Technology transforming education
Technology development has significantly changed schooling, especially in the twenty-first century. Technology continues to influence learning strategies at all educational levels in America and around the globe, improving education quality in a number of ways. The idea of a classroom without walls has helped e-learning to enhance education. Teachers take great pleasure in establishing unstructured settings that empower kids and give them the freedom and chance to collaborate in order to find answers and connections between important subject areas. (Six Ways Teachers Want to Change Schools, 6). Technological advancements in academic practices have made it possible for students to work in groups through.
online portals. The portals allow for group members to study and interact online which not only increases performance but also improves the quality of discussions.
Another way technology has transformed education is through presentations, emails and hangout messages. Initially, classwork was only physical as students handed assignments and made presentations in class. Nowadays, technology has changed how students and teachers interact. Students can make power point presentations and use devices like projectors to enhance the quality of their presentations. Moreover, technology has created avenues that enhance the learning process. Initially, book and pen were the only forms of learning in school while today students can type, save and even share their learning material through their learning devices such as tablets and computers (6 Ways Teachers Want to Change Schools, 5).
Shared learning is also an enhancement brought about by advancements in technology. The study conducted on teachers proves that teachers believe technology has positively impacted education. Through shared learning, it is possible to link up students, administrators and the community and consequently ensuring the interactions enhance the education process. For instance, teachers` reliance in technology can be seen in recent times, especially through the use of applications such as mails and Google Hangouts to manage and host group discussions even when class hours are over (6 Ways Teachers Want to Change Schools, 11). Additionally, emails have also proven crucial in enhancing the learning experience. Teachers can send additional information to the students who in turn can also receive feedback from teachers without having to attend classes. This has been crucial to the improvement of learning outcomes, especially for students who find it hard to ask questions in class.
Take on the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying laws and whether I agree with the laws as they relate to education
The HIB laws seek to reinforce and improve the standards for reporting, preventing, reporting and investigating incidents of intimidation and bullying in school in a bid to reduce suicidal attempts in students. The new HIB reporting procedures seek to increase the efficiency of the laws and consequently prevent bullying, harassment or intimidation. The new laws offer guidelines on how HIB cases should be handled which is essential for the implementation of the law. The first HIB reporting law holds that all incidences should be verbally reported the same day the service provider or employee received concrete information on any HIB incident (Harassment, intimidation and bullying overview, 22). This ensures that necessary action is taken in a timely fashion. The incident must be reported to the principal in writing within two days after the verbal report was made. The principal, in turn, must notify the parents of the affected children and discuss intervention services among other options such as counselling. The new laws attempt to shorten the investigation process in a bid to ensure necessary action is taken in the least time possible. Moreover, the investigations will be taken by neutral anti-bullying specialists who will work closely with the principal (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Overview, 26).
Initially, the HIB laws encouraged schools to annually implement, establish, assess and document bullying prevention approaches or programs as well as other school initiatives that involved students, school staff, volunteers, administrators, parents, community members and law enforcement. However, the new law makes it compulsory for school districts to implement, document, assess and establish the approaches. This is critical in creating relevant school-wide conditions.
Moreover, New HIB laws that focus on staff training have been implemented. The initial law required that staff must be trained as part of the school district training program. However, the new laws are more direct and call for training for both full time and part time staff as well as volunteers with significant student contact. This is aimed at identifying and preventing the cases of bullying and intimidation in school.
The laws are appropriate as they are targeted towards improving the school experience. Issues related to bullying more often than not prevent students from learning. Consequently, this ends up compromising the ability of students to learn as they become mentally and psychologically strained as a result of the intimidation and bullying.
Importance for educators to have a voice in the various ways schools need to change
Relying on teachers on issues regarding change in schools is important as they are the most involved stakeholders in the academic process. One of the ways teachers would like to change schools is having longer school days, although not exactly at the respective schools. To explain further, teachers believe that time has come to alter the school schedule. Most teachers believe that school time should be flexible such that students are given the opportunity to decide on flexible schedules that suit them better. For instance, the students can select on whether to take up morning or afternoon classes similar to their counterparts in college. However, what makes the suggestion highly credible is the justification given by the teachers such that the students will be well placed to take on internship opportunities in the community (6 Ways Teachers want to Change Schools, 7). The current schedules are restrictive and lead to both teacher and student fatigue due to the accumulation of classes.
Changing the school schedule would enable teachers to come up a personalized curriculum that would honor students` respective passions and their expertise. What is more, the flexible schedules would accord students with the opportunity to explore their career paths at an early age from high school (6 Ways Teachers Want to Change Schools 8). Indeed, educators should be given more power and influence when it comes to matters involving school. To enumerate further, teachers interact more with students than any other school-related stakeholder.
Therefore, teachers understand the challenges and opportunities associated with learning and thus, should be given the opportunities to come up with relevant suggestions that would help enhance the learning process. Moreover, changing the school schedule will prepare students better for the work-related challenges while equipping them with the necessary experience from an early age through internships.
