Technology: Miracle or Mayhem
Diving into "any-century-skills" and dangers of "pencils"...
The Standpoints.
While some people, like Jim Moulton, believe technology is "a big deal", opposing views argue technology is dangerous to a student's learning environment--as alluded to in the #Pencilchat video. Who is right? Who is wrong?
Well according to another source, Marc Prensky, he states students who need to "power down" and are being cut from their mobile devices is actually counter-productive to the learning process. The reason being is students are unknowingly, self-educating themselves from the moment they indulge in these tech gadgets; by the time these students get to school, they are prepared to master even greater technologically enhanced projects. The reality is when most student's get to school, according to Prensky, are being held back by the primitive, outdated technology that schools have to provide.
Going back to Moulton, he believes there are any-century-skills that all students should have a chance to experience--such as riding a bike, baking a cake, etc.. However, technology is one of those experiences that really needs some spotlight and shouldn't be overlooked simply because it's new and foreign.
#Pencilchat would refute that students solely come to school to learn and harness skills needed to progress in the "real world" and technology gets in the way of that; referring to pencils as being a distraction in classrooms, and more of a nuisance than a blessing. Saying, the old way wasn't broken, so why fix it?
Well according to another source, Marc Prensky, he states students who need to "power down" and are being cut from their mobile devices is actually counter-productive to the learning process. The reason being is students are unknowingly, self-educating themselves from the moment they indulge in these tech gadgets; by the time these students get to school, they are prepared to master even greater technologically enhanced projects. The reality is when most student's get to school, according to Prensky, are being held back by the primitive, outdated technology that schools have to provide.
Going back to Moulton, he believes there are any-century-skills that all students should have a chance to experience--such as riding a bike, baking a cake, etc.. However, technology is one of those experiences that really needs some spotlight and shouldn't be overlooked simply because it's new and foreign.
#Pencilchat would refute that students solely come to school to learn and harness skills needed to progress in the "real world" and technology gets in the way of that; referring to pencils as being a distraction in classrooms, and more of a nuisance than a blessing. Saying, the old way wasn't broken, so why fix it?
The Results.
Everyone--either on the tech-band-wagon or off of it waving angry petition signs, has a right to her/his own opinion; but in the end, technology wouldn't be a crime to incorporate into the classroom setting. Even if technology isn't the primary focus--it doesn't have to be, children of all ages should have an equal opportunity to be exposed to up-to-date technological devices or applications. We live in a proficiency world, give students who already know what they're doing with a computer the opportunity to help out other fellow students or give a student a chance to assist a teacher with ideas of what would be fun to do with the programs the school has access to! Kids are smart and can generate innovative ideas that standard text books might never lead onto. If a classroom is really to be student-based learning--a really positive student-driven atmosphere, then a setting must be arranged to allow students to present their knowledge of technology, not punished for it. For the really advanced students, let them make a webpage for the classroom--something that parents can see to check up on their child's learning. Let the advance students demonstrate their knowledge--becoming more proficient, by showing beginners how to change the webpage's contents. Let learning be something fun and relevant, let's break the taboo that technology has been given!