“Are today’s classrooms too dependent on technology?” is a topic that many educators have posed.
The underlying presumptions cover a number of intricate political and economic issues. Some of these questions include whether we really need more technology in classrooms, where the funding for classroom technology comes from, and whether we should use different equipment.
The claim that nonhuman influence is already present in classrooms, especially in elementary schools, is one of the most prevalent critiques of contemporary education.
The classroom’s current state
Some of the technology used in classrooms has existed for decades. Even while things like televisions and projectors are not brand-new, educators are still finding new ways to use them.
Every student in a large room may see the content on a laptop screen thanks to projectors, which are an efficient approach to enhance it. A vast array of subjects are taught through television broadcasts. The learning menu also includes more recent technology. Once reserved for corporate meetings, videoconferencing is becoming a common method of facilitating communication between various learning groups.
These days, laptops, tablets, handheld devices, electronic whiteboards, advanced word processing software, 3-D printing, and virtual field excursions are all commonplace classroom technology.
Is everything simply too much? In many schools, the idea of a human instructor lecturing on a particular subject while standing in front of a class of students is still common.
What if we took a different approach?
After listening and taking notes, the students discuss the content.
Do we really need thousands of different combinations of technology? Despite the apparent benefits of online encyclopedias and virtual field trips, some instructors think that pupils are harmed by excessive technology use.
Human eyes may suffer if they are exposed to computer screens for longer than a few hours each day. For developing children, it may be much more harmful to the eyes. An increasing number of folks are exhibiting midlife eyesight.
Human eyes may suffer if they are exposed to computer screens for longer than a few hours each day. For developing children, it may be much more harmful to the eyes. Experts believe computers may be a contributing factor in the growing number of adults who are experiencing eye issues in their middle years.
Possible Health Issues for Kids
An even greater physical risk associated with excessive technology use for kids is inactivity. Hours of sitting can cause a variety of physical issues, according to Athletico Physical Therapy. Students are more susceptible to a variety of illnesses as classrooms rely more and more on technology.
Decrease In Attention Span
With all of the screens, computers, video conferences, and various auditory and visual input sources in a classroom setting, schoolchildren are constantly exposed to a plethora of stimuli.
Even something as basic as reading a book can require two or three keyboards, peripherals, and other gadgets. Some experts are concerned that children’ attention spans are being considerably shortened by modern classroom technology.
Absence of Human “Filter”
Schoolchildren are constantly exposed to a variety of stimuli in a classroom setting that is filled with displays, keyboards, video conferences, several auditory input sources, and numerous visual ones.
Students receive less feedback from individual professors in classrooms with more inappropriate technology. Schools require people to serve as a bridge between human minds and electronic data sources. The crucial role that kids play with their teachers and their peer relationships can become even more isolated as technology becomes a pervasive environment in schools.
In rural communities, it causes disadvantages
Rural and underprivileged populations are being left behind by the standardization of educational standards, which includes extensive in-class technology.
Rural and financially poor districts are frequently left out of the advancement loop as it becomes necessary to outfit modern schools with more technology. One of the major issues facing technology-based instruction is this lack of exposure to the technology.
Inadequate Socialisation Skills
What happens to kids who spend most of their time interacting with machines? Children who already spend a large portion of their leisure time online are “locked” into a world with little opportunity for human interaction, according to social psychologists.
Increased use of inappropriate technology in the classroom will only exacerbate this issue, particularly in situations where there is no normal balance in life.
Using more inappropriate technology in the classroom will only exacerbate this issue.
SPIKE’S TAKE ON TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS
For anyone that knows me, I am not a fan at all of young children having access to technology. I personally cringe (and sigh) when I see young babies and toddlers holding a screen to their faces. Is the world we live in not exciting enough? When my 2 children were younger, I actively kept technology away from them. No Youtube videos, no kids cartoons (don’t feel sorry for them – trust me they’re fine!), no smart watches or anything like this. Instead, they filled their time playing outside, playing in nature, painting, colouring, reading, toys etc etc. We actually had SO much to do in the day, often we ran out of time!
Now that they are older (8 and 9 years old) technology has HAD to come into their lives – and that is fine! I am not against technology (my whole business is run on technology)Â but I am saying, I don’t think young kids need it.
Both my children have their own Chromebooks for school which they use. I remember an old friend telling me that if I didn’t give them technology from a young age then they would be behind with it all. They could not have been more wrong. I knew they wouldn’t be behind. Using a Chromebook or any other computer isn’t particularly hard – swipe left, swipe right, copy, paste etc. They are no where near behind at school and in fact excel in some areas to do with technology.
I was surprised how much technology gets used at their school. In fact, I remember having a chat with my daughters teacher last year as ALL the homework she got seemed to be on the Chromebook. I told him, I hadn’t see her write anything for months and why did ‘art’ have to be on the computer? It seemed he did very little to set the children written homework and I was worried about my daughters handwriting. He actually agreed with me (hmmmm!) and from then on he started setting some written homework. Even ‘art’ lessons were on the ‘Chromebook’ – i told him surely that is digital art which is great but where was the paints, charcoal pencils, brushes etc. Again, for a short while, he went back to the ‘old fashioned’ way of teaching art.
There are some great positives to using Chromebooks and technology of course. Students can see videos of The Rainforest for example, there are now 3D virtual experiences – all of which enhance a child’s knowledge.
I guess the answer in my opinion is all about moderation. Use technology but don’t rely on it.
What do you think about teachers using technology to mark homework? A brilliant time saver or another human interaction gone?
Such a good debate so let us know your thoughts.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, HAVE A LOOK AT OUR ‘TRADITIONAL’ board games using ‘good old fashioned’ fun and learning!
