This is a question that keeps popping up at every staff meeting, parent/teacher conference and even at home between parents and students. As a parent, teacher, and future school leader I ask myself that question every 10 minutes! I am 37 years old so I know my way around technology and how to keep up with it (for the most part), but I went to school at a time of NO internet, I even had my first cellphone when I was in college!
As a mother, I have two daughters. One is five years old and the other is two years old. So, when my two year old daughter asks me to use my cel phone and she uses it better than me… I think there might be a problem. My daughters obviously do not have cellphones. They rarely get to play with my iPad. They are allowed limited T.V. time and they never touch my computer. But… am I doing the right thing? Is it irresponsible of me to raise kids that are not going to be as digitally relevant as their classmates?
As a teacher, should I allow cellphone use in my classroom? How long will it be before it becomes more distracting than helpful. But, what happens in case of an emergency? Also, are we creating kids that are so dependent on technology that they no longer need to memorize their mother’s phone number? Students that can no longer do simple math because they are so dependent on their fancy calculators? Are we teaching students to be so dependent on computers that they can no longer think for themselves?
As a future school leader, I can only hope for the best and for a miracle because it seems to me that this topic will continue to come up everyday, even more so with the passing of time and the advances of technology.
Now, technology is not good nor bad. Technology’s value should be measured by the role it plays and/or the purpose it has. And a good balance is imperative. There is no denying that technology is important. It is the future. And if we do not do enough, our children will not be well-prepared for that future because most of the professions that will exist in the future (for our kids and the kids of our kids) have not even been created yet!
So here is a list of suggestions that might work to have that balance.
- Do not teach everyday out of a PowerPoint presentation. It gets repetitive and boring.
- Do not have a classroom filled with prohibition. We all know that it will just make them want it more. Instead, come up with projects that involve incorporating technology so you can at least get something out out it and they will be more excited about it, because-
- There is such thing as too much technology. We really cannot afford to have kids that want to become engineers to not do simple math without a calculator.
- We should not be replaceable by a machine. Students still need teachers, probably not for their learning, but definitely for the caring part. We are not replaceable…
- Always have open, two-way channels of communication with with parents, administration, and colleagues. When this happens, parents feel more involved and participative.
- Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to rules of etiquette for handling technology (appropriate use).
- Always trust your judgment. If it starts getting out of hand, move on. For example, one year, when I was an Art teacher for 12th grade, my students had to write reports on famous artists every two months. I decided to switch it up and have them create a facebook page for the artist that they chose. We even made a whole game out of it because they not only had to make the facebook page but also maintain it, as their own facebook page for 2 months. But half way though the game, students were more entertained with their own pages, their instagram, their messages, etc., cutting the game short.
This is a short list, but you can continue with more of your ideas. Either way, technology is a double-edge sword. We cannot have zombies walking around without social, face-to-face interactions with other students, classmates, teachers, parents. At the same time, we should not prohibit it either. Technology advances are leaping and no kid should be left behind. 21st century teaching is extremely resourceful and full of answers. The bottom line, which is the hardest, is knowing when to allow it and when not to allow it. I just think that the easiest way of doing it is by prior planning on how to incorporate, monitor, and read outcomes.