Teaching and Learning with Technology

ABC Community School

Cynthia Marrufo
June 25, 2020
 Position Paper

George Couros, a former educator, and innovative speaker, once said that, “technology

will not replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be

transformational.” Couros is one of the many supporters of integrating technology into education

and a firm believer in its benefits. Among the benefits, the one that holds the most importance, is

that incorporation of technology within the classroom prepares students for a future society that

will be run by programmers and inventors.

Today, a majority of work can be separated into three sectors: manufacturing,

transportation and storage, and wholesale and retail trade. And as reported by Jeff Desjardins of

World Economic Forum, “by 2035, the range of jobs with high automation potential will be

closer to 35-50% for those sectors.” However, while automation is predicted to have negative

repercussions due to its independence from human command, Desjardins also goes to state that

automation has historically provided more jobs as the need for technologically inclined

employees grows. Therefore, in a community that is constantly developing and improving their

machinery, it is in the best interest of schools to continue to integrate not only electronics, but

electronic based and design courses also. The mission educators and education staff take on

when they decide to teach, is that students will be adequately prepared to function in the

civilization they will graduate into. This should include telecommunications as well.

Why attempt to step backwards and fight against the growth of technology when the

embracement would be the most beneficial for not only education, but the people as a whole?

The future of the public will only ever be as successful as those who inherit it and it is the job of

education to ensure the heirs will be prepared. For that reason, mechanization should be a

continued factor within the schools as it will not only be instrumental, but transformational.
 Resources

Desjardins, J. (2019, February 25). 7 Charts on the Future of Automation. Retrieved from

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/the-outlook-for-automation-and-

manufacturing-jobs-in-seven-charts

Desjardins, J. (2016, June 29). How Machines Destroy and Create Jobs. Retrieved from

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/how-machines-destroy-and-create-jobs/
 Identification of Standards

The document containing the National and State standards for technology learning are

very concise and intertwine well together. The National standard is often a broad skill such as 2B

where students are to, “communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences

using a variety of media and formats.” From there the Nevada state standards break down the

broad skill into grade skills, where every grade adds to the overall skill. For example, where the

State standard 2.B.2.1 is to, “communicate information and ideas to peers and parents using

digital text and illustrations,” the standard 2.B.12.1 is, “create digital text, images, sound, and

video for use in communication.” Meaning, over time students will be introduced to these new

technologies that will allow them to produce videos and sound, whereas in primary school they

would be more focused on simpler tasks such as drawing on an electronic device. The

breakdown of standards allows for more time to be focused on each part that will eventually

contribute to the greater whole, known as the National standard. This is especially heightened by

the fact that not every grade level will be taught with the same technology, in other words,

primary students would not be expected to produce short films, just as higher education

secondary students would not be asked to draw simple images on a tablet.

The skill that will be the focus of the following project will be ISTE standard 6c:

“Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of

digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.” The National standard counterpart

would likely be 2B, with the State standards being: 2.B.8.1, “communicate using digital text,

images, sound, and video,” and 2.B.8.2, “create digital products in formats appropriately targeted

to specific audiences or purposes.” This is because the assignment will be asking groups of

students to create a simple animation, incorporating sound, to explain a concept to the class. The
class will simultaneously be reviewing the presentations on the day they are due, by their

effectiveness.