As humans we have evolved with technology to make communication faster, make things smaller, and in general to make life easier. But- has life become easier as a result of technology? Are we, as humans, evolving in the right direction as a result of technology? Or, have we become so dependent on technology that we have forgotten to live without it? Technology in the classroom has become more and more prevalent in the last decade to the point where a high school student can receive their diploma through solely online classes. Most of us can agree that technology in the classroom has allowed more time for teachers, less paper resources, and more creative elements to the classroom. When does technology in the classroom get to a point where it can be more of a hindrance to a child's education than beneficial and how much technology should be used in the classroom?
Of course every situation is different. For example, when looking at technology such as apps used for learning, there are a few questions we need to answer. How simple is the learning app to use for the student and the teacher? How often should the application be used to supplement the students' learning in the classroom? Is there proof that students gain understanding through the app? What is the price of the app for the student or school to use? These questions can help a school or teacher decide what is best for the students to use to enhance their learning.
You pose some very interesting questions here. I teach 2nd grade and there are a wide variety of apps I use in my classroom. I find this especially helpful for my early finishers. However, there are some concerns I have over technology usage. For instance, there are three go to apps that I use for math; Prodigy, MobyMax and Zearn. I realized that on Prodigy students do not have to get their problems correct in order to continue with the game, though there are benefits to getting the questions correct. The other two apps are really teaching apps, where the students earn game time for work done. In my classroom I had to start using Prodigy as a reward because I did not feel like it was educationally challenging enough for everyday usage.
ReplyDeleteWhat conclusions have you come to in regards to technology use in the classroom?