Education Week brought up an interesting commentary
this week about how despite technology providing advances in the classroom unlike
anything ever has before, is it also promising a new generation of distractions
to students who are trying to learn new concepts? Is the technology integration somewhat hurting students' performance due to the possible distractions outweighing the positive aspects of their aid in learning?
The article, focuses on how over the many years,
teachers have had to harness the power of new technologies being introduced
into the classroom such as electronic typewriters, educational televisions,
etc. It lightly compares each of these technologies as they were
introduced to classrooms in comparison to the personal computer and the
uncharted territory that accompanies a computer and interactive web at every
possible turn. The article articulates the both pros and cons about how
these new technologies should be aimed toward learning objectives for students.
They can have a positive experience is the tools are used as intended without
the distractions they also heavily provide.
The article also examines the harsh reality of these
possible distractions. It says that as educators, "We
believe that iBooks, tablets, and other technological tools can be worthwhile
if they are seen as a means to an end rather than an end in themselves. For
this to happen, they need to be used in a rich, meaningful context. We further
believe that this context can be project-based learning. In our experience,
these tools are servants—intellectual assistants that enable the learner to go
beyond his or her intellectual capabilities. Like any tool—a hammer, for
example—they can be used well or misused."
The article also poses the
questions as to whether technology as a whole is able to provide students with
outlooks separate from what they might be learning. One strategy listed
is Technology-inquiry education (TIE).
TIE is a projected strategy to incorporate technology into learning
while also not diminishing students’ capabilities. TIE focuses primarily
on students being well advanced and able to present projects that are creative,
new, authentic, and innovative. This
strategy will serve its very purpose by helping students transform the learning
they are internalizing while also using the technology in a harnessed and less
disruptive format. TIE hopes to change
student learning while still keeping their distractions to the very minimum so
that the products that students create can be truly influential and advanced
for our future.
Could technology benefit from a
modified version of itself that is particularly harnessed where its potential distractions
are somewhat contained? I don't have a Facebook account and surely I do not agree with Facebook and all its supposed glory, but I can see how it's incessant presence in technology could distract students from learning. I think that a modified version would definitely help students keep their minds on track as well as help them
perform better. Where do we begin to modify? What do you think? Comments?
I'm a believer in the idea that at any point in time people always complained about something. Before it was Facebook it was Nintendo, before Nintendo it was probably magazines, and so forth until you get to cavemen who were distracted by who knows what. There was a time where I'm sure people were distracted by books, and before that they were distracted by dust. People will always be distracted. So, I really don't see why the Internet distractions should be thought of any differently. How did people get over the distraction of books? They learned to be responsible about books. People got over being distracted by dust because they learned dust was just a part of life and not that big of a deal. There will come a time in our future where people will say "Remember Facebook? Me neither." and then they'll wonder how people ever got so distracted by it. Teaching responsibility is key.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Greg, there are ALWAYS going to be distractions. It's how those distractions are dealt with that is key. They may go away on their own. I say from personal experience, yes, facebook was somewhat entrancing when I was in high school and even early into college. I remember, my freshman year, I actually used to hate a computer science class I had because all my crops on farmville would be dead by the time I got home after it. What a dilemma, right? Now, I hardly sign onto facebook. I'd probably deactivate my account if I didn't use it on occasion for communication purposes, but it hardly distracts me from school. However, I think it can be made interesting in learning objectives. In my READ 411 class, a lesson plan I submitted actually had my tutoring student create a facebook for a fictional character she was reading about in class. She used statuses and relationships to depict that character's perspective. It was a fun way to get into the story.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this article and your post! I have professed my own concerns about technology being too invasive in the classroom before and I like how this article voices my concerns with solutions as well. Yes there will always be "distractions" - like Greg has said - but teachers should not have to incorporate all of them into their lesson plans. Teachers need to understand that there is a level of technology appropriate for the classroom but there needs to be a definite limit.
ReplyDeleteJust so anyone who reads this knows... I don't have Facebook and cannot thoroughly explain my disinterest with it. It may distract scores of people from their mundane lives, but I'd stick to my own heavily distracted and mediocre day to day than invest such time in foolishness. Greg, your post made me laugh out loud. Dust, who knew it provided such an immense distraction. Haha. Thanks for commenting. Thanks to all who commented. I wholeheartedly agree that it is our responsibility to help incorporate and encourage responsible and smart surfing of the web. We can't control our students, we can just supply them with the notion that they need to be vigilant of what they entangle themselves within on the internet.
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