This article was about a dialogue between the author, Carol Tell, and Jane M. Healy, an author and educator on the "forefront of educational technology" for the past 20 years. Tell asks Healy many questions about her shifting view of technology in the educational environment and how this will effect the "I-Generation", as well as teachers. Healy's book entitled, Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds—for Better and Worse, discusses the concept that technology cannot solve education's problems-as some would like to believe. Healy's main points that she makes in this article are that technology can actually cause more harm than good in schools, that it is a product that is being marketed and pushed for political reasons, and that teachers must carefully examine if and how technology benefits teaching and learning in their classrooms. In addition, Healy discusses the issue of child development and how it relates to an appropriate use of technology in the classroom. Another important issue that Healy raises is that technology can cause many health issues, such as carpel tunnel syndrome and bad posture. Overall, Healy seemed to feel that technology is losing its value and place in the educational system because it is not being used appropriately.
While reading this article, I could not stop thinking about how technology pervades the educational environment I know today. I use Blackboard, blogster, and many other technological mediums to complete and submit assignments. Additionally, many programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel make projects and assignments much easier for me to complete. I have seen firsthand the benefits that technology can provide in my educational experience. However, I also perfectly understand the comparison that Healy makes when she discusses how easily technology can suck in people and be merely "edutainment". I think, as Healy states, that as technology is becoming increasingly more prevalent in today's society, it is important for students to know how to use it. I also agree that technology can do more harm than good for students if it isn't used correctly. The challenge we will face as educators is finding the appropriate time to use technology in our curriculum when it will really benefit and promote student learning. And we must always remember that we are trained to teach and therefore, our teaching should not need a substitute-such as technology.
Elsa,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I loved how you summed up the main points that Healy made in the interview. I thought it was very interesting to read an article in which someone actually chose to criticize the use of technology in the classroom because we so rarely hear that! Most of what we read, and actually see in classrooms, strongly pushes the use of technology amongst students. I also find it interesting that the educators who are now teaching technology to students probably know the least about it! I am wondering how we, as future educators, can work to change the way technology is used and taught in the educational environment or if it would be more beneficial to simply move along.
hmmmm... I hadn't really thought about how much technology runs my education. I feel just like you though, every teacher has blackboard and I use one of the microsoft programs for the finished project of nearly every assignment I do in school. I can remember a time when students used to ask, "Does it have to be typed?" It refering to an essay or similar assignment. I never hear that question anymore because of course it has to be typed!
ReplyDeleteI really like what you say in the end of your blog about not needing a substitue because we're going to be trained teacher. That's what technology has become in many fields other than education; a substitute. In the work field many people have lost their jobs due to technologies that can replace them or in parenting for example, have you ever heard people talk about using the TV as a babysitter, pretty strange. :)