The Kaiser Family Foundation study was a real eye opener for me especially the number of hours that kids spend using non-academic technology like cell phones, texting, video games, and Facebook. I know that kids today are well immersed in technology and are often referred to as "digital natives" and I think that as educators we can tap into their love of technology to enhance their learning in the classroom. Kids today can multi-task better than most adults and learn about technology with better ease than adults. However, as I mentioned in a previous blog post, (January 27, 2010: New York Time's Education section called If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online), I do not believe that such multi-tasking and full technological immersion is all that good for kids especially when it affects their education both personal and academic.
Human beings are social beings and need human interaction in order to grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, etc. People often use personal social interaction, body language, and social cues to better understand themselves and others. Through social interaction people tend to learn about compassion, empathy, love, trust, and kindness. What I fear most about people's technological immersion is that people may be losing their perspective on what is "real" and becoming less sensitive to the issues of the "real" world. I do not believe that what we need to be fully human, good, honest, kind, compassionate, and respectable citizens, mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons can be learned through artificial media and technology. Like everything in life, kids need balance and I believe that only through balance will we all become better human beings. What I believe to be missing from the excessive use of non-academic technology among kids today is the human factor that allows for personal sociability and growth.
In terms of educational technology, I am all for technology in the classroom as long as it is appropriate. I do not agree that educators should incorporate technology just to include it in the curriculum and wow parents and school boards. Educational technology should support the curriculum, state learning standards, and enhance student learning. I believe that kids today must be exposed to technology but they also need to learn how to interact with others on a personal level that does not involve a computer if they are to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Sources:
Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. A Kaiser Family Foundation Study. January 2010. http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf
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Can you push your criteria for educational technology use a little further? Given a technological solution to a teaching problem (teaching the curriculum or a state learning standard), and a non-technological solution (or at least a low-tech one), which would you pick, and why? That is more of a rhetorical question, because I know you would need more information about both solutions before you could decide. But the question hopefully suggests all of the other issues surrounding technology use in the classroom, besides efficacy in delivering curriculum.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds from your post that you would favor a solution that also allowed for maximum possible social interaction. And so does your emphasis on the importance of social interaction suggest certain ways to incorporate technology into teaching? That can maximize face-to-face interaction?
jd