After two early morning classes I returned home today to take what I felt was some well deserved relaxation time. Like many people I often watch my favourite television show or movie while laying in bed. However, these days I find myself using my computer more and more to stream television. Today, I don't know why, I was too tired to even open up my computer so I reached for the remote and turned on the television. As I am flipping through the channels I started to notice a trend in the topics that I was seeing. Turning to CBC, I came across a documentary called Digital Dummies. Flipping to the local news channel, there was a report on childhood obesity and its relation to technology/gaming, and finally a talk show was discussing the generation gap between the boomer/echo generation and generations X and Y's ability to use technology.
As you can guess form the title, the documentary explores how the technology we use everyday is affecting our lives. I am a great advocate and believer in the use of technology in the classroom but I found myself agreeing more and more with some of the issues brought up in this doc. As a teacher of adolescents, my biggest concerns are with the growing problem of childhood obesity, the lack of face to face social interaction and literacy. Technology has changed the way we interact with people. No longer do we write letters or read books made of paper. We really have to question how these changes are affecting the future generation. I have found from my experience in the classroom and during my volunteer work that children do not read or write as effectively as they should for their respective ages. I grew up in the technology age yet I remember loving to read and I read constantly. Recently, a report came out discussing this very issue. How is it that literacy scores on provincial tests are going up but kids are reading less and less? I don't know the answer but this article from 680 News suggests that students are being coached to pass the literacy tests but are unable to transfer their skills to other things.
Back to the television, the first commercial that came on after the report on childhood obesity was for a smart phone and tablet. "Isn't it ironic...don't ya think?" For me the most important skill someone can have is the ability to communicate effectively through reading and writing. Technology, including many of the things I have discussed in this blog can be amazing tools to educate our students. But I think we have to remember to remind them that there is more to reading and interacting than a Facebook chat or team speak in World of Warcraft. The skills we learn from face to face interactions such as non-verbal cues and the ability to analyze and interpret body language are vital to our success in going through life. I really hope that I am able to mix new technology with traditional teaching methods to create well balanced lessons for my students so that they develop the necessary skills to help them succeed.
As you can guess form the title, the documentary explores how the technology we use everyday is affecting our lives. I am a great advocate and believer in the use of technology in the classroom but I found myself agreeing more and more with some of the issues brought up in this doc. As a teacher of adolescents, my biggest concerns are with the growing problem of childhood obesity, the lack of face to face social interaction and literacy. Technology has changed the way we interact with people. No longer do we write letters or read books made of paper. We really have to question how these changes are affecting the future generation. I have found from my experience in the classroom and during my volunteer work that children do not read or write as effectively as they should for their respective ages. I grew up in the technology age yet I remember loving to read and I read constantly. Recently, a report came out discussing this very issue. How is it that literacy scores on provincial tests are going up but kids are reading less and less? I don't know the answer but this article from 680 News suggests that students are being coached to pass the literacy tests but are unable to transfer their skills to other things.
Back to the television, the first commercial that came on after the report on childhood obesity was for a smart phone and tablet. "Isn't it ironic...don't ya think?" For me the most important skill someone can have is the ability to communicate effectively through reading and writing. Technology, including many of the things I have discussed in this blog can be amazing tools to educate our students. But I think we have to remember to remind them that there is more to reading and interacting than a Facebook chat or team speak in World of Warcraft. The skills we learn from face to face interactions such as non-verbal cues and the ability to analyze and interpret body language are vital to our success in going through life. I really hope that I am able to mix new technology with traditional teaching methods to create well balanced lessons for my students so that they develop the necessary skills to help them succeed.
Wow. This is a great post and has touched on some huge issues.
ReplyDeleteYou say, "For me the most important skill someone can have is the ability to communicate effectively through reading and writing".
But for me, the most important skill for someone to have is just to be able to communicate. Period. Why does it have to be reading and writing? What are we educating students for? Is it reading and writing that will be the deciding factor for their success in todays society?
I am from the TV generation and did a while lot more sitting around watching (not interacting) then any other generation. Video games and social media are becoming more interactive (which is partly why they are so addictive). Technology and all its devices has the ability to open up a world of learning and success for students that would have never had an opportunity before. I would argue that it is not the technology, nor the devices, but the lack of education, the lack of discussion, the lack of knowledge about how we are using and teaching and interacting with it that is call for concern.
Thanks for making me think Dean. Isn't it interesting that you best blog post came after the course was over.
Zoe