Students use technology too much. It is at home, school, and everywhere else. I read posts from teachers in 1:1 schools, (students still in classrooms with teachers, but all have a laptop), discuss the newest applications and websites to use computers more. Although I have enjoyed blogging, and hope to continue in other ways in the future, some of the 1:1 teachers will assign a presentation to their students. Instead of actually presenting, the students will send their presentations over to the class website. On top of that, students will also blog each other with questions, even though they are sitting in the same room! I am sure these teachers are extreme cases…hopefully. I would like my students to have more access to computers, because I hate textbooks. There is so much more information, most of the time more interesting information, in cyber space then can fit in a book. But there are limits that need to be set.
I find so much value in face-to-face discussion. I think sometimes how students are losing the ability to communicate though speaking, listening, and eye contact. Working in groups cooperatively is something that goes on in my class, though I wish it did more. Students can learn so much from each other by discussing ideas. The same cannot be done as effectively online. Some teachers are also finding ways for students to use their cell phones in class. Although they could argue that students use their cell phones in class anyways, I don’t like cell phones to be used in my room. I make sure to turn my phone off. If they can’t use it, neither can I. When phones are used, I am the teacher who takes them to the office. As I am walking, I usually am envisioning myself throwing the phone down the hall, hoping it would crush into pieces against the wall. Most of the time students are texting, they are texting someone at school, which is ridiculous to me.
This problem would fit in with what Jon Kabat-Zinn was discussing in his article. People are connected too much to technology, so they are losing connection to themselves. Since I already see this in my class, I wonder what it will be like with more online classes. When students should be learning to communicate, they will be forced even more to disengage from communicating with themselves and others.
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! If I had a dime for all the times that I had that same vision of exploding a cell phone off the wall, I'd be a millionaire. I finally got to that point where I had to choose my battles. I honestly don't know if schools or more specifically teachers will ever win the war on phones. I personally started saving more hair on my head when I focused less on the disciplining of the abuse, and more on developing give-and-take trust when I would discuss the violation with the students during their lunch time. They always showed up because they wanted their phones, and I believe they got a lot more out of our discussion than they would have out of a referral.
Nate, I work in a school where these kids have very little structure in their lives. There is very little parent involvement, and because of this and other factors, they think they are above the system, and are able to do what they want, and when they want. Part of my role as a teacher in this school is to help them to develop life skills. Part of this is setting rules and boundaries. I don't think it is beneficial for me to allow them to break the school and classroom rules without consequences. Although I do give warnings before I start confiscating, it has been my experience at this school that taking the phone is more effective than having a chat. I am also a short, female teacher, so I am coming from a different point of view than you. Some of my students are taller than me, and have been taught that women can't tell them what to do, which I don't take that attitude at all. I am sure it is different for you.
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