Technology in the Classroom!

Thursday, January 19th and Friday, January 20th

There is always the great debate of technology in the classroom.

Is it beneficial or is it only negatively going to impact the children and their learning?

This was the question that was on my mind as I was in placement this week. One of my activities this week included doing writing on the iPad with the children. I would take a picture of them and have them write their names with their fingers underneath the photo. From there, my teacher prints the pages and files them as we complete one each month for the children to compare their writing. Therefore, the iPads aided in an evaluation piece in the classroom. Is it so bad to use technology?

Inserting my personal opinion:

I think that technology, especially with the younger generation has taken such a big step into the lives of humans, that is hard or next to impossible to keep children away at all times. Now the question we need to ask ourselves is HOW the children are utilizing their time on iPads and tablets and how MUCH time they are using.

It is without a doubt most important to have children writing with pencil and paper, and learning without the dependance of technology. However, I find that since technology is such a huge part of the generation of these children, it is important or them to be exposed, in an educational way to using technology. This way, the children are being monitored in the classroom with a time limit, and for educational purposes.

My teacher and I were also discussion recently, that it is a good skill to teach the children how to use the basics with the iPad. For instance using kid-friendly search engines and showing the children how to use those resources for information. It is a project that we hope to work on in the future. However, for now I guess the great debate between generations and technology use in the classrooms will continue!

I will leave you with some resources that touch upon both sides of the debate!

> 10 Reasons Today's Students NEED Technology in the Classroom

http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-Reasons-Today-s-Students-NEED-Technology-in-the-Classroom

> The 6 Pros & Cons Using Technology in Your Classroom

https://blog.tophat.com/6-pros-cons-using-technology-classroom/