To me technology is something that can make life easier, but also can keep us from learning to think for ourselves. I feel that there is no way around the future idea that technology is in your face all the time. As an educator I try to understand what interests my students. I always ask them on Monday mornings what they did over the weekend. The majority of my students say: " I played xbox...", and then go in to great detail about their games. Did they play outside? NO! Did they have meaningful conversations with one another? NO! As an adult and parent I see that technology is raising our children today. It may be video games, phones, wiki's, etc. I personally have a problem with spending more time using technology to communicate with one another than having a personable conversation. Don't get me wrong, technology is spreading faster each day. I have learned to embrace technology or get flattened by it. I think that technology has grown so fast that we as a human race have failed to grow intellectually to keep up with it. I am sorry to not salivate at the mouth when I see a new gadget, but I feel that we are not using technology the right way.
Common core Math standards are getting back to the basics of Math, and knowing when, where, and how to use basic skills in multi step problems. I feel that many of us in public education, have seen fads come and go in trying to teach today's kids. I think that with proper training, technology can be the single biggest impact to connect today's student to the basics of Math and the basic skills at the elementary level. I honestly don't know where I would be without a computer in my class along with projectors, promethean boards, activotes, and several PC's to allow my student's to do research, and practice various skills online.
A Blog for students to comment on their learning process as they expand their knowledge of using technology in the classroom
I agree! Even though I think technology is great to use in the classroom if it is done in the right way, I also think that it is causing children to not be able to think for themselves. So many students rely on calculators that they do not have to think about actually adding or subtracting anything in their head anymore. I see your point.
ReplyDeleteMatt - PREACH! I mean I hear your concerns loud and clear, and share many of those same feelings. For me a challenge is to engage students in those outdoor activities that I remember so fondly, and I bet there is a way to do it with by incorporating technology into aspects of it...I'm thinking out loud, but seriously if students had access to software that identified plants and animals, like on I pads that could be mobile - they could engage in walks that identified local wildlife on school grounds. This could segway into habitat study, and environmental issues. OK, I'm getting carried away, but you get it.
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