What is the Purpose of Technology in the Classroom?

On Monday, I read an article on Edudemic, a technology blog I follow.  This particular article caused me to pause and reflect about the role of technology in the classroom.  In the article, “The Secret to Successfully Using iPads in Education”, the author Greg Kulowiec creates an analogy between the iPad and a hammer.  He argues that a hammer is merely a tool for construction.  The builder doesn’t draw inspiration from the hammer itself, but from what can be created with the hammer. He likens the hammer to the iPad by saying that just as the hammer is merely a tool, the iPad must be thought of in the same way. The hammer is useless without an end goal in mind. Likewise, the iPad will not engage students in the correct way without proper planning.   

Isn’t the same true for all technology used in the classroom?  As educators we have to know what we want the particular learning outcomes to be, and then choose the appropriate technology to achieve those outcomes.  No one can deny that technology has opened doors in education many never dreamt possible, but the use of technology must allow the students to be inspired, to problem solve, to learn and to create.  It is only when technology is used with those goals in mind do we find it most beneficial.  

Katie Robinson