The Technology is There, but So Are the Barriers Preventing It

It is definitely astounding the leaps and bounds technology has made, even in the most recent of years. In the classroom it is the same, though the leaps and bounds are not as fast or as big as in the outside world. Though technology has evolved and will continue to evolve, the fact of the the matter is that schools, specifically speaking to America, are not making the same and necessary strides in which it needs in order to flourish and develop. There are many things that have contributed to this demise. But it is important to note two specific things about technology in the classroom. The first is that staying up to date with technology and the uses of its information is vital for the success of students in the world.  And second being that getting thus appropriate and current technology needs to and should be a top priority for those involved in making those decisions.

As someone who is not currently a teacher, but a substitute and coach, I still get to see how technology is being introduced into the classrooms, used by the students, and slowly integrated into the curriculum. I have to say, there are so many different ways to educate students that I myself never had the opportunity to use even in the last decade. The use of tools like smartboards, podcasts, computer applications, and even such things as I-Pods and I-Phones to be part of the education process is amazing. To be able to sit in a classroom in America communicating ideas and learning from people in other countries or professors at some of the best universities in the world is a gift. 

To gain the upper hand in using this technology, our schools need to be equipped with the resources to achieve the high standards the world has placed before them. But the truth is that many different obstacles stand in the way. One giant mountain in the way of this is funding and availability of these resources in all schools. The fact is that many schools are not afforded the technology possible to stay current with the world and thus, they loss their students. States fund their schools in different ways and because of this, some schools find themselves on the back burner of technology. There are teachers who want to use this idea or that technology, but do not have the resources to do so. Along with not having the resources needed, there is also the lack of knowledge in the educators to use this technology to deliver the information and educate their students. This is why it is vital that we address these two factors, as well as others, in hopes of giving our students the best we can give them in a world that is constantly progressing and moving forward.