Sunday, February 22, 2009
Me, Technology, and Education
I found this blog topic very interesting especially after the events of this weekend. On Saturday my cell phone carrier called me and informed me that I was eligible for an upgrade. I was so excited because I'm definitely a "tech freak". I always have to have the newest cell phone, Ipod, laptop, etc. So I raced to the nearest VZW store to see what new, interesting gadget I would be using to communicate with my friends and family. As I was in the store pawning over the latest addition to Verizon's mobile phone line up, the Blackberry Storm, I began to second guess my "need" for this new piece of technology. Did I really "need" to have this phone? Did I really need to upgrade to the newest Ipod at Christmas when the one I had was perfectly fine. Do I really need the new laptop I've been searching for considering the one I have is just a little over a year old? To conclude my saga I left the store Blackberryless ( if that's a word). I said all this to make the point that I do not believe technology makes children learn better, quicker, or more. I feel that it is just a perk, extra, fun, cool, new, and interesting, but not neccessary to perform basic tasks( by technology I mean the new innovative products that are created almost every day, not basic inventions like the telephone, television,stove,etc). In the classroom it would be great to have the latest ELMO, projector, and a fully equipped computer lab in the school library. I believe that technology makes education more marketable and in this current technology based era it is an asset to know how to use technology in and out of the classroom. Technology also makes learning a more hands on experience and it definitely helps to give the educational reigns over to the students, which makes most constructivists happy. As a whole technology makes knowledge more accessible for students, leaving the teacher in the role of facilitator not deliverer, and all-knowing leader. I am not against technology in the classroom, however I do not believe it helps children to learn more efficiently. I think the quality of the education still lies in the hands of the teacher, the parent, the student, and the available information whether its through technology, books, or hands-on experiences.
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I like this post a lot, because I think, like anything and everything else in our market these days, sometimes we are just plain and simply programmed to want the latest and greatest goodies out there, and we are so in tune with that, we do not always stop and ask ourselves if we really need it. Which is a shame, because honestly, what we are looking into takes out a good chunk in our wallets. I liken this too, oh, I don't know...you know when a DVD first comes out, and then months later they come out with the same movie, just different special features....you are ultimately getting the same thing (the movie is most important), yet you are still drawn to fork out the money, because a feature has been added. Ultimately, how great will that upgrade your new viewing experience....I don't know, these days, you can just go and youtube the extra features....or go a step backwards and just sign up for netflix to begin with. We are such a consumer culture, that companies take advantage of this and twitch their brands just the slightest, and remarket something we already have as the latest and greatest to get us to open our wallets!
ReplyDelete~~Yael S.
I agree with your post...Although I must say I love my blackberry curve, it is most definitly not a necessity. It makes things easier when it comes to receiving and sending e-mails, but I am not away from my computer enough to need the urgency of receiving files as soon as they are sent. Now a days, many of the technology out there is not necessary, and is just an asset to the many lives. Students need to be aware of thesee types of technology, but I don't beleive at such a young age that they will be considered at a set back due to not knowing how to work certain technologies. I also beleive that the basis of the curriculum in the classroom should be the teachers responsibility to teach. You can not substitute technology as the teacher, although certain computer programs may be helpful. People have gotten by for years with no technology. Since technology is becoming so prominent, like i said students need to be aware of that, but they do not necessarily need to know how to use the latest and greatest gadget out there.
ReplyDelete"I believe that technology makes education more marketable and in this current technology based era it is an asset to know how to use technology in and out of the classroom."
I agree with what you said here especially. Many companies coming out with new types of technology care more about how much money they can make by marketing these new "toys." It is more of an asset than a need to use many types of technologies.
DANIELLE PLAHS