Blog #3

Technology in the classroom: Useful or a Distraction?

A friend of mine asked me a question last week and it really got me thinking about technology and education. She asked me if I thought technology dependence in the classroom is bringing students and teachers together or if I feel it is isolating us from one another. It definitely got me thinking about our dependence on technology in the classroom and how we are engaging our students through technology.

When she asked me this question, I immediately answered “it brings us closer together.” Technology is something that we have to embrace instead of push away. It is a useful tool for students of all abilities to succeed. For students with difficulties writing and even speaking, technology is something that can help ensure they are able to communicate with their peers, participate in class activities and have a voice. Technology has the ability to bring students together through gamification and study tools like Quizlet, Kahoot and jeopardy games. Teachers are able to create more diverse lessons and learning plans to keep students engaged and interested in the content they are learning. They are able to include graphics, videos and other useful tools in their presentations, so the students are able to learn in multiple ways. Technology, when utilized correctly, can be a very useful tool in bringing students together.

However, there is a little voice in the back of my head that says technology is driving students and teachers apart. Students are very technology oriented, and it is often a distraction instead of a useful tool. Being able to guide the students and give them useful knowledge to use the technology, while also integrating classic instruction methods like lecture and modeling. Finding a balance between the two is hard, but once you find that happy medium both the teachers and the students can succeed.

No matter how you view technology in the classroom, it can be one of the most useful tools for students and teachers.