Blog #1
My name is Julia Ziegler. I am a student at CSUN and am currently in my final semester. By the end of the spring I will graduate with my Bachelors degree in English Subject Matter. My goal is to become a High School English teacher and with that I want to be as influential to my students as my teachers were for me. My dream is to change at least one students life.
In todays society, technology can be a very resourceful tool for students and teachers within a classroom. It can be used for group projects, daily assignments or tasks, and online reading materials. Technology within the classroom should only play a role academically, when it becomes used for outside factors such as social media is when it shouldn't be allowed anymore. As teachers they are to lead by example and if the use of devices such as smart phones aren't allowed for the students the teachers therefore shouldn't be using them as well. During breaks between the days is when the use of social media should be allowed.
If social media is used within the classroom students will be dependent on it and not as focused or on task. This can be very detrimental to their education considering their ability to learn will be compromised since they won't be in the appropriate head space. Social media fills children with low self esteem, mental and physical health problems, and can result in suicidal thoughts. Teachers need to create a phone free zone within the classroom so students will escape the world of social media and allow themselves a proper education.
As a current student the only effective use of technology has been through resources that are strictly for academics. If allowed to go on other devices for non academic purposes the mind slips and isn't focused on what is being taught. Schools should allow the use of technology since it is widely advanced, but only for group projects or any other school resources.
I agree, social media is too unmoderated to offer a proper learning environment. Sure, a teacher can create or display videos/resources from a Youtube account, but it runs the risk of a student breaking past into the greater video algorithm. But I do not necessarily believe that resources strictly for academics is the only effective use of technology. Educators have been twisting media and technology from its intended purposes since inception. Blogs and videos from the early 2010s, then the newer reproductions in digital white boards and Minecraft worlds.
ReplyDeleteReally, this issue of boundaries and attention spans can only find their source in prior environments. If school cannot be blamed for distraction, neither can media/technology. Moderation is in the hands of the guardians. The problems that students have with these tools are the consequences, not the origin, of our true preoccupation.
Hi Julia, I am also in my final semester within the esm teaching credential program. I also want to teach highschool students. I really do agree with you, technology and the internet in general can be very resourceful to students, I pointed that out in my post as well. For instance, platforms such as google classroom and docs are great ways for students to come together and communicate within assignments. Additionally, you mentioned the use of smartphones. It is definitely a teacher's job to either allow or not allow smart phones in class. However I believe if they are allowed, students should be monitored or warned if they are used for non-educational purposes in the classroom. Overall, you had some great proposals in terms of students using technology.
ReplyDeleteHello Julia,
ReplyDeleteI have a very similar dream to yours, and I’m sure many others do as well, and that is to change at least one student's life. I want to positively impact students in a way where they all believe in the ability to succeed. I agree with your point that teachers should model and maintain what they expect students to do, for instance, as you mentioned, if phones aren’t allowed for the students, then the teacher should not be on it as well. I believe that the teacher and students should use their phones strictly for emergencies. I also agree that technology can be very resourceful in the classroom, and I believe if proper internet safety is taught, students can benefit greatly, especially in this day and age where students will need to learn how to navigate computers and other technology. As you mentioned, I agree that technology should be used in the classroom but only for educational purposes so that it does not become distracting.