Type I and Type II Technology

Type I applications of technology in the classroom are those uses where students are being taught in a traditional way through the use of multimedia equipment. An example of this may be the use of an electronic textbook. I have had the opportunity to access textbooks through internet sources in some of the classes I have taken, however I have found them not to be much more helpful than a normal textbook. Another example of type I applications of technology are online flashcards. These allow a student to go through important vocabulary and regularly memorize their definitions. I have also had some experience with online quizzes and tests, which may have some added features like useful diagrams, but overall they are the same as tests and quizzes that a student might take in class. These tools are helpful if used correctly, but they do not allow for innovative approaches to learning. Type II applications of technology in the classroom are those uses where students are being taught in a nontraditional way through innovative approaches and hands on interactive uses of multimedia equipment. An example of this might be simulation software. In a chemistry class I took, I was able to use simulation software that illustrated how molecules might form when we performed our chemical reactions. This allowed me to understand what was going on and the possible reactions that might occur if the experiment was run wrong. Another example of type II applications of technology would be the use of such programs as PowerPoint presentations, which allow students to set up their own presentations and decide what things they want to include etc. Also, programs in which students develop their own creations, like art software, are useful for instruction.