Debating the Use of Technology in Schools

This week I read an article for my  Instructional Tech for Teachers class by Keith Heggart called What We’re Getting Wrong About the Technology in Schools Debate (https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/what-were-getting-wrong-about-technology-schools-debate-0). I recommend that everyone should read this article. I thought that the article was very interesting but I will get into my thoughts after I answer the five rhetorical questions that were asked throughout the article:

1. Is there some truth in Dr. Vallance’s argument that there was no place for laptops in schools? I believe that there is a bit of truth in his argument because computers and technology can be very distracting sometimes, especially for older students. If technology is used correctly then I can see the benefit of having it in the classroom. However, if students are using technology to check social media or play games while in the classroom, then I do not think that computers have a place in that classroom.

2. What is the point of this post? I think the point of Keith Heggart’s post is to shine a light on the debate over the use of technology in school classrooms. Technology is fast growing and it is being added to lots of aspects of everyday life. Lots of jobs in today’s world include the use of technology and they expect workers to know how to work with different forms of technology. Teachers need to start looking at technology in a new light and the negative stigma around technology should be lifted.

3. In what way do we use technology? We use technology in various different ways. We use our cellphones, laptops, tablets, and computers. Technology can be seen everywhere and many people always have technology on them in the form of their cellphone. Technology is used a lot of times in research and in making new discoverers. Technology also helps students with doing research for schoolwork and projects.

4. If technology has become an ever-present constant in our lives, then surely one of the most important things that schools must do is teach students how to use it effectively and meaningfully? It is the teachers jobs to make sure that their students are comfortable and familiar with technology because in today’s world technology has become such a big part of everything. Technology can be seen in many jobs and lots of colleges and high schools have moved to a paperless state where everything is online and all assignments are done online.

5. We teach students about a whole host of things that are meant to help them be useful citizens in the future. So why shouldn’t we teach them about using technology safely and effectively? Teachers should take advantage of the time that they have with students in their classroom and take that time to teach them the importance of technology in today’s world. Students will use everything that their teachers teach them about technology and use that years after they leave school because those skills are skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

I believe that all students deserve the opportunity to learn how to properly and effectively use technology. Children and teens in today’s world just focus on using technology as a way to pass time by scrolling and posting but they are not using it effectively. Technology can be very beneficial for them in their schoolwork as well as when they get an actual career. This generation focuses so much on technology and the use of technology so the children and teens growing up in this generation need to be very familiar with using technology in a work and school setting.