Students and Technology

After reading the two articles, I believe that it is crucial for teachers to incorporate technology into the classroom. It is a fact that some students don't have access to computers at home, but many are more tech-savvy than we give them credit for. Plus, it appears universal that students enjoy using technology in the classroom, so we should work with that. 

There are solutions for dealing with the problem of outside access. We can allot time in the school's library or technology lab for certain assignments, and we can direct students to the public library for long-term projects. If I end up in a classroom with little or no technology, there are ways around that. It sounds like there are various online sources for discounted computers and for refurbishing old computers. Grants are also possible in securing technological equipment, so all is not lost.

Students are going to need to be proficient at computers, for college and for the workforce. It would be a detriment to ALL students if we decided to forgo the use of computers in the classroom because SOME may not have outside access or a high degree of proficiency. We can alleviate the latter by giving extra time/help for students who may be foreign to computers. It will be imperative to help guide students in the direction of modernity, and technology is the way to do it. While I was initially resistant to the idea, I guess I need to get out of the dark ages, for my sake and the students' sakes.

As I mentioned, I will make time for students who aren't as comfortable with computers. Just as I would offer extra help to a child who was weak in reading skills or faltering in his writing abilities, I will give the extra resources for students who may be at a disadvantage technologically. It's only fair; we need to give them a level playing field.

Cellphones in the classroom? No thanks!

Okay, I get it. Technology is valuable and wonderful and ever-present in the classroom. But I draw the line at cellphones. I see the merit of using phones for certain tasks, however, I think students would abuse the privilege. It would drive me CRAZY if I was giving a profound lecture or engaging my class in a riveting discussion, only to see a kid texting away on his phone. 

In his argument against cellphones in the classroom, Josh Allen asserts that "nothing that you can do on a cellphone will inspire students as they make their way into the world." I think that is a tad harsh, but I do agree that we can use other avenues of technology in lieu of cellphones. I have a hard time believing that socially excitable students could resist the temptation to use their phones during a 70-minute class, so I'd rather not give them the temptation. 

Over the course of our MAT classes the past couple of months, several ideas for incorporating phones into the classroom have been broached. They sound good in theory, but I have to ask, can students exercise restraint in using the phones for personal agendas? And on a broader level, how much technology is too much technology? Where do we draw the line?

Chatspeak IS destroying English!

Oh, how I long for the days of yore, when people wrote with quills and a jar of ink. Eloquent letters using perfect diction, grammar and spelling were the norm. Okay, so that was even before my time... but there is something to be said for the written word abilities of yesteryear. As it is, writing skills seem to have deteriorated for many modern students, and I fear that "chatspeak" is only worsening that occurrence. I worry that the shortcuts kids use might further hinder their writing capabilities in the classroom. 

Obviously the English language is near and dear to my heart. I hate to think of it becoming obsolete for some people who never fully appreciate its splendor. I may be biased, though: I am a person who literally CANNOT write "thru." I insist on writing out the entire word because I dislike abbreviations and made-up words. Yes, I am slightly crazy when it comes to grammar. But I just have an appreciation for it, and I want to instill that value into my students. As Linda Howard states in her argument, "Good writing skills are essential as high school students go on to college in traditional settings or online, and they will need to fully express their opinions and expound on subject matter in a way that compels them to think and engage with others on a deeper level."

After reading the article, I wonder if students can alternate/jump between their chatspeak habits and their correct, articulate writing skills needed for class. I worry that their former will take over, and that the latter will get weaker and weaker. I hope I am being overly cynical, but I do have concerns that the writing shortcuts will come back to bit the students. For my part, I plan to encourage my students to keep working on their writing and to learn to love the language as much as I do!