I read this article in the NY Times this past week with complete fascination and with a little anger. The article is mostly about how technology is affecting homework, or the lack of homework and that teachers are frustrated with students not being able to concentrate in classrooms.
I was surprised to read this in the NY Times, a paper that I hold in very high regards. The paper is not agreeing with those interviewed, it is only reporting how teachers in this area feel.
I do believe that teachers should be jumping on the technology train to successful students. One teacher is quoted in the article as saying that when rock and roll became popular there was no need to teach through that just because students were listening to it, so why should the same be done for technology. Well.... sorry teach, but rock and roll is a genre of music, technology is the way to the future, look around you... it is everywhere!
I did however like the link on the side of the article "Video Feature, Teachers Views on Technology" most of the videos are all pro-technology and the teachers share in their successes of teaching with technology.
I obviously believe in teaching through technology and I try to learn everything that I can about it. I need to if I am going to connect with my students. My own children are addicted to every gadget they can get their hands on and when there is a homework assignment that involves technology, then guess what? They do that assignment first, the minute they walk in the door and love every minute of it!
NY Times Technology Article
I have a feeling that this is another case of blaming bad parenting choices on something other than the bad choices.
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me of the news report we watched in our Health class last summer of the boy in Great Britain who was so addicted to video games that he dropped out of school and did nothing else. Is the fault of the technology, or might it have something to do with parents being unable to set limits and teach responsibility?
I am quite aware that my boys spend too much time (in my opinion) playing video games. But it is something that they enjoy, and I do see some value in some of the things that they do on the computer. But as a parent, I am darn sure to make sure that they balance their time with other things.
My boys also know that the minute I suspect that they aren't doing their best on their school work, or if their grades start to drop, the computer will be serving as a dust gathering paperweight on the desktop.
I think that teaching through technology gives us an incredible hook to get them interested. Honestly, what is more important; is it the concepts they learn and the ability to think and reason, or is it the format in which we give it to them? I love books. I even love the way the ink smells (yes, I'm weird). But it's the words that are most important, not the physicality of the paper (or lack thereof).
The NYT seems to be on some sort of roll -- they keep running these stories with little more than anecdotes about tech being "Distracting".
ReplyDeleteHere's a good response that I read this week:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-tapscott/whats-wrong-with-the-new-_b_787819.html
We've been lamenting that kids don't do homework for decades, but now we blame technology? :)