In thinking about how technology should be incorporated more
in our classrooms, I read an article on technology in the classroom that I
would like to pass on. I have picked out
some beginning points that I will continue to share with you during my
discussions.
In the forefront “the
emergence of social networking technologies and the evolution of digital games
have helped shape the new ways in which people are communicating,
collaborating, operating, and forming social constructs”. In fact, recent research is showing us that
these technologies are shaping the way we think, work, and live. The K-12 generation is already on this
digital wave. I reminded myself how
babies are already aware and fascinated about digital anything. It was just the other day, we were eating
dinner some babies in their car seats were mesmerized while playing with an
iPhone, and you can see it everywhere now as in strollers and on airplane’s. Do you remember when you risked losing your
keys when the kids wanted to play with them?
Or then it was playing with the portable DVD player perhaps on the airplane? I don’t want any baby playing with my iPhone
(you know how they like throwing things around). But we do because it is the normal way of
life – digital technology within our lives.
So my question is don’t we have an obligation, a moral,
cultural or educational imperative to use technology in the classroom?
Yes. How are we teaching our
teachers? We say as a society we need to
bring the students and the teachers into the 21st Century with
technology, but we don’t allocate the funds to incorporated technology in the
classrooms to help the students and the teachers. Nor do we take the time or effort to TEACH
our teachers how to use the technology that we give them. It really bothers me that some school
districts have PTA/PTO’s raise money to buy their school technology but don’t
allow the administration to teach the teachers how to use it.
This is the root of the problem – well at least one problem.
As stated in the article“, “Children are establishing a relationship to
knowledge gathering which is alien to their parents and teachers” (Klopfer,
Osterweil, Groff, Haas 2007, p. 38). We,
as teachers and parents have to keep up with the students. Have you ever heard the comment, “Oh give it
to any 15 year old, she’ll know how to program it”. Like for some magical reason people under the
age of 25 can figure out how to fix your phone, use the program, use an app or
repair your computer without taking any formal learning. But as adults we somehow missed that memo.
We as educators or parents need to find a connection between
these two worlds – the world of technology and the world of how lessons are
taught in the school. Besides that
disconnect, we have to bridge that gap of bringing technology, socialization
and making meaning of education to our students which related to them now in
their technology world. The Kloper article states that with the help of
technologies like digital gaming, simulation and social networking mediums has
the ability to bring old concepts in new ways, but new concepts will almost
have to be taught in new ways.
Check this YouTube video:
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