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American Education in the Digital Age of Research



EssayChat / Oct 11, 2017

The digital age has changed American education and by embracing the strengths of this new era, a more efficacious educational paradigm can manifest. Though the world's single largest economy with arguably the most influence in the world political theater, the United States lags markedly in their education process. With lackluster scores in comparison to other industrialized nations, it has been clear for some time that the U.S. educational system is in need of revamping. While there is a general consensus that change has to come, the way in which this change should happen is a subject of much debate. Proposals have ranged from increased attention to charter schools to the controversial "No Child Left Behind" program that was ushered in during the Bush administration. None of these programs have provided enough results to declare them a victory. In addition, the U.S. has not gained any significant momentum in attaining higher test scores and competency than other industrialized nations. With the advent of the digital age, however, there has been a natural progression in communications. What is necessary to prepare students for the global environment has changed. As a result of this change, the U.S. has a perfect opportunity to embrace this new paradigm and to be educational leaders. Being educational leaders is of the utmost importance because it ensures that the young people who are inheriting the superpower will be equipped to continue to the democracy and values of the nation.

Digital Research EducationThe digital age is a blanketed terminology for changes that have been made in the era of mass communications. Since the dawning of the Internet and advances in innovation, the connectivity between people and information has never been easier. As a result of these advances, the world is a smaller case. Multicultural interactions are not longer a possibility, they are a reality. These changes have literally changed the landscape of the modern world both on the level of politics and business. Supply chains and managerial functions are no longer bound location. In addition, the standard work day and punching a time clock have been left in favor of more flexible and mobile work stations using portable communications devices. The same attributes that worked in the Twentieth Century organization are no longer the best approach for Twenty First Century organizations. With the goal of education to create better global citizens, having students prepared for this new world is a key variable. While education has to prepare students for this, education also has to embrace digital communications

The first step to embracing the digital age in education is to acknowledge its importance. While it may be difficult for some teachers, particularly master teachers who have been in the field awhile, to switch their educational practices for the digital age, having a unified perspective on its importance is necessary for all stakeholders. Modeling behavior has long been a recognized practice for obtaining cognitive results. As a result, if a district says its embracing digital technology, if teachers are not putting forth the perspective that they too feel its important, students will not understand the urgency or importance of digital media in their lives. This means that teachers should be embracing digital media both in their classrooms as an instructional tool and in their clerical work. If a student sees a teacher having command of digital communications and using it for teaching duties beyond the classroom, they are indirectly sending forth the message that digital media is important for all aspects of jobs. Modeling the proper behavior by default necessitates that educators and stakeholders be familiar with digital media and how it works. This requires flexibility and desire to learn a new task. Part of being a teacher is promoting and dedicating oneself to life long learning. Even if the innovations may be foreign to educators, they will have to familiarize themselves with it in order to continue to be efficacious within the twenty first century educational paradigm.

Acknowledging that digital media is important needs to first start from the curriculum developmental phase (top) and be equally embraced from the top down. Official district curriculum and policies have to embrace digital media. From the most rudimentary of viewpoints, any outsider should be able to see that a school is technologically proficient both in the classroom and in clerical (day to day) operations. While digital media does not have to fully alter curriculum mastery aims as agreed to by the state, they do have to be acknowledged and incorporated into these existing frameworks. They shouldn't be in addition to the current curriculum, they should be skillfully woven into the systems so there is no separation in the minds of students or educators. Only by doing it this way will a proper culture emerge that has synergy with the demands of the modern age. As part of official district curriculum, educators will need additional training. During in service and educational demands beyond the traditional degree, digital media in education has to be taught so educators can become confident and familiar with it. If an educator is not confident in the process or in the technology, there is a greater chance that he/she will not use it. Or, if they do attempt to use it, it may not be in the most efficacious manner. Once the need for digital media in education has been embraced and modeled, more specific platforms can manifest.

There are macro and micro uses of digital media in education that will help the modern educational system improve beyond its current limitations. Macro uses for embracing the strength of digital media are best characterized as online education. Online education is the process by which classes and additional course material can be conducted online either in real time or in a less time sensitive format. Online education can help students receive education in classes and classrooms that aren't offered at their respective schools. For example, if a senior needs a certain AP or advanced class that they would not get at their district, through online connected education, they could take that course during school time at their own district. Virtual classrooms with team teaching can put students in contact with not only subjects that they school does not have, but also with top notch educators that may not be in their area. Online education can equalize discrepancy in funding and resources. Prior to this, a school that did not have a class or the resources to have a certain class meant that their students had no access to that curriculum. Online education changes that. A poor rural district without the same funds as more wealthy suburban district could actually take classes from another district or from a participating college in the region. In addition, for students who are home schooled or cannot get to a school for whatever reason, online education can be used to simulate the general education experience that they are unable to get for whatever reason.

On the micro level for embracing the strength of digital media, the platform can be integrated into lesson plans. One way to integrate digital media into lesson plans is through researching. By having students look up information online, it can be ensured that students will know how to find information and how to evaluate information. Not all information on the Internet is created equal. As a result, students have to learn how to use digital media in an educational capacity and not just for entertainment value, which they are likely already familiar with. Beyond using the internet, digital media can be used in a variety of manners to reach all types of learners: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Good lesson plans cater to different learning styles thereby making an equal education experience for everyone. Digital media can be used to facilitate these types of learning. For example, an mp3 player could be used to play period specific speeches or music from a given point in history. Such material can be ready quickly an in an easy to use format. Though recognizing the strengths of digital media and embracing them is critical, it is necessary for districts and teachers wishing to use the methods outlined to have the proper resources in place.

The digital age does require connectivity to the internet and it does require different types of hardware to be connected with one another. As a result, obtaining the necessary hardware is critical for educational success in the digital age as not all students will have access to hardware and software in their homes. Being connected and having the correct hardware is required to maximize the digital education potential. Schools have to ensure that they are connected to the internet and have the necessary security and firewall protections to make the experience of the internet safe for students. This also requires having staff in place to monitor the types of use allowed in the districts. Schools have to make students aware about what is legitimate school use of the internet and what is not allowed. This will require orientation for all students and it will have to be supplemented when new situations and innovations arise. Beyond being connected, students have to have access to the necessary hardware in order to reap the full benefits of digital education. For students in school, they need to have access to computers during study halls, after school or during assigned times at various intervals in the day to complete homework assignments. Though some students can do work at home, for the students that do not have access to computers, they need to be readily available in the school. For online eduction, students need access to the online courses or remote learning classrooms. This can be provided by the school or grants or other resources can be used to supplement deficiencies that may emerge. Holistically, education is different today than it was a generation prior.

With the changes present in the US educational system that have been facilitated by the digital age, it is no longer possible to approach education in the traditionally accepted manner. The US, who has long lagged in educational performance among students, now has the opportunity to enter boldly into the digital age by following a few simple steps that embrace the strengths of this new era.


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