary classroom on learner's interaction.

The Significance of the Study

The research needs to know the effect of technology use on interactions of learners in the setting of an elementary school in urban. Data on the impact of educational technology in the elementary classroom on learner interaction can be analyzed and help in adding knowledge on how education technology affect the learning environment of teachers and students. This research will assist in learning the transformation of students in the 21st century. It will also contribute to qualitative research because it will explore the effect of conflicting responsibilities of the researcher on the researched.

Methodology

To get answers on the research question, there is a need for research design to help in direct observation and detailed examination of the research setting. Three teachers from the different classroom were selected according to their openness to the research, varied teaching style and level of technology. Data collected in four methods which were a personal interview, observation, document review, and group interviews were used to help understand the effects of education technology in the elementary classroom on learner's interaction. The different informal view would take place at each school. Communication by learners would take place during casual inspection. The three teachers were undertaken through personal interview. The question asked were from classroom observation done by the researcher. Data collected from observer comments, discussion, and field notes were used for analysis of data. Every data was recorded according to where it fitted. Each classroom was taken as individual evocative case study.

Assumptions and Consequences

Presentation and analysis of three individual cases provided a good understanding of the learning environment and explored different pedagogical and philosophies practices used by the three teachers and their level of comfort when integrating education technologies in learner's classroom. We assume that when technology is integrated with the traditional teaching practice there may be small change into learner's interaction but a significant increase in learner's motivation and interest. Also, the student as teacher model occurrence will be frequent and will help to share knowledge. When education technology is used as a tool backing up constructivist pedagogy, then there could be an effect of education technology in the elementary classroom on learner's interaction.

Conclusion

Exposure of children to early childhood experiences helps to maximize development and growth. Introduction of computers in elementary school is vital because it helps in optimize children potential and improve their learning process. With the development of internet, hardware and software application many schools have focused on acquiring computer network and hardware application to fulfill educational technology objectives and goals. Many studies focus on the impact of education technology on learner's education but less is known on the effect of technology in the elementary classroom on learner's interaction. According to the assumption, it may have less impact but education technology is used as a tool backing up constructivist pedagogy then there could be an effect of education technology in the elementary classroom on learner's interaction.