Our reality as educators is that we are increasingly facing a generation of students who have grown up with our fast-paced, ever-changing technology world, and are coming to EXPECT the latest gadgets in all facets of their lives -- including the classroom. Call them digital natives, call them Generation Y, call them 'that group of students that can't sit still for more than 5 minutes unless a flashy image is shown' -- the label is not important. What IS important is that they are leading the demand for increased technology in the classroom.
An article found here discusses a challenge that a professor in Florida gave her students -- go without TV, cell phones, iPods, DVDs, email and computers for 5 days. The result? Only 2 out of the 26 students succeeded in the challenge.
Not convinced? Take a look at the following video, entitled Teens Give Up Technology (launch the video from the link on the right of that page)
Watch as a group of teens are challenged to give up some of their personal tech items for 5 days.
Some of my favourite quotes? "I used to send over 17,500 texts per month" and "the regular newspaper is really messy"
Obviously this video also shows that there are some benefits to unplugging for awhile, as this demonstrates some of the over-reliance that some teens have. We could even discuss whether the mother in the video should have set ground rules so her son wouldn't have begun texting at the dinner table in the first place.
My point is, the students we face are increasingly plugged in, connected 24-hours per day and immersed in personal technology. It's time that we, as the education system, stop resisting this reality and start hashing out the details of how to properly embrace this change within the classroom.
Food for thought on your Wednesday.
Vanessa
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Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteWhat an eye opening video! I agree we should be focusing on "How do we" rather than "Do we need to" use technology in the classroom in meaningful ways. The students we are teaching today have more daily experience with technology than the students in our classrooms even five years ago, and using technology in the classroom is one adaptation we as educators need to make to reach today's students.
Great food for thought. How many of us as teachers would be willing to learn if we were dropped in an environment where we were asked to use chalkboards and slates? Part of being a good teacher is using the technology available to meet the students where they are at. Expecting them to do it the way it has always been done is unacceptable, we wouldn't put up with it and they shouldn't be forced to. Teachers should be able to use the tools available to them now to teach and reach the students they are working with. To do anything else is a disservice.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of your comments - technology in the classroom is simply a reality that educators must learn to live with. Hopefully, most will see it as an exciting opportunity instead of an additional burden. Thank you for your comments!
ReplyDeleteI have teachers that I work with that are so resistant to new technology that I feel for their students. It is a tough fight against a community when you do not have all of staff on board speaking about all of the benefits of integrating new tech. It's a two front war and the tech teachers need to step up and educate. Not just the students, but the other teachers and the community. @TheNerdyTeacher
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