For all the benefits of technology, there are some drawbacks, and its greatest strength — being attuned to our need for instant gratification — is also its greatest weakness.
The latest software and hardware can be outdated in six months, and school systems simply don’t move that quickly. A school system will get state or federal funding to purchase access to the Internet, computers and software, and then the school system is unable to keep up with how rapidly advances occur.
Another glitch in heavy reliance on modern technology in schools: Every child learns differently. There are some students who prefer pencil and paper to Palm Pilots — students who can’t learn unless they physically write something down. In any given third-grade classroom across the country, some kids might grab a library book to learn something while other kids might benefit more from a talk with their peers. Technology might connect us more on one level and reduce personal interaction on another.
The key to our success with technology in the classroom, as with life, is to find a balance. Technology has its value, and textbooks have theirs. Ultimately, the goal is to provide every student with the best education possible — whether it is in textbook form or as an e-book downloaded to an iPod. WILLIAM S. DINGER
To add to my last post, the above quote comes from the same article that is used articles in the links found in Jean-Luc Picar, Where are you? . I used this to demonstrate that unless one takes the time to read references (time students usually don’t use), one can miss information that very much changes the complection of what the author might have intended. Also, as this demonstrates, one can find seemingly supportive information from something that might not be. As Dinger states, one must be sure to differentiate (teach to the child) for each child and not all students want or relish learning on the web. In fact, not all students find learning in groups to be a positive experience. As I’ve begun to realize, this debate about using technology to “bring the learning to the students” isn’t quite as cut and dry as some would have people believe. As I’ve stated, I’m all for using the tool of technology to enhance the understanding of students but we seem to be on a craze that, societally, I do not think we can afford to maintain. As Dinger points out, one of the limitations of keeping up with technology is the cost and, like it or not, we cannot put all our resources into technology. Libraries are still very important for schools as are the Arts, Sciences and the Humanities and we cannot just rely on technology to serve in all these areas. Yes, it can assist and provide a great tool that will enhance the learning but so will field trips, books, and other “old” technologies that we use in our schools. And, technology moves and changes so rapidly that it becomes difficult for schools, and even parents, to keep up with what is happening. fyi - survey of our 200 odd students - 6 ipods/ 2 inanos. 6 & 2. Cellphones, used by a select group of grade 11 and 12’s with the odd grade 7 - 10 student having access to one. btw, we still have dial up in homes and, gasp, not everyone keeps pace with the net and we still use phones. Some homes don’t even have a computer. My guess is that in any major city you might find a block or two of people who do not have a computer either. (Too bad they don’t qualify for the $100 computers:( ) It’s not that I’m against technology, but we seem to be willing to sacrafice the human aspects or even stand up to kids and say “Hey, that’s great you talk and text, but you need to work on the one-to-one interaction with people.” Maybe it’s just me, but we’ve seemed to have relinquished some adult responsibility in favour of “Getting the kids on our side.” or is it “Getting on the kids side?” As I read many of these blogs, it amazes me that for the first time ever, I think, adults appear to be buying into the notion that kids know best. I was going to make a tongue-in-cheek comment about having chocolate cake for breakfast (an old Bill Cosby bit of humour:) ) but then realized that it just might be true given the state of the weight in our children and the way diet is being dictated by “Fast Food” restaurants. We seem to have forgotten that everything needs to be taken in moderation and too much of any good thing will kill you (Yes, even chocolate!:0 )
K
