Positives and Negatives to Technology in a Classroom
Technology can be kind of hard to keep up with. There are so many new tablets, phones, computers, smart boards, and apps available to us that it can be overwhelming. Because it is so fast paced, I think it can scare teachers that aren't tech-savy into believing that there's no need or place for technology in their classroom, but I don't necessarily think that's true.
Firstly, the positives. Technology literally opens the whole world up for your classroom. Need to know something quick? Google it. Need help solving a math equation? There's an app that can walk you through step by step. Teachers should use this to their advantage. If a student is really interested in a topic that you talked about as a whole group, why not open a computer station where they can learn more about that topic? The idea of each student having a Chromebook might bother some, but I think it's a great idea. For many students in the area I work, this might be their only gateway to the internet and a computer. They might not have a household that has WiFi, and this experience is the only way they might learn what Microsoft Word is, let alone things like coding. (Which has become a crazy large job field for women of color.) I think teachers need to take advantage of the opportunities and doors that education in technology may give their students.
On the other hand, there are definitely some drawbacks. A Chromebook or iPad with every single student is bound to mean trouble sometimes. In my school, a huge issue is the amount of distraction it gives students. There are students constantly in trouble for being off task, sending personal emails through their school one, and being on YouTube. Another aspect of technology is social media. Social media can make or break a students year, because so much of social popularity is focused on one's online profiles. So instead of being scared of the internet and technology, teachers need to be better equipped, so we can teach students how to use them properly.
Firstly, the positives. Technology literally opens the whole world up for your classroom. Need to know something quick? Google it. Need help solving a math equation? There's an app that can walk you through step by step. Teachers should use this to their advantage. If a student is really interested in a topic that you talked about as a whole group, why not open a computer station where they can learn more about that topic? The idea of each student having a Chromebook might bother some, but I think it's a great idea. For many students in the area I work, this might be their only gateway to the internet and a computer. They might not have a household that has WiFi, and this experience is the only way they might learn what Microsoft Word is, let alone things like coding. (Which has become a crazy large job field for women of color.) I think teachers need to take advantage of the opportunities and doors that education in technology may give their students.
On the other hand, there are definitely some drawbacks. A Chromebook or iPad with every single student is bound to mean trouble sometimes. In my school, a huge issue is the amount of distraction it gives students. There are students constantly in trouble for being off task, sending personal emails through their school one, and being on YouTube. Another aspect of technology is social media. Social media can make or break a students year, because so much of social popularity is focused on one's online profiles. So instead of being scared of the internet and technology, teachers need to be better equipped, so we can teach students how to use them properly.
Fantastic! I appreciated reading your thoughtful post.
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology has made so many advancements that teachers need to utilize these advancements in the classroom. Having smart boards in schools has become one of the greatest tools in today's classrooms. Teachers are able to access things a lot quicker and can customize their boards. As far as students becoming distracted, it has become a huge issue in the school I teach in as well. Students often need to be redirected back to tasks after working on the ipad or computer. What are some ideas and things we, as educators, can do to limit these distractions?
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom I work in currently, we try to limit computer time to only being utilized once or twice a day. Students are motivated by the teacher in the sense of being reminded that they have a specific goal in mind. In doing so, students are then timed to finish their work. The timer may be 5-7 minutes longer than what is necessary for the general population to finish the assignment. It gives them a guideline of how long they should be spending on their assignment. As soon as they are done, they get a "brain break" until the rest of the class is done, to "relax" before the next assignment.
DeleteSomething simple and easy I would recommend is to remind students that using those items is considered a privilege which can be taken away if the behavior does not improve.