8 Ways Technology is Improving Education

The title of this article does not leave much for the imagination. The author systematically describes 8 ways that she believes that technology is improving education. The eight are:
Better Simulations and Models
Global Learning
Virtual Manipulatives
Probes and Sensors
More Efficient Assessment
Storytelling and Mutlimedia
Ebooks
Epistemic Games

The author summarily describes each of the eight suggested improvements. The two that I hadn't thought of before were Probes and Sensors - which the author describes as educational applications that can help students collect real-time data to apply to various physics and chemistry activities and lessons. Not being a science minded person, myself, I am sure that this real application to science would have been quite helpful to me as a learner.

The second improvement I hadn't thought of before or did not understand at first is Epistemic Games. What the author means by this is games that put students in specific roles such as city planner, journalist or civic engineer. Putting students in these roles helps them understand concepts deeper and causes them to really wrestle with decision making and problem solving skills in a fun, yet realistic way.

As a teacher I am looking forward to more efficient assessments. My children's school uses the Measures of Achievement Tests which are computer based tests that increase in difficulty as students answer questions correctly. These tests give real feedback in real time to students and parents. It is easy to be able to compare students and to do value-based assessments to ensure that no matter where students have come into your classroom, they leave having moved a little higher in their learning. These assessments will inform your instruction as a teacher so that time is not wasted and students reach their full potential.

Kessler, S. (November 22, 2010). 8 Ways Technology is Improving Education.Mashable Tech Retrieved from: http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/