Multimedia and Hypermedia

The integration and use of technology and specifically, of computers into the classroom can positively change the teaching and learning process. A broad array of computer tools such as hypermedia and multimedia can enhance and change traditional instruction.Hypermedia and multimedia have the potential to change significantly traditional instruction in many ways. For instance, multimedia used as tools by the teacher can be interactive, programmable according to certain teaching goals and can potentially change according to the needs and the style of the learner. Moreover, the use of hypermedia and multimedia cause a move of the teacher’s role. Specifically, the teacher becomes a facilitator, problem setter and guide instead of taking a central role and being the teacher as a teacher.

Moreover, a major advantage of learning with multimedia is that multimedia projects improve educational outcomes and promote problem-solving and decision-making skills to the students while also multimedia contributes to making students achieve high self-esteem and to become more self-directed. This is so, because multimedia enables students to represent information using various media, to organize information in many interesting ways and to acquire knowledge from a variety of sources. Furthermore, the fact that multimedia engages a variety of learning modalities (visual, auditory, etc.) appeals to various learner styles simultaneously.

Research shows that people absorb and retain information far more readily if they can associate the information with a variety of stimuli while, using hypermedia and multimedia in the teaching and learning process can help address the needs of people with varying learning styles.

Acceptable Use Policy

The Internet can be a powerful tool for use in an educational setting. It provides teachers and students with access to a variety of resources, helpful for the teaching and learning process. But on the other side of the coin, the Internet has its dangers apart from its benefits. Hence, schools and educators must find the right means for making a safe use of the Internet as an educational tool. The best means for this to be achieved is through the development of Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs). An AUP is a written contract between administrators, teachers, parents and students that outlines the terms and conditions for making use of the Internet, by setting out rules of online behaviour, access privileges, consequences and penalties in case those rules are violated. Therefore, it is the school's responsibility to conduct its own AUP, provide it to students, parents and students, to sign and return a copy to be placed in the school's files. No Internet access and use should be allowed in schools without the existence of an AUP and therefore, without the permission of parents as well.

The Digital Divide

In a world of globalization and technological evolution, the right of freedom of access to information is essential to establish sustainable development. The Internet has ushered in the greatest period of wealth creation in history and it has rocked the way we deliver and receive information and the way we do business. The Internet offers the promise of an information society in which virtually unlimited quantities of information are globally available. Realizing this vision of a global, decentralized, user-controlled medium poses many challenging societal issues in regards to the Internet. Among the most fundamental of these is the issue of equity, universal access as well as the issue of the Digital Divide.

The Digital Divide refers to the gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology and those with very limited or no access at all. In other words, it is the unequal access by some members of society to information and communication technology, and the unequal acquisition of related skills. Digital divides can exist among those of differing income and economic levels, education, age and gender, race or ethnicity, location, single and dual-parent families, and disability.

The impact of the digital divide on education affects the students’ job prospects and their chances of getting a well-paying job. In particular, students who are technologically savvy have significant advantages over their peers. This affects their job prospects as employers tend to show a preference to workers who are technologically competent and are willing to pay more for their services compared to those without. In addition, technology advancement has the potential to bridge the digital divide especially in education and employment. A technology savvy youth plays an important role in employment. Education is crucial so that people are prepared to meet global needs. Lack of Education and employment slows down progress within a country.

All interested parties must collaborate to ensure that the integration of existing and emerging technologies is performed in a way that supports the need for adequate education programs at both an administrative and teaching level. The potential result is that teachers and students at all schools and in all types of classrooms will engage in learning activities involving technology that have the potential to enhance student achievement as well as decrease the digital divide. In a world overflowing with easily available digital information, we all need the skills to judge the relevance, and veracity of any particular piece of information. The public must view computers and the Internet as necessities to life and they must realize the power of these technologies that can change and improve their lives.

Teachers' training in the effective use of technology in the learning environment

Undoubtedly, technology can do a lot in the classroom if it used appropriately and effectively. For this to ba achieved, teachers need to be well trained in order to become capable of makin geffective use of technology in the learning environment. Unfortunately, teachers are not provided with the essential training in the effective use of technology and consequently, cannot make use of it in their instruction.

Training of the teachers is essential for a variety of reasons. Training will make teachers acquire the necessary skills in making effective use of technology. It will make them capable of integrating technology into the curriculum in the right ways that will provide significant outcomes. But training does not mean just learning how to use software and hardware. It mostly means learning the strategies for integrating technology in the learning activities and using the appropriate methods for instruction.

Training of the educators cannot be limited to single lessons or one-shot workshops. Rather, training must be ongoing and must have a long-time frame because teachers learn best the new information if they have a long period available to practice what they have known.

Moreover, if efficient and sufficient training is going to be provided to teachers, then funds are necesasry. The part of the budget that will be provided for training the teachers must be a great one and therefore, those holding the reins of the educational system must make the necessary steps for providing those funds.

Necessity for Technology integration and use into schools

A lop of research has been done regarding the issue of technology integration and use into schools. Many arguments have been made about the impact that technology has on the teching and learning process. If we make a deep search on the isue concerning the benefits that technology can provide teachers and students with then we will realize that technology integration and use into schools is a necessity. Technology can provide teachers with many tools that can help them prepare for their lessons, increase productivity, improve instruction and most important can make teachers capable of providing their students with a better education and consequenlty, improve students' learning and achievement

Technology can provide students with many benefits as well. A broad array of technological tools and educational software can be used in the teaching and learning process that will help students develop critical thinking skills, motivate students, promote interaction and collaboration and increase students' achievement. Using technology in the classroom will make students acquire new roles than the ones of being the passive receivers of information. It will make them active participants in the learning process, who take responsibility for their own learning and depend less on their teachers. Consequently, technology use will make a transition of the teachers' role as well, from being the managers and controllers of the classroom to being the guides and coaches of the students, who provide students with advice and move them to the right direction by being on the side of the classroom.

The issue of technology integration and use into schools raises another important issue: "Are teachers today, provided with the necessary training in the effective use of technology in the learning environment?"