Journal #2

This article raises a lot of legitimate concerns about technology in the classroom. Think when it comes down to it my opinion is s tike so many other things too much of it is not good for you! I think teaching technology in essential to children’s growth. For teachers such as the one writing the article I could see how incorporating something as big as computers into the classroom could be a big transition but all the same I goes right along with life long learning. That is what we signed up for “life long learning”. We as teachers will need to continue to mold our curriculum to best meet children’s needs for their futures. One aspect of this is Technology. While I see both sides of the coin, the teachers overall attitude about taking the time to learn and incorporate these technologies was rather poor. Yet, I also think that the district took it too far. To have people capable of watching your classroom without your permission and often without your knowledge is totally unnecessary and a misuse of the technology. She used good instances showing that technology was effecting other parts of learning that are necessary and important such as; social communication, problem solving and analytical thinking. The fact that over 70% of students could not tell the difference between finding knowledge and knowing knowledge is obscene!

1.)What is the solution to adjust these technological problems that need to be addressed in the classroom?

We must implement moderation! It is essential to use computers and incorporate them but they should not be in the class in front of the child at all times, this poses to many problems. But rather, the laptops should be allowed for certain projects at certain time so that it does not distract from the other important learning lessons.

2.)What are some of the disadvantages of computers that I will need to watch for when implementing computers in the classroom?

As a teacher I will need to pay extra attention that all children are on the same page, children will come into my class at all different levels of computer knowledge, it is important to be cognecent of this and teach each child according. Also mass commercialism is something to be aware of, who knows what might pop up on the children’s computers. Another disadvantage to consider is how to monitor what the children are doing on the computers; this is something to watch for as well.

References

Heller McFarlane, Sarah (summer, 2008). The Laptops Are Coming!
The Laptops Are Coming!. Rethinking Schools, 22, Retrieved July 21, 2008, From http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/22_04/lapt224.shtml