Technology's place in the 21st century classroom
Technology in education is a tool that is going to
play a very important role in the 21st century classroom. I feel thrilled to
see how useful it is to have information in 1 click, how any kind of data can
be organized and easily accessed, how communication in and beyond the class can
solve problems of learning using specialized software like drill and practice,
word processing, e-mail, internet searching, among many others which help
educators match these resources to address problems that can not be easily
solved in the class. But, it is very important that schools and administrators
acknowledge the importance to turn teachers into useful technology guides which
means that training in this area is a must in order to minimize gaps between
how young people seize these technological tools and how teachers collaborate
to reduce the negative exposure to them.
Schools attendance might be reduced due to the advances in the use of
digital tools in education like for example distance learning.
Technology will surely dictate trends in education, but I consider that
children in elementary schools should have more essential school experiences
that allow them to build loving relationships with others, carryout more outdoor
activities, explore nature, learn poetry, enjoy story telling, listen to books
read aloud and maintain a balanced relationship with technological gadgets,
that will contribute to build up and develop technology expertise when they
reach high school and later when innovations challenge their life.
Elsie,
ReplyDeleteVery important point about how education can allow us to attend classes and learn new information virtually, but also how important it still is for students to attend school together to have those irreplaceable interactions with each other and learn to live together as a community. I agree with you that it is very important to find a balance between these two things. Also, I love that you posted that TED Talk video we watched with Lucian....I refer to that one as a reminder to myself that sometimes creativity and possibility is much more important than facts and figures.
Lyndi,
ReplyDeleteI also keep in mind that creativity can foster engagement in any process that we carry out. If it is applied when teaching, it will sure enhance it and tie knowledge and skills in a meaningful way.
The fact of students getting day by day less opportuninties for interactive fun outdoor experiences such as playing games, running, jumping, even normal fighting, really concerns me, since humans are social beings. Our emotional, physical and mental health depends largely on these real interactions. I predict more problems to come regarding the isolation that humans experience more and more. I know that it is convenient at some point to work from home. But think about staying frequently at home and work from there, wouldn't you miss the small chats in the hallways, offices? meeting the people you like and the ones you don't? That is what makes us people and grow in experiences. I fear the future isolation of society.
ReplyDeleteMaria E.,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right! The lack of personal interactions worries me when I see how kids can get isolated in their world of digital relationships. I prefer the face to face communication instead of being all day long connected and chatting with real and imaginary friends. As social beings, what nurtures our personal relationships are the current exchanges of ideas, likes and dislikes in any environment.
Yes Elsie, technology can guide new trends in education and certainly offer innovation and new possibilities that could have sound unreal in the past but as Lyndi and you mention the one-to-one contact among humans is vital and fundamental for our development. Therefore it is important to clarify that the immersion of technology and the introduction of it in classes should be a regulated process, definitely preschool and elementary should be focus on more hands on activities, middle school a lot more ethical issues, proper uses and possible dangers, finally more presence of it in high school in which trusting the process students should have "master" their skills, or at least acquired more criteria to use accurately.
ReplyDelete