It’s an unfortunate hour — school has ended; all classes have been dismissed; and a child is now struggling in the silence of her bedroom, trying to decipher the meanings of statistics. The numbers are baffling. The protocols are unknown. She cannot recognize the instructions. They offer no explanations that she can anderstand and her efforts are slow, bordering on the futile. She doesn’t know what to do.
And so… she does nothing, forced to wait until the next day when she can ask her teacher for help, worrying about weakening grades since she can’t turn in her homework. Credit can’t be earned without pages. She fears she’ll lose precious points.
What if she was connected to her classroom?
The world is changing. What was once a limitation of time, a confinement of school corridors, is being slowly replaced by technology. Education is beginning to recognize the value of computers and, through them, students are being provided with the chance to contact their instructors at all hours. Lessons are being presented online; forums are being crafted; chat sessions provide instant responses; and emails are exchanged, with conversations passed efficiently between all involved. It’s the quick reply. It’s the necessary relief.
The notion of a smart classroom is one that is carefully being planned throughout the United States. Facilities are offering their students exposure to software, computers and — of course — the immediacy of communication. Teachers and pupils can gain stronger relationships, able to speak beyond the realms of traditional schedules. No longer are individuals waiting, unable to question assignments and procedures. They can instead ask for aid when it’s needed. And this is vital.
There are, of course, concerns with the smart classroom concept. It is believed to breed an apathy toward basic skills, allowing children to rely purely on computers. But the advantage of communication cannot be denied. It is an availability never before experienced — and technology makes it possible.