Today’s students are born into a world that is technology based. There are more means of usages of technology than ever before. However, many teachers have an inclination to not use technology in their classrooms. Some of the reasons are that they do not feel that it is important, others don’t know how to use it, while others think that reading a hard copy of a book is an art that will soon be forgotten. While these are all legitimate reasons and concerns, I feel that technology is very important. It is what the new generations will be working with in every single job. So, instead of working against technology and the fact that our students are watching more TV than spending time reading a book, let’s work with technology and show students how best to use it.
In this new industrial age, there are so many opportunities to create images and projects with technology, whether it is with Powerpoint, Microsoft word, or iMovie. Technology is something that students encounter daily. A large majority of students have computers at home, and if they don’t they have access to a computer is some way, shape, or form. There are also new applications online that help students who are struggling with reading, mathematics, speaking, etc… It is only to our benefit as teachers that we use the technology that is available to us through different organizations.
Will using these technologies change our classrooms? Yes, of course it will, but it is a change that I am personally willing to make. I taught in a kindergarten classroom a week ago and in that classroom there is a smartboard. I made lessons using the smartboard, and it was wonderful because it was more interactive than a whiteboard and I could change what we were doing with the touch on the screen. The students absolutely loved it, and probably could teach me a thing or two about how to use it. In my opinion, we should use the knowledge our students have to increase our knowledge of technology, as well as create projects where they can show off what they know.
With the invention of the iPad and Kindell, we can include technology and make reading “fun.” I still love to use a real book and flip the pages, but whatever we can do to get our students to read is fine by me. I think what is most important here is to let students experience and evaluate the technology for themselves and use it as they see fit, within educational means of course.
As educators, it is our job to educate our students on the usages of technology. We have the opportunity to help our students figure out what is the proper use and how best to use it. We can help our students understand what is out on the World-Wide-Web and help them to learn how to evaluate their sources. It is something that they will be using the rest of their lives, so we should take this opportunity to mold our student’s thinking of the appropriate usage of technology.
I suggest that you view these few videos. They are definitely mind opening.
Elizabeth, I like how you pointed out that students can teach teachers so much about technology. We need them.
ReplyDeleteThe first video was interesting in that it was all about technology and being "digital learners," yet the students held up typical white boards with writing on them... The second video was eye-opening in a statistic kind of way. While I think it's important to recognize that students will have multiple different jobs in their lifetime and have to be familiar with using technology, it's important to remember that they are gaining critical analysis and "thinking" skills through literature and other aspects of the ELA classroom, too. However, as you said, technology is obviously crucial to the future of students and to the development of analytic skills.
Amy, Thank you for your feedback on the videos. I added them to my blog to give readers a few other statistics. I think that it is important to keep this in mind while thinking about media literacy because even though it is now a part of our standards, there are many teachers who are intimidated by technology. My point was to say that we need to teach our students the right way to use the technology because it will be a large part of their lives.
ReplyDeleteDear Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. You made a solid argument for incorporating technology into the classroom.
One point that you brought up and that Amy commented on as well is allowing students to teach you about the new and upcoming technoiogy that we may struggle to learn. I really appreciated this point. It reminded me that no matter how scared I may be to try a new technology and fail, I need to keep an open mind and be willing to learn. I think of my stubborn grandparents who refuse to learn how to use the internet and email. It is too confusing, they say, and they give up no matter how patient we are with them when we try to teach them. I strive to be like my grandparents in many regards, but not when it comes to their attitudes towards technology.
I also appreciated your point about letting students read with kindles and ipads. I struggle with this issue as I find beauty in the physical relationship I have with books when I turn the page from one to the next and can feel the anticipation in my fingertips as I read and cling to the pages. But if students are reading, does it matter how they do it?
Thank you for this reminder, Elizabeth to be open and vulnerable while we work with technology.
Courtney B.
Courtney,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response! Your thoughts are exactly what I was trying to ponder upon in my post. It is my goal as a teacher to embrace technology and help my students to as well.