Running head: THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENT LEARNING

Effects of Technology on Student Learning

Joshua Murphy

Saginaw Valley State University

THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENT LEARNING 2

Abstract

Technology has impacted student learning and their achievement. It has revolutionized the way

instructors have designed and implemented their curriculum. In fact, authors and publishers

recognize this as most current curriculum materials include a technology component. This is

because technology is such a prevalent part of our society and students view it as a tool for

gaining knowledge and solving problems. Therefore, it is important that technology is part of

their school experience and instruction allowed them to use technology in the most beneficial

way. The information explained how technology enhanced student learning in the elementary

classroom. Included in this review was the impact of technology in the areas of general

education, instructional strategies, influential technology tools, special education and English

language learners.

Keywords: Technology, Integration, Achievement, Elementary Classroom,

Differentiation, Strategies, Constructivist

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Literature Review

Technology is now a staple in the classroom. As many standardized testing protocols

required even elementary students to demonstrate their learning on a technological device, it is

more and more important that, from an early age, students are familiar and comfortable with the

use of technology.

While the above explanation is a somewhat valid reason for technology instruction, it was

also important to note that student access to technological devices provided additional benefits

for all students, including those with learning challenges and language challenges. Kids have

always learned best when they had the ability to engage all of their senses during play. The most

powerful learning happens when the integration of body, mind, and brain are incorporated

simultaneously (Clare, 2015).

General Education Environment

As a multitude of research articles regarding the effects of technology in the classroom

was reviewed, it was noted that many advantages have been discovered in a variety of classroom

environments. Generally speaking, educational technology has helped to create a rich, student-

centered learning environment with a vast variety of wonderful opportunities for student-

centered learning (Firmin & Genesi, 2013). Research outlined many additional benefits to

increase student learning. Technology provided the teacher with the ability to use visuals, sound,

music, interactive participation, to list a few in the classroom. This ability was considered

paramount in raising student motivation that led to a more efficient teaching/learning

environment (Samra, 2013). It was common knowledge that student motivation was a key to

increased student learning and because students were exposed to technology at such an early age
THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENT LEARNING 4

and enjoyed it, technology provided motivation. One study showed evidence of this motivation.

A teacher observed a student who had major problems at home figure out a way to make music

by getting the computer to play certain letters by certain powers and it changed the musical tone

of the note and he actually wrote a piece. The student later played the music for his class and it

literally stopped the room. He had kids begging him at recess to teach them how to make music,

and for that particular kid, it was the world because he really was not successful academically

(Sing, 2017). Technology studies appeared to meet different learning styles and address multiple

intelligences better than conventional seatwork (Wright, 1999).

According to the Center for Applied Research and Educational Technology, technology

helped improve student performance in six key ways. Technology improved performance when

the application supported the curriculum objectives, provides opportunities for student

collaboration, adjusts for student ability and prior experience, was integrated into the typical

instructional day, provided opportunities for students to design and implement projects, Throne

(2007) revealed that technology influences learning in three ways. Technology drove change,

technology served as a bridge to more engaging, relevant, meaningful and personalized learning

and technology provided a platform for using timely and relevant data to shape personalized

learning.

Instructional Strategies

It was noted that technology had come to the forefront of education and instruction in the

past several years. Literacy and math have been noted as the leading disciplines in the

classroom, but science and technology education must be determined as essential to achieving

desired workforce competencies which include critical thinking, communication skills, and the

ability to solve structured problems (Bybee & Fuchs, 2006). To address the need for these
THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENT LEARNING 5

competencies, teachers have had to adapt their instruction to include technology. Successful

technology integration for learning generally went hand in hand with changes in teacher training,

curricula and assessment practices (Vega, 2013). In order to integrate instructional technology

tools in classroom activities, in-service-training was regarded as a key factor of success (Mustafa

& Fatma, 2013).

Teachers have noticed that it was increasingly difficult to engage students in traditional

learning because of their constant exposure to technology. Research showed one key principle to

successful technology integration was students playing an active role in their learning and

receiving frequent, personalized feedback (Vega, 2013). Teachers have had to shift their

instructional mindset from traditional behaviorist to a student-centered constructivist approach.

Constructivism was the belief that students create or construct their own knowledge and

understanding by building on previous learning. Students took an active role rather than a

passive role, while teachers acted as a facilitator rather than a dictator (Smith & Throne, 2007).

Some instructional strategies to help fully implement technology education in the

classroom included gamification, flipped classrooms, and Bring Your Own Device.

Gamification used game elements including levels, badges, and rewards to increase student

motivation. Dr. Ameer Wigmore Alvarez, Executive Director of Career Services at IE Business

School wrote without tapping into eLearning and gamification, students are left at a

disadvantage to other more digitally literate students, (Heikkila, 2017). A flipped classroom

strategy was one where students viewed instructional materials such as videos, power points, and

lectures on line at home and brought their understandings to the classroom the next day where

they demonstrated their learning of the material previously viewed. Research showed this

strategy made interaction more effective and fruitful as students felt more comfortable and
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confident asking questions and discussing the issues with their teacher and peers (Evseeva &

Solozhenko, 2015). Some school districts have resorted to requiring their students to bring their

own device to their classrooms to enhance their learning. Research showed, in 2013, an

estimated twenty-five percent of schools had BYOD policies in place (Lynch, 2015).

Technology Tools

Many educational technology tools have been developed over the past decade.

Interactive whiteboards were one of the first educational technology tools implemented in many

classrooms. Studies showed interactive whiteboards increased active student involvement in the

learning process and their interaction with the course encouraged them to learn and support

different learning styles (Akkoyunlu & Erkan, 2013). The same study showed that interactive

whiteboards ensured more eye contact between students and teachers and thus, eased classroom

management, mad learning fun, and enhanced involvement and enriched the environment

(Akkoyunlu & Erkan, 2013). Interactive whiteboards benefitted teachers as well as students.

Teacher participants in a 2013 study demonstrated that interactive whiteboards helped them to

save teaching time as they could save any instructional page provided on the interactive

whiteboard rather than a traditional board which was wiped clean as instruction continued

(Bidaki & Mobasheri, 2013). Digital storytelling was another technological tool used by

educators to enhance student understanding of writing and reading. Digital stories combined

student produced images, such as photos, drawings, or other visual art, voice narration and music

to tell a personal or information narrative. Unlike stories written in the traditional way with

pencil and paper or with word processing, digital stories were similar to short films with a

continuous narrative line (Campbell, 2012). Another study suggested digital stories have been

shown to have a positive effect on motivation for struggling writers. Struggling writers were
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more motivated because they were more literate in new literacies and employed those to scaffold

traditional literacy (Campbell, 2012). Teachers have also found success using classroom

performance system clickers. Clickers provided teachers with instant responses from students

which were used for assessment purposes (Kenney, 2011). Even the latest technological advances

had been a classroom benefit. Traditionally, drones have been used for enjoyment outside the

classroom, but one study showed the benefits of bringing them into educational settings. Cenejac

(2017)found that drones helped develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination which

influenced other skills such as reading, writing, balance, sense of direction, and other fine motor

skills.

Special Education

It was shown that technology enhanced the learning of students who had learning styles

outside of the general education classroom, more specifically, students with autism. Research by

Toran (as cited in Kamaruzaman, Rani, Nor, and Azahari, 2016) showed children with autism

had different cognitive abilities than typical children as their condition deficits them in terms of

social skill, communication skill and limited imagination. Another study showed autistic

students in a technology enhanced environment demonstrated a variety of means of

communication, high vocal expressions and a broad arsenal of vocal expressions in both quality

and quantity (Vellonen, Karna, & Virnes, 2012). It has been found that technology allowed

autistic and special education students the opportunity to connect with their general education

peers as they experienced learning using devices. It has been established that children with

autism learned better through visual and interactive approach whether through traditional method

or digital method (Kamaruzaman et al., 2016). TaLNA was an application that complimented the

traditional method such as clue cards and flash cards, and implemented them over a touch screen
THE EFFECT OF TECHNOLOGY ON STUDENT LEARNING 8

device. This application was expected to keep autistic children engaged through its colorful,

animated and interactive learning (Kamaruzaman et al., 2016). Assistive technology tools have

been used with children with physical disabilities to help them communicate their thinking.

Some assistive tools included sound boards, E-readers, alternative pencils, voice adaptive

software, and alphabet eye gaze frames. This unusual eye gaze device allowed children to point

to letters with their eyes to on screen keyboards that were controlled by switches and electronic

flip charts (Zorigian, 2017).

Language Learners

Many school districts had noticed an increase in their English as a second language

student population. Research showed that it took more than five years for the average child

learning a new language to acquire the academic language necessary to succeed in school

(Brozek & Duckworth, 2011). One benefit of technology for English learners was that devices

have had the ability to be adjusted to display their native language. This allowed students with

little or no English to begin to understand instruction. Technology are just a tool but it is a tool

that enables English language learners to use, practice, and perfect their English in engaging and

effective ways, (Scragg, 2014). Through collaborative technology activities, students benefited

from working with each other. Technology created a way to communicate with people in

different cultures (Wang, 2005). Teachers of English language learners have differentiated their

instruction to meet all students needs and they have used a variety of instructional strategies to

engage their students. Differentiation has offered a number of options for students to learn the

same key content but in different ways (Evans, 2017). Research by Smith (as cited in Stansbury,

2009) stated above all differentiation in instruction should be used to promote 21st century skills.
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Conclusion

Technology has proven itself as a vital part of education in todays classrooms. Because

of our current culture and its devotion to social media and on-line learning, educators must be

aware of the benefits of using technology to enhance student learning. It was evident that

technology can am used as a student motivator and as a creative tool of expression. It was also

used to support the learning of particular groups of students within the classroom population,

especially those with learning challenges. Teachers will continue to be expected to integrate

technology in their classroom as a communication tool, instructional supplement and

motivational tool to support student achievement. However, teachers should remember that

technology are just a tool and students learning achievement relied on appropriate and creative

instruction (Wang, 2005).

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