Blog

Sample Essay (800 words)For the assignment question and analysis, see Sample essay 1Education means considerably more than just teaching a student to read, write, andmanipulate numbers. Computers, the Internet, and advanced electronic devices arebecoming essential in everyday life and have changed the way information is gathered.How this new technology is utilized in the curriculum and managed by teachers will have animportant role to play in widening the resource and knowledge base for all students.Technology affects the way teachers teach and students learn. To make the best use ofinformation technology (IT), schools need a workable plan to fully integrate it into allaspects of the curriculum so students are taught how, why, and when to use technology tofurther enhance their learning.If a school does not have a clear plan of how and why it wishes to implement IT, then itruns the risk of wasting money. In schools today, nearly all classrooms have access to acomputer. However, many schools mistake this as incorporating information technologyinto the curriculum. School staff need to research what IT is available and what would bestserve the school’s purpose, not simply purchase the latest equipment. There should be apolicy stating how IT is going to assist pupils’ development and what teachers want pupilsto achieve (Reksten, 2000). Staff members need to be clear about what they want IT to dofor them before they can start incorporating it into their lessons.The only way information technology is going to be useful to schools is if all staff membersare well-informed and fully supported. It is the principal’s responsibility, and should be partof the school’s plan, to ensure that all staff are consulted about the changes, and that thechange is carefully organised. Some teachers may be resistant, especially if they have nothad much experience with computers, so training teachers is essential in implementing ITinto the school curriculum. Staff members must feel involved in the process of acquiringtechnology, and in learning how to operate it, in order for them to increase their confidencein using IT as a curriculum tool. Teachers are only going to be able to incorporate IT intotheir lessons if they are competent users themselves (Reksten, 2000).In addition, teachers need to be aware that IT within the classroom is extremely flexible, butthat they need to plan what purpose IT serves in each lesson. The skills a child learns are theComment [de1]: Structure: IntroductionsThe essay begins with a general lead into the broadtopic by indicating the inadequacy of traditionalteaching alone. It sets up a problem that the essaywill solve. See essay introduction.Comment [de2]: Format: SpacingEssays are usually double-spaced or 1.5-line spaced.See formatting and layout.Comment [de3]: Structure: IntroductionsThe topic is narrowed by affirming the significanceof IT for teachers and students.Comment [de4]: Structure: IntroductionsThe final sentence is the thesis statement. Noticehow the beginning of the sentence is constructed toanswer the essay question. It uses keywords fromthe question: “best use”, “information technology”,and “schools”. See essay thesis statement.Comment [de5]: Format: Abbreviations“Information technology” is followed by itsabbreviated form in brackets: “(IT)”.Now that it has been defined, the abbreviation canbe used elsewhere in the essay.Comment [de6]: Structure: Body paragraphsThe first sentence of this paragraph is the topicsentence. It signals that the paragraph is about howschools need a clear plan for implementing IT. Thispoint follows up on the first point made in the thesisstatement: schools need a workable plan. See essaybody paragraphs.Comment [de7]: Structure: Body paragraphsThis statement moves into specifics; it detailsparticular actions that a school can do to develop anIT plan. See essay body paragraphs.Comment [de8]: Referencing: In-textcitationThis in-text citation indicates that the ideapresented in this sentence is taken from an outsidesource. The in-text citation gives the surname of theauthor (Reksten) and the year the source waspublished (2000). This citation uses APA style. SeeAPA in-text citation.Comment [de9]: Structure: Body paragraphsThe final sentence of the paragraph summarises andrestates the idea introduced at the start of theparagraph.Comment [de10]: Referencing:ParaphrasingThe idea in this sentence is taken from an outsidesource, as

indicated by the in-text citation. Theexact wording of the source has not been used, sothis is a paraphrase. See paraphrasing andsummarising.important part of any lesson, and it is the same with technology. IT needs to be used andunderstood in all subjects in the same way as the ability to read is necessary for all subjects,and “must be used across the curriculum, in the same way that a pen and pencil are used inmost subject areas” (Ager, 2000, p. 15). The best way to plan the use of IT in the classroomis to approach it as simply a learning tool that is more advanced (and more exciting) thanthe traditional pen and paper.Comment [de11]: Referencing: QuotationThe quotation marks indicate that this is takenword-for-word from an outside source. Rather thanstanding alone, the quotation is integrated into thesentence.The sentence begins with the student’s own words,and then flows directly into the quotation. Seeintegrating quotations with your writing.It is vitally important for students to be taught the strategies for using IT. Children also need to befully informed about the capabilities of IT before being asked to use it. Pupils should be aware thatthe contexts in which they use IT will change, and they need to know what the appropriate use ofIT is and what is not. Whilst it is important that children learn to use IT effectively, teachers mustemphasise that IT is not always suitable. According to Apter (1968),the danger is that the “computer dehumanizes people and inevitably leads them to actlike machines themselves” (p. 58). Teachers must make sure they plan to use variety intheir lessons. Too much IT instruction may be just as harmful to a child as not enough.The usefulness of IT in the classroom, as with any learning tool, depends on the innovationand imagination of the teacher. It is imperative, though, that the implementation of IT intoa school is carefully planned. The current information explosion makes it essential that IT beused extensively within the classroom so children know how to use IT appropriately andeffectively. Teachers must, therefore, be fully informed about what kinds of IT are availableand whether or not they are appropriate for classroom use. School boards and teachersmust therefore ensure that all staff have a clear plan about what they want their studentsto achieve through IT. The appropriate incorporation of IT into the classroom will broadenthe minds and skills of students, allowing them to be better prepared for furthertechnological advances.ReferencesAger, R. (2000). The art of information and communications technology for teachers. DavidFulton.Apter, A. J. (1968). The new technology of education. Macmillan.Reksten, L. E. (2000). Using technology to increase student learning. Corwin Press.Comment [de12]: Referencing: In-textcitationThis in-text citation also indicates a page number. Intext citations for quotations should always have apage number, if one is available. See page numbersin APA in-text citations.Comment [de13]: Structure: BodyparagraphsThis topic sentence deals with the final points madein the thesis statement. It focuses on teachingstudents how, why, and when to use technology.Comment [de14]: Referencing: Author nameWhen citing a source, the author’s name can alsoappear outside the brackets as part of the sentence.The year and page number still remain withinbrackets. See APA in-text citation.Comment [de15]: Structure: ConclusionThe conclusion reaffirms the points made in eachparagraph. Together, these points support thethesis statement (the overall argument). See essayconclusion.Comment [de16]: Format: HeadingShort essays do not need headings or sub-headings.The exception is the reference list: this sectionshould be identified with a heading. See APAreference list.Comment [de17]: Referencing: ReferencelistThe reference list at the end of the assignment givesmore detail about all of the sources used in theassignment. The author’s name and the year ofpublication always come first. See APA reference list.Comment [de18]: Referencing: ReferencelistAfter the author’s name and the year, each entryshows the publication details – for books, thisincludes the title and publisher name. The title of thebook is always in italics for APA Style. See APAreference list.Comment [de19]: Format: Hanging indentEach entry in the reference list has a hanging indent.This means that every line after the first is indented(moved a few spaces to the right).