Do we abandon something we no longer need anymore?

Depends…

Old clothes can be donated. If they are too damaged, they then are thrown out. If there was a program in place, the damaged cloth may be put to some other type of use. Again, that only depends if there is some sort of recycling program in place.

Do we throw out old ways of teaching and learning?

Depends…

There is research out there that is dated, but still quite valid. There are old teaching methods that are old, but still quite valid. There are old French books from my childhood that are dated, but still grab the attention of the modern generation. The old isn’t necessarily bad; the issue comes when it tries to mesh with the new. People have a tendency to be in the either/or category and have difficulty synthesizing the best of both while shaving off the worst.

Technology in the classroom is becoming a more discussed topic every day. Innovations in technology are becoming quite unbelievable, from quantum computing to having more power in a small compact cellphone than a desktop computer in 1995. It is making our lives easier all the while changing our habits. We are now able to communicate our message in many different ways and, for teachers this has certainly impacted their realm. Laptops, cellphones, ipad’s and software used for presentations are all becoming more frequent in class. Teachers are in a sense forced to deal with this by perceiving it as a potential epidemic or blessing.

My biggest issue with technology in the classroom is cellphones. I think its cool students can talk to their friends in different classes, but there isn’t much self-regulation being exercised with the tech. From my personal observations, I find cellphones get abused at most crucial times. “I’m just sending a quick text” turns into an entire day of back and forth conversation while disengaging from the world around. It happens most often during lectures, group discussions and presentations. Can I blame the kids for being bored and wanting to act on an impulse to do something?

My hope is that they simply learn that self-control not to act on certain impulses. I believe it is harder than ever to put such an exercise into practice, especially for young developing minds. The demands with the various social networks put students in a hot seat to participate in the activities. Snapchat, Instagram, Whatsapp, texting and Facebook are only the few major distractions that can pull anyone into their black hole. Do those applications have potential positive contributions? I believe anything does with the right perception.

What is my solution to such a thing? I don’t have an issue letting students use their phone for educational purposes, but then the question of “how do I monitor if they are on task” comes up. Information Technology teachers can access any students screen at a whim. It’s a bit issue of privacy when it comes to a personal phone. On a phone it is super easy to start doing something else than what one is supposed to be doing. My solution to this is laptops (school laptops preferably that have pre-installed protocols and programs). Not every student may afford a laptop or would like to work with one; I believe providing a terminal gives them quick access to information and removes the need for the cellphone. I understand that there is a social aspect electronically, but I wish for students to realize the importance (or even benefits) of being here and now completely present and engaged.

Ideally, I would allow everyone access to the internet to pursue any research they deem necessary. Ideally, I would like students to stay off their phones while in an education setting. Ideally, I would like the world to be at peace, but being ideal only goes so far. There is a requirement for action for a consequence or reaction to occur. If a student learns to ignore such impulses to check their phone every few minutes, I’m sure their attention span will increase as well as their appreciation for life in general. Hopefully they will see the greatness that is around them and recognize the greatness within themselves. I can do my best to stay off my phone and ask my students to try theirs.

Technology is nothing to fear. The only thing we should fear is ourselves as Humans have a habit of stirring the pot too hard and knocking it over at times. It is something that can certainly add benefits to the classroom, but like anything can come with its drawbacks. I like to see technology incorporated into classrooms more. I also fear that having access to such equipment may be abused rather than used for productive purposes. It’s not only up to the students to use the technology properly; it’s up to the educators in all disciplines as well to adapt to such demands.

Below is a video of a futuristic “modern day” classroom that could potentially exist very soon. What problems do you think arise with such technology? What about the maintenance and cost? What sort of rules would an educator have to establish? Would this completely eradicate pencil and paper (or even laptops) from the classroom?