In a time when technology is developing rapidly and changing the world, why is there so little technological education in K-12 schools? If schools aim to teach their students to be successful and productive members of society, then they need to account for the rise of technology in their curriculums. The problem with this, of course, is that teachers are already chronically overworked. They struggle to teach their many students with different needs crammed curriculums; how are they going to learn new technology skillsets, and then teach them? But this doesn’t mean that technological education should be off the table.
The rise of technology has been dramatic, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. In fact, technology is growing and expanding every day, becoming more important and far-reaching. This is not even including the addition of hybrid and remote learning. Additionally, the workforce is becoming increasingly technological, even for jobs that didn’t use to have a single tech component. This transition, to such a technological world, has been rapid, and has left many schools unsure of how to proceed with incorporating technology into their schools. Now, teaching students technology has become crucial in order to prepare them for future opportunities. If students can learn computer skills in the classroom, they will be far more set up for success then if they solely learned from a curriculum that was largely designed before technology became quite so widespread.
Additionally, most kids are already utilizing technology. In fact, research shows that the use of technology by youth has risen dramatically in the past five years. One study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 80% of parents say their child—aged 5 to 11—uses a computer, with 63% of parents saying their child uses a smartphone. Many parents are somewhat concerned about these statistics. They’re concerned about technology stunting social development, their focus in school, and, perhaps most urgently, they’re concerned about their children accessing sexually explicitly or violent content, or being bullied or targeted on the Internet.
Therefore, if kids are using technology anyway, then it’s crucial for schools to have technology in the classroom and teach them how to use it in a safe way, where they can enjoy the benefits of all the information and resources on the Internet without risk.
Teachers are already overworked and struggling to teach their students everything in the curriculum. But the truth is, most school curriculums have not adapted to best suit such a technological time. If schools want to set their students up for success and opportunities, then they need to invest time and energy into teaching their students technological skills, such as those listed above. The transition to incorporate technology into the classroom could be challenging, but it will be worth it to prepare kids for a technologically driven world.
Teaching about technology requires having equipment. There are means to acquire the right, affordable technology for your school, no matter your budget, and we are here to help. Learn how you can implement modern technology in your classroom with our Educational IT Services. We help educators find affordable solutions to augment teaching in their classrooms.