Abstract
Over the past few decades, there is a clear overtake by technology in most parts of the world. Our lives are surrounded by technology and every aspect is being integrated with new technology. Technology has changed the way we communicate, travel, buy food; the impacts are endless. An interesting area that is integrating technology is Education. We have seen the different benefits and problems with technology integration, however education integration issues often get blocked. There is a direct relationship between increase in inequality,income disparity and increasing technology in education. In my STS thesis, I address the issue of inequality in education and how technology plays a large role. Beyond the technological aspect, overall education in the United States is not up to par compared to over developed countries. The United States does not rank in the top ten for Science and is ranked thirtieth for Math. The blame of low ranking is often attributed to educators being too focused on standardized tests, struggling on creating engaging lesson plans and the overall lack of reinforcement in the classroom. For my technical project, I reviewed incorporating software methodologies that can be implemented into the classroom to better support the goals of students, teachers and professors.
In my STS thesis, I analyze the use of technology into the classroom and discover the issues causing inequality. Distribution of technology plays a large role, as access to technology and proper education to use technology is dependent on race, socioeconomic status, and geographical location. Another componenet of technology in education is online learning. A particularly interesting problem with online learning is the clear disconnect between educators and students through a virtual platform. I also look at possible solutions to aid with the increasing inequality and highlight the benefits of technology in teaching and learning.
As discussing the benefits of technology in education, with my technical project I analyzed incorporating software development methodologies into classrooms. My research showed scope with using the agile methodology as it has been used in some schools, and incorporated into non-technical companies. The technical portion of my thesis inclused a prototype package to incorporate the agile methodology into any class. My prototype is built for a one credit computer science class about Data Structures. The prototype includes a one-week lesson plan with an introduction to agile and class structure PowerPoint, instructor’s manual, one microlearning lecture on arrays, array’s problem set and quiz.
My STS and technical thesis helped me expand my understanding of the relationship between technology and education. How different groups of people are impacted due to different circumstances, and how technology possesses unlimited capabilities. I would like to thank Professor Richard Jacques for assisting and providing great support with my STS research and thesis. Furthermore, I would like to also thank Professor Upsorn Praphamontripong for assisting me throughout my Technical report and project.
