Technology... good or bad? That is one of the questions that Postman asks in his book, Technopoly. Postman warns that with every new invention, there are downfalls that are not predicted. Take the internet, for instance. We now have a wealth of information at our fingertips- we can discover more information on a subject in 10 seconds than my grandparents (or maybe even parents) could have in a week 25 years ago! But with that great discovery also come some downfalls. Students can view inappropriate videos, articles, information just as easily as I can discover useful information. I teach 3rd grade, and one day walked into the lunchroom to get my class only to discover 2 of my students had been singing a song with the F word in it. When I asked where they learned that song, they said it was a youtube video. So I would say that is a negative side of technology.
On the other hand, a 4th grade student at our school recently had a brain aneurysm. Of course the community wants to help out and support the family while their son recovers- we also don't want 300 people calling the family to get information. So how can we get out information to those who want to know it? Why, start a blog of course! Through the blog, we are updated on the child's status, as well as what we can do for the family. So to this end, I disagree with Postman that technology takes away community. In this case, I would dare say that technology is helping us build community, and support one of our own in a time of need.
Now, I cannot say that I am a die-hard techie. There are times when I prefer to teach on the whiteboard instead of my SMARTboard, because at times I really do think that thing hates me!! I think my relationship with technology is love/hate. I also think that technology is blurring the lines between my personal and private life. I personally, do not "friend" parents on Facebook- I don't have anything to hide there, I just think that there needs to be some separation there. However, it is also a great tool that could be used to keep in touch with former students/families. Technology blurs the lines and I don't think they will become any clearer in the future.
I loved reading your post here, Kelsie. You are so authentic!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about a love-hate relationship with technology. I am--by my own admission--a sold-out technophile. But I still have had my frustrations with technology. There are some real blessings and benefits that come with having a tech-infused classroom, but there are some real curses and frustrations that come with it too!
One of my best examples was when a group of my former 8th graders got into a mess of trouble on Facebook. I had always accepted friend requests from my students (NEVER friending them myself--that seems creepy.) But I realized the slippery-slope mistake I had made by accepting their requests when I became aware of the nasty stuff they were doing and saying online. Did I have to respond to it? It wasn't really school-related, right? But I decided I had to say something to their parents. So I did. And it was awful. Needless to say, I unfriended about 40 students that day. Technology can bring people together, but it can also drive them apart!
I think having that wealth of information at our fingertips also changes the way we teach. We need to teach how to be more discerning and we also need to teach how to use all that information more effectively.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your disagreement with Postman. The internet has great opportunities to build community and if used wisely can be a great communication tool. My husband works for two weeks of every month in Northern Canada, and his facebook posts keep people informed of the new eperiences and challenges he is facing. It keeps him connected with his friends at home in a good way.
I think that having technology at everyone's fingertips may keep us more accountable to the facts. When I teach a science, history, or a math lesson, I am aware that if I get the facts wrong, my students and their parents can check it out in a second. I am constantly making sure that I have information that is as accurate as possible. But, this all takes time.
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