It is interesting to me how much literature can start to make you question your everyday lifestyle. One day you may read a piece that solidifies your actions/lifestyle. The next day you may come across a piece that leaves you feeling sorry for the person that wrote it because they are just so negative about specific situations. Other days your may read a piece that makes you keep re-reading the piece and you are still left unsure on where you stand. No matter what way you were left after reading a piece of literature one thing is for certain that searching and finding answers to your questions and/or debates leads you to make informative decisions and gives you a sense of comfort when standing up for what you feel is the “right” or “better” opinion.
After reading both of these articles, I was left with a lot of questions. The most important one was “Where do I stand when it comes to the importance of advanced technology in the classroom?” Have we in fact taken the social/emotion part of education away and replaced it with, according to Neil Postman, Bill Clinton’s “information superhighway”? On the other hand, is advanced technology according to Reigeluth and Joesph , “indispensable for allowing us to transform teaching and learning to better meet our children’s needs in the information age”? I think both articles carry valid points to which I feel as an educator I had to really reflect on my own practices and prior opinions.
I let both articles sink reflected on a typical day in my first grade classroom. I thought to myself, “How would my day have been different if it was filled with advanced technology. Reigeluth and Joesph would have stated that I would have been able to switch from a time-based to an attainment-based system. They would say I would be able to reach 30 different students who all learn at a different pace and in a different way. They would say I would be able to record and accurately assess each student. Neil Postman would’ve said my day would’ve been different because my students would not know how to behave in a group environment. My students would not have a sense of community. My students would not have the social skills needed to advance them in our society. Which writers do I feel are correct? There is no way to answer that with 100% accuracy. I will tell you what I do know.
I do know today in my first grade classroom I did not use advanced technology. We practiced the sound the letter “c” makes. We wrote the letter “C”. We read various Frank Asch books. We counted and completed a dot to dot worksheet. We reviewed months, days of the week, and what the weather was like. Would advanced technology enhance these activities? Yes, I do believe that having access to various technology pieces would’ve really enhanced these various activities and would’ve captivated many of my six year olds. But, that wasn’t all I did today. I taught a girl how to use her words to ask a friend to play instead of crying and getting angry. Today I showed someone how to tie their shoe. Today I comforted several lonely 6 year olds that were homesick because it’s their first full day. Today I gave hugs, high fives, and shout outs for jobs well done. Today I encouraged kids to work in groups problem solving. Again, this list could go on and on. Would advanced technology enhance these activities? No, I do not believe that technology would’ve changed the outcome of these situations.
Technology is very important and can be a key player in the classroom. However, I think I am opt to say that Postman is correct when he stated, “it takes many years of teaching these values (share, play fair, don’t hit, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess, wash your hands before you eat) in school before they have been accepted and internalized. Some would say that this function of schooling is the most difficult task educators must achieve”. Overall, I think that there needs to be a fine line between integrating technology into an elementary classroom and completely taking over the classroom.
