DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY TECHNOLOGY DURING CLASS AND POSSIBLE WAYS OF OVERCOMING THEM

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Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Suleyman Demirel University

Abstract

This study examines complexities caused by technology misuse in the classroom and advice of experienced teachers on overcoming them. Firstly, the general attitudes of teachers towards the use of technology in lessons were explored. Then, the main advantages (increase in potential of learning, making teaching easier) and major disadvantages were considered. These drawbacks served as the basis to depict the most common problems faced while using modern technology. Finally, this paper scrutinizes how experienced teachers overcome and succeed in dealing with these difficulties during the lessons and how this can serve as an advice or example for teacher candidates in the future. In order to reach the abovementioned goals, necessary data was collected with the help of a survey and semistructured personal interviews. A total 10 surveys were collected from teachers, and 5 of the teachers were interviewed on a selective basis. The findings revealed that teachers’ attitudes towards technology use in the classroom are generally positive. The teachers highlighted the main advantages and effectiveness of technology for the lesson. However, not always and freely are they able to resort to the help of technology. It was seen that some of the participants experience difficulties with technology; they are not ready to integrate technology in their teaching, and when they do usage is only for low level tasks, such as word processing. They become badly influenced by it or they just don’t need to use such gadgets. It was also found that these disadvantages in technology usage can affect negatively and cause some problems. Teachers indicated that being uncomfortable with technology may lead to wasting time troubleshooting and how it can affect lowering of activities of both teachers and students. Moreover, each problem was thoroughly considered and was given a possible way of overcoming by participants during interview. Keeping aforementioned things in mind, it was concluded that technology usage, even though it plays an important role in making education more effective and may enliven the lesson by offering wide range of facilities, it would be better to not give it too much importance, because, it is just a machine that cannot be controlled or fully trusted. So each teacher candidate has to keep uptodate with the constant innovations that shape human life, be fully prepared for future occupation, but, on the other hand, should not be dependent on anyone and anything but themselves.

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Keywords

Technology, technology integration in the classroom, problems caused by technology, teacher candidates, experienced teachers, ways of overcoming the problems

Citation

DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY TECHNOLOGY DURING CLASS AND POSSIBLE WAYS OF OVERCOMING THEM, Toktar Zeinep Beibitkyzy, 2014