Changes of Technology into the Teaching Profession Essay

Changes of Technology into the Teaching Profession - Essay Example With this, it can categorically be said that the teaching profession has gone a long way to jive with the innovations in technology. In regard to the aforesaid facts, this paper aims to explore the salient changes of technology into the teaching profession. Moreover, the discussion and analysis shall be based on relevant references that showcase reputable research evidences, thereby exemplifying the intent of this paper. According to Crader and Bridgforth (1996), the benefits of technology into the teaching profession are generally positive. Such benefits were enlisted in the research conducted by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) and are quoted as follows: Furthermore, it was also figured that technology has made "a real difference" with the way educators implement their teaching methods and skills (Center for Technology in Education, qtd. in Crader and Bridgforth "Recent Research on the Effects of Technology"). This is evidenced by the integration of telecommunications into teaching, where telecommunication activities are being conducted with students, thus enabling teachers to spend more time with individual students and less time in making traditional lectures to the whole class, in so doing, it would allow students to carry out a more independent work (Honey, 1993, qtd. in Crader and Bridgforth "Recent Research on the Effects of Technology"). These changes signify the shift from the traditional direct approaches to a more student-centered approach in teaching (Crader and Bridgforth "Recent Research on the Effects of Technology"). Hence, technology is hailed as a driving force that geared towards improved teaching and learning (Sel din "Improving College Teaching"). On the other hand, for technology to be effective in the field of teaching, certain skills and tasks are required to ensure the appropriateness of its implementation, as well as successful adaptation to the changes brought about by the advent of technology. Thus, the following are the recommendations from the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA): Integrating and suiting technology into education/teaching goals and standards Having a vision for the use of technology to support curriculum Ensuring access to appropriate technology Providing training for the use of new technology Rendering sufficient administrative support for technology use Providing time for teachers to plan and learn how to integrate technology Providing for ongoing technical support for technology use (OTA, 1995, qtd. in Crader and Bridgforth "Recent Research on the Effects of Technology"). Additionally, a positive disposition, or attitude, towards the application of technology to teaching is a key prerequisite in order to develop the