Over the summer, I have gained information about the use of technology in the classroom. I think I have gained a better understanding of what I am ideally supposed to be working toward with my students to help them use the technology available to them in a more effective way.
It can be easy to replace old technology with new, but of course we are not necessarily doing our students any favors if that is the only way that we use technology. We as teachers need to be examples for our students and guide them toward using technology in new and creative ways, if nothing else to push themselves beyond the more mind-numbing, spirit-crushing ways of using technology that they are used to. Many of our students are used to using technology to try and prove to themselves that they are liked, or to keep track of things they want to buy. This kind of behavior fits better with an older model of education with the purpose of creating good factory workers and consumers of products.
Am I capable of using technology in a more transformative way in the classroom? That remains to be seen.
It can be easy to replace old technology with new, but of course we are not necessarily doing our students any favors if that is the only way that we use technology. We as teachers need to be examples for our students and guide them toward using technology in new and creative ways, if nothing else to push themselves beyond the more mind-numbing, spirit-crushing ways of using technology that they are used to. Many of our students are used to using technology to try and prove to themselves that they are liked, or to keep track of things they want to buy. This kind of behavior fits better with an older model of education with the purpose of creating good factory workers and consumers of products.
Am I capable of using technology in a more transformative way in the classroom? That remains to be seen.
