I find it hard to think of technology that is used primarily for entertainment as having a place in the classroom. I think students have a lot of trouble focusing on the task at hand as it is. If, as a teacher, I were to incorporate, say a cell phone in my curriculum. Who is to say the student is doing what they are supposed to do with that phone? I have no way of knowing if they are doing the task provided, or taking that time to text friends. Also, not all students are privy to technology. Some may not have certain things, such as cell phones or PCs at home. This could be due to their families economic status. Or maybe their parents don't want them to have these things. I know a lot of parents that don't allow their children on social networking sites. Or parents that just can't afford text messaging on their phone plans, if cell phones at all. Is that fair to incorporate these things into your lesson plan if it will single out certain students?
I know I sound like a broken record. I bring up the same things in class. But I bring them up because these situations are there. I think there is a place for technology in the classroom for sure. Maybe every classroom is different. But I think there is such thing as too much technology in the classroom as well. I guess it's up to each teacher's discretion. But I play Devil's Advocate for a reason. As a teacher, you will have parents and administration that will throw these same things at you.
2 comments:
I completely agree with you here. How do you know a student is doing what you askde them to when it involves a cell phone or social networking site, they could just be talking to friends. Also what about the underprivedged students you need to have activities in your cirriculum that everybody can complete even those who are less fortunate.
For my post I made the complete opposite arguement but I do agree with everything you said. It's hard to use technologies that have been used for entertainment purposes for classroom work. However, I think with the right teaching and procedures it can be done, but it needs to be highly supervised
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