How much is too much?
I just don’t know where I stand on integrating technology in the classroom. Just this week, I read an article (”Extending the Conversation: New Technologies, New Literacies, and English Education”) that says that, “Young people today live media-saturated lives, spending an average of nearly 6 1/2 hours a day with media,” (Swenson, et al., 360). I found myself shocked by this statistic. Six and a half hours is a lot of time to spend each day involved in media! I didn’t know what to do with this statistic. On one hand, I believe that teachers should meet their students where they are and try to incorporate familiar mediums into the classroom. On the other hand, I find it hard to justify adding more technology to a day that is already packed full of media.
Sometimes I think that as educators we feel like we need to add technology into our classrooms because we assume that it is the right thing to do, and we think little about whether or how the technology integration really adds value to the classroom. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for being progressive in the classroom. I just feel like we should think through these decisions to make sure that if and when we incorporate technology into our lessons that it is done so with the students’ best interest in mind.
on November 8th, 2006 at 11:30 am
Colleen,
I totally agree with you and find myself wondering what “the happy medium” is with integrating technology into the English classroom. I also feel that students are so surrounded by media and that teachers need to bring technology into their classes, but I wonder what is too much. I want the students to feel interested and engaged in the lessons to ensure learning, but I don’t want technology to overrun the class. I think that every teacher needs to find out what works for them. Some teachers will be happy with using technology everyday, while others only once a week. I, myself, also feel that the use of technology, and other things, should be used in the classroom with the focus of the students and their learning and interest at its center.
on November 8th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
First of all there are different kinds of technology and then there is the digital divide.
Using X box and creating work on a WIKI are far different skills.
Some of my middle school students still do not have access to computers at home. The digital divide only gets larger when we don’t provide equal access at school.
on November 8th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Technology is just part of the stuff we use as teachers, is it not? My grandmother used a slate on which to do her sums; I used a jotter with squared paper to do mine; but now if I want to test my aging brain I use a Nintendo DS Lite - by far the most efficient test of my tables than anything my teacher used to throw at me! It’s the same teaching English - use what is available and suitable because of its suitability: not because you feel you have to use it.
on November 8th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
Technology is not always clear cut, i agree with you. I want to integrate it more, and mya dministrators are very supportive, but i do not always know if it is the correct time or not. I find it useful to map out what students should learn everyday in class. I mean, there should be specific concrete ideas that they should be able to discuss after class. So, if technology will help meet those goals, then it should be used!
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Interesting topic, Colleen! In my practicum experience, I’ve been introduced to the technological realities of the classroom: no computers, no fancy video projectors, etc. etc. The students get excited about using the overhead.
It seems that in a lot of situations, technology simply isn’t an option. On the other hand, when students are exposed to technology in the classroom, they seem to be instantly engaged in the lesson. Perhaps it’s the novelty of the experience. Perhaps they simply relate lessons in a tech format to their recreational activities.
It’s a tough call. I think technology offers a lot of instructional opportunities. Sometimes it makes things easier. Sometimes it makes things much, much harder.
I definitely agree that use technology without a good reason is a waste of time and energy. On the other hand, if it will significantly improve the lesson and interest the student, I’m willing to take the risk.