Future Classrooms

In the future, teachers and students will use a variety of
different technologies to facilitate learning.  Technology has
the capability to transform student learning, but often the
knowledge of how to use it is limited to only a few
specialists.  This makes it difficult for classroom teachers to
become competent with the tools.  Not only must they gain
competency with new and different technologies, but they are
also being challenged to abandon traditional modes of teaching
and to substitute more student-oriented, active types of
learning.  A new type of classroom teacher is needed who can
combine advances in curricula knowledge and assessment with the
use of technology to facilitate these learning processes.  

The Institute for Educational Technologies (IET) has
established a demonstration laboratory which helps teacher
education candidates develop this expertise. The Institute is a
consortium, represented by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the
University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Carson-Newman College,
and other sponsoring corporate agencies. The classroom of the
future will demand more of prospective teachers than have
classrooms of the past. The demonstration laboratory at
Carson-Newman College is an attempt to help preservice teachers
prepare for this need by facilitating the link between changes
in curriculum and instructional strategies and technological
advances.  The IET laboratory categorizes technologies into the
four basic ways that they can facilitate learning in the
classroom:

Tutorial: Teachers want students to know, remember and make
appropriate use of certain content. Tutorial technologies can
aid the learning of appropriate content. These include all
media which attempt to provide individualized instruction for
students on certain aspects of curriculum. Types of
technologies could range from computer-aided instruction, to
videotapes and videodiscs, to interactive television.
Instruction could be based on a single piece of software
focused on a particular subject or a networked integrated
learning system which provides feedback and practice on aspects
of the curriculum.

Exploratory/Problem solving: Newer technologies which
facilitate exploration and problem solving include all
platforms which enable learners to electronically access,
organize, evaluate and use large amounts of information.
Technologies could include multimedia encyclopedias on CD-ROM,
databases accessed through communications lines, interactive
videodiscs, two-way interactive television, and a host of
others. These technologies can help students and teachers
tackle more difficult and, perhaps, more realistic problems in
the classroom than ever before.

Communications: Teachers also want students to be able to
communicate the results of their learning. Newer technologies
enable students, teachers, administrators, and parents to
connect with each other and with learning resources that are
geographically distant. Specifically, this includes such
technologies as electronic mail, data retrieval systems,
networked communications, bulletin boards, two-way interactive
television, and even closed circuit broadcasts within the
school.

Tools/Techniques: Learning has always been aided by certain
tools. Pencils and typewriters have aided the ability to
communicate; an abacus, a slide rule, or a hand held calculator
can facilitate the solution of certain numerical problems.
Newer technologies enable students to engage in more realistic
tasks and to produce more authentic products, such as papers
and books, spreadsheets, hypertext, audio and video products. 

Many of the current educational reforms can be grouped into three categories:
	- changing what is learned;
	- changing the way students interact with the learning
	  materials; and
	- changing the way the student is assessed.

Teacher education programs and inservice training need to be
focused on training teachers who can blend these newer
instructional strategies with the appropriate technologies.

For more information, contact:
Michael K. Smith
College of Education, University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN  37996
Internet:  mmsmith@utkvx.utk.edu or
Charles Wilson
Tennessee Valley Authority
400 West Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN  37902-1499
Internet:  cwilson@utkvx.utk.edu
.