“Back in my day, we didn’t have any of these fancy gadgets.”
Okay, so I’ve never actually heard a teacher complaining like this. But with the speed that technology is improving at, I am bound to be thinking this as I start my teaching career… Of course, the goal I have is to be as “tech savvy” as I can be, even as technology continues to evolve.
All these “fancy gadgets” as I lovingly refer to them as are going to be a source of power and weakness for all that use them. They open children to new worlds and create opportunities for creative expression… but what happens when the whole lesson is based around a tech that suddenly, unexplainably fails? Well, according to my brother – the world doesn’t exist without Wi-Fi and his laptop. So what does that say for kids that are born today? Or in 5 years? How much will they rely on technology to learn, and what will they do if it fails?
My hope going forward in a world surrounded by technology is that we won’t let it swallow up the traditional ways of learning. I know that there are some crazy kids out there that learn better writing things out than typing them up and they deserve just as much a chance as the kids that type up all their notes during class.
Great meme, Margaret! I really relate to this because technology has not been a large part of my educational journey and we are now going to be teaching in classrooms that incorporate technology in so many ways; I am nervous about being the grandma who feels left behind! Thus, I know that we will have to step up our game and be tuned into our students and how the technology is affecting the learning environment. That being said, hypothetically if the technology did just fizzle out without explanation, and a teacher had no back up plan, that could definitely be cause for chaos in the classroom!
I do agree with you and hope that technology does not completely take over the curriculum, and that traditional methods continue to be used. It is easy for us to use technology because we already have a full language system, but students who are starting out and learning concepts/words/how to write need traditional ways and physically writing with a pencil on paper (using their visual system!).
Great post, Margaret! You really made me think when you said, “with the speed that technology is improving at, I am bound to be thinking this as I start my teaching career… ” It is crazy that the internet hasn’t even been around for 30 years and iPhones came out just over ten years ago. It really makes me think of where technology will be 10 or 30 years from now! And how will this impact the classroom? I agree that those “crazy kids out there that learn better writing things out than typing them up” (of which, I am one) deserve just as much of a chance as the technology adopters. Yet, I am somewhat worried that those who do not use the technology will be left behind in school and in work.
Again, great post! Really makes me think.
Nick
I really enjoyed reading your post and thought that your meme was relatable and a great “attention grabber.” You really captured the dilemma that, I think, many aspiring educators face which is balancing the utilization of technology in the classroom. I love how you began by acknowledging the opportunities of “creative expression” that technology provides our future students. I also think that you made a wonderful point about the importance of technology not dominating instruction. As we learn about all the wonderful new programs and devices that students will have access to, I must remind myself that there are benefits to the traditional methods of learning as well. Thank you for sharing your insight!