Educational Technology & Attention Span

I have to agree that technology is a boon to education and that it is not hindering students' attention spans, although I do take exception to a few facets of John David Son's "yes" argument. I believe that technology, when used in the appropriate arena, can be helpful and instrumental in the learning process. I think kids now can multi-task on an extreme level and that technology has helped them to become more adept at juggling several projects/tasks at once. 

However, as a future language arts teacher, it saddens me that the handwritten paper may become obsolete. Call me old-fashioned, but I think the power of the written word (literally, written) goes a long way. I like penmanship and the "archaic" method of using a pen to craft words and sentences on paper. To me, typing everything sometimes takes away the luster and sentiment of the writing. Then again, I still like handwritten love letters and snail-mail birthday cards over emails and e-cards. I guess I AM old-fashioned!

Yet I see the benefits of technology in the classroom, and they far outweigh the negatives. As Son asserts, "Technology has the power to capture our children's attention by making learning interactive and fun." I agree with him, and think we teachers need to adapt to new styles of instruction that will truly engage our students. If they are proficient at technology skills already, why not use that to our advantage? We can give them a chance to shine using their existing strengths by incorporating wikis, blogs, online games and class websites into the learning environment. Son mentioned that the students he observed who were using technology in the classroom were "excited and engaged" by the content, and that many "didn't realize they were learning." That sounds like a plus for students and teachers alike.

The only question that I have after reading the article is, Is there a happy medium? Can we incorporate technology into the classroom at times, but still teach the other practical skills our students need in the "old" way? Perhaps we can use condensed Power Point presentations at times (to give them the need-to-know info in a concise and easy way), but also give lectures and have discussions without the use of a computer or overhead projector. I think there is a happy medium, and I hope to find it when I begin teaching!