Sara Brightmire

EDU 225
10/19/14
Mr. David Larson
Technology Used to Enhance Instruction
Technology is evolves on a daily basis in order to enhance the lives of millions of people.
It is used in the business world, for social events, and academically. In fact, teaching technology
has become a necessity as early as Kindergarten or even Pre-K. However, technology is not
merely just for fun or should not be used to replace teaching. Technology is being used to
enhance teaching making learning more fun and more hands on. It allows for students to
become active in their education to be able to take it as far as they can and learn as much as
they can. Technology can be used in the classroom to engage readers, to enhance language
skills, and to bring learning to life.
Technology is used alongside teacher instruction to help engage readers. Web tools are
available for both teacher and student that allow for a more in depth look at the literature. These
web tools are made to enhance teacher instruction not to teach the lesson. Web tools benefit
the teacher because they give the lesson more substance and will likely be remembered because
of the hands on approach technology provides. The student will benefit because the literature
has now come alive and has brought excitement to learning. Technology can also help
students who struggle with reading fluency. One study shows how technology was used to either
record the students reading aloud and then was played back to the student or to use a flip camera
so that students could hear and see themselves reading (Laverick, D. M. (2014). This exercise
was done repeatedly throughout a 5 week program, promoting reading fluency.
Reading fluency is a wonderful gift to give a child and using technology to do so is easy
and fun. Technology can also be used to give the gift of language to some children who do not
have verbal skills. Children with mental retardation or autism whom did not have the ability to
communicate are finding meaning to words through technology. More specifically, children who
are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) fail to develop peer relationships, lack
engagement in play with peers, lack emotion recognition, [have] difficulties in
communicative interactions, and [have] generally poor social skills (Ploog, B., Scharf, A.,
Nelson, D., & Brooks, P. (2013) are encouraged to use technology to build better communication
skills. When the technology is used alongside the teaching, a better understanding of the lesson
occurs.
Whether the lesson is in reading, math, or science, technology has the power to bring that
lesson to life. Teachers who incorporate technology into their lessons give students a better
understanding of what the lesson is about. The technology has the power to show literature in
real life, to apply math to situations students are familiar with, and to show science up close
and personal. Technology allows teachers to teach a more vibrant lesson, making learning fun,
and bringing life to the lesson.
When teachers incorporate technology into their lessons, children become more engaged,
more focused, and have fun learning. Technology is not meant to replace teaching but rather to
work alongside of it. Teachers must teach the use of technology because the students of today
are the leaders of tomorrow. Technology has many uses in the classroom but mostly it
encourages teaching and learning.


References
LAVERICK, D. M. (2014). SUPPORTING STRIVING READERS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY-BASED
INSTRUCTION. Reading Improvement, 51(1), 11-19.
Ploog, B., Scharf, A., Nelson, D., & Brooks, P. (2013). Use of Computer-Assisted Technologies (CAT) to
Enhance Social, Communicative, and Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum
Disorders. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 43(2), 301-322. doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1571-
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