I think most of my audience would agree with the idea that more technology is always good. But now, RIT provides us documentarian evidence of same.
Researchers at RIT took a few low-performing classes in the engineering department – classes that had typically high failure and drop-out rates – and switched up the course to include things like tablet learning software and an interactive environment including smart boards and the like.
What they found should not have been terribly surprising: students generally performed better when the class used the same language they’re used to speaking in the outside world. Strange that we need to reenforce this exact same concept with every new technology, but there you have it.
Researchers also plan to expand this research to find out if underrepresented groups such as the deaf will see the same benefit from the use of a high-technology classroom.
Now if we could only get our leaders to fund a high-technology classroom, we’d be all set.
Use of Technology-Rich Learning Environment Reveals Improved Retention Rates – RIT News.
