We have survived week one of Social Studies Methods- maybe barely- but none the less, here we are on week two! For me personally, one of the toughest things so far has been all of the requirements involving the use of technology. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining one bit! I need this! Thank you Dr. Parker for exposing me to the 21st century. I'm sure that I have many friends in the Twitter world who had to look twice when they saw my name pop up on their screen. That has just never been my thing, but I'm going to accept this and embrace it with open arms! Technology is only going to become more and more apart of our lives, right?
According to Alan Warhaftig, WRONG! After reading an interview with Warhaftig and Scholastic Magazine, I learned that not everyone is accepting technology in the classroom with open arms. Warhaftig would argue that technology is causing more harm than good.
A direct quote from Alan Warhaftig reads:
"I also have serious concerns about the long-term health effects of
children using computers. Children already spend several hours a day
watching television, and their sedentary lifestyles place them at risk.
The intention to motivate through technology may only produce obese
children who squint, don't know how to interact with others, and can't
catch a ball or shoot a basket."
Warhaftig is very passionate and convinced that technology in the classroom is ruining the education and learning of the students. Ian Jukes would beg to differ however. Jukes opinion is that technology is not what we should be focusing on. This isn't about the technology itself, but how it is being used to teach students. Juke often says that in the past students were learning to use technology, when they should have been using technology to learn.
Juke explains that technology is all about how it is helping us:
"When I write with a pen, I'm not pondering the pen. I'm not staring at
the pen trying to figure out how they got the ink in there. It's not the
pen that's important, it's what I do with it that matters. Technology
in schools is not about teaching a kid Microsoft Word, it's about
helping that student to become a better writer. It's not about teaching
students how to use Excel, it's about helping them to become better
problem solvers. It's not about having students learn PowerPoint, it's
about helping them become better communicators."
When I look at both sides of the argument, it is hard for me to pick one side. On one hand, I'm a pretty old fashioned girl. I was just fine without all of the technology and I do think that it is potentially causing more harm than good. However, I also believe that in our day in time, technology is inevitable. Students need to be exposed to it now and be able to understand what it is they are looking at. The technology world is only growing larger and larger, and we would be naive to think that we can avoid it.
I can't help but think that maybe we depend on technology too much though. It can be such an amazing tool, but it can also be such a hassle. How many times have you gotten up to teach a lesson- incorporating technology- and it has failed. There goes your lesson for the day.
Do you remember when you were a kid, what it felt like to get a new textbook? Maybe it was just me, but I loved it! I spoke to a teacher recently that said due to their budget cuts, they were no longer receiving textbooks. She told me how much of a disappointment this was because students loved to get their textbooks. I'm not by any means saying that teachers should be strictly teaching from the textbook, but what I am saying is that's nice to pick up an actual book and flip through the pages sometimes. Textbooks can be a good reference and research tool for students.
This all comes back to teachers facilitating learning for their students. The standards tell us to integrate and utilize technology in our instruction, but how much technology should really be used? As a future teacher, I want to prepare my students for when they leave my classroom and enter in the real world. I realize that this means exposing them to all of the technology resources that are available. I just can't help but wonder if Alan Warhaftig is right.
I strongly urge you to go read this Scholastic Administrators article! Both Juke and Warhaftig have very interesting points!
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=453
Wow! Great post, Lauren. Like you, I struggle with the idea of technology. I have personally never been "on top" of the technological world. I try my very best to understand technology, but I always seem to encounter a problem with it. According to NCTCS 3D, we will need to equip our students with knowledge that is relevant to them, and this would include technology. The article that you have found is awesome. I believe that with anything, there can be too much of a good thing, and this can apply to the use technology. Technology, when used correctly, is an amazing resource. There is just so much information at our fingertips today. I think that after reading both sides of the argument, I would have to go with Ian Jukes. He points out something that I did not think of. Our focus should not be solely on teaching the students to use technology, but instead, it should be focused on using that technology to increase their learning. Wow, great point! It is important that students know how to work with technology, but the technology should not be the main point when it comes to school. The main point should be utilizing that technology to learn about the world around them. I enjoyed reading your post!
ReplyDeleteLauren,
ReplyDeleteThis post is awesome! You are making huge connections with the role technology <should? have in schools! As you said, it is NOT the number of computers in the classroom or how the teacher uses the SMART board - it is instead the outcomes that technology can help students meet. Technology is only a TOOL. The classroom teacher is still the most important learning tool in the classroom.
Great thoughts here!
JP
I agree with you I am an old fashion girl as well and technology has never been my thing. The thought of technology potentially harming student more than helping them is a great argument. From some of the quotes you posted from the article I agree that some children spend way to much time on their technology devices and not enough time outside being active. Although I agree with that, I also agree with the fact that technology is becoming bigger and bigger everyday and it is important for students to be aware of it. I am new to the technology world so getting use to this course may take me a few weeks. I really enjoyed this post! I have never really gave much thought to this topic, so I am glad you made this argument aware for future educators.
ReplyDeleteLauren,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. I think that you chose a topic that has very great arguments to both sides. After week one in Social Studies Methods, I have realized that I am not even close to knowing everything that there is about technology. However, I am very excited to learn new things that can help me be a better teacher. I really like how Alan Warhaftig mentioned the health of students with the use of technology. That is something that I have always thought about, because you always hear people saying that it's not good to stare at a computer screen for too long because it can cause eye problems. He makes a very good point to his side of the argument about technology in the classroom. In Jukes argument he mentions that technology is helpful to the classroom. I completely understand where he is coming from in this side of the argument because technology is becoming greater and greater in the classroom and it is important for the teacher to stay up to date with the students. Great Job girl! Miss seeing you in class!
I loved reading this post! You made such good connections to both sides of this argument. I believe there is an important balance that we have to make as educators, and realize that technology is simply a tool. Times are changing and as teachers we will have to be willing to adapt to those changes. I believe that implementing technology in the classroom has had a positive impact and the productivity of students. Studies have shown that students are more productive today than they were several years ago due to an increased reliance on technology in the classroom. I asked my 5th grade daughter her opinion on technology in her classroom, and she said it was wonderful and helped learning come to life. Her teacher integrates technology on a daily basis during her lesson plans. Technology provides students with opportunities to explore many resources and deepen understanding. Budget concerns are always an issue when it comes to technology in the classroom, but with research and grants, many teachers can become motivated to make it possible when they realize how helpful these tools can be to lesson planning. As you stated Lauren, I also love a new textbook. However, with the budget cuts sometimes textbooks are not an option. I had the opportunity to interview a 5th grade teacher this week for our assignment, and I was shocked to learn that the last time Gaston Co. Schools adopted a new Social Studies textbook was 10 years ago. She stated that the reason she doesn't use the textbook was because her students are such visual learners and "technology minded," that we she would much rather use Discovery education on her smartboard and allow the lesson come to life and go deeper with information. I do agree that we have to be willing to listen to both sides of the argument and adapt according to the needs of our students. Great article and post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete