Compare and contrast the impact of technology on American society and popular culture with the
impact it has had on the American educational landscape.
When I was in middle school, only a few of my friends had cell phones. If I needed to talk to someone, I would simply walk over to their house or call their home phone. Nearly every kid in middle school today has a cell phone or even an iPod, where they can download a texting application. Technology in America has become so prevalent in our society. People use Google every day to find directions, look up an answer, or just to surf the web. According to YouTube's statistics, 60 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute and 3 billion hours of video are watched every month. Technology has advanced so much, that many Americans heavily rely on their devices like computers or cell phones. It is rare to find someone without there cell phone glued to their ear or their eyes plastered to the screen. It has become expected in our society to have a computer in the house or a smart phone.
Furthermore, many children I have babysat often sit and watch TV for a good part of their day. Even in my own home, there is rarely a time the TV is not on, even if no one is watching it. Many families in American now allow their children to sit and watch TV or play video games all day, rather than having them play outside. Many children's source of information comes from the television or playing video games. For example, a kid I watch, Collin, told me he was sad there was only 104 days in summer vacation. I asked him how he knew there was 104 days in summer vacation, and he responded he learned it from the TV show Phineas and Ferb. It is interesting to see how differently kids today are so influenced by technology than even from my generation.
However, the classroom is a completely different setting. Many teachers have been in education a long time and they are set in their ways. I even had a professor last semester who was still using a projector. There are some teachers who try to use smart boards, but many are stuck doing what they know. Even knew teachers teach how they learned in school and how they think school should be taught. The most advanced technology I have seen used in the classroom is a Power Point. Watching the videos, I think there is so much more that can be used. I bet there are not many teachers who would think to use a cell phone in the classroom. So many teachers are in a hurry to make students put their cell phones away.
In American, technology surrounds us wherever we are. It is in our homes, hospitals, and even in our pockets. It never leaves us. So why should we not incorporate it in schools? The videos Did You Know? and Pay Attention stress the importance of keeping up with what is now such a big part of nearly every American's life. Think of how much more interested student's would be if they were allowed to use their cell phones or iPods in school. In my classroom, I would love to get students opinions by taking online polls, playing math games on iPads, and exploring new things. How great would it be to allow students to submit their homework online or have a Facebook group for asking questions that I could answer even when I am not there? I plan on using technology in my classroom.The world and America is changing, teachers should too.
No comments:
Post a Comment