Technology in the Classroom

Not so long ago, teachers did not have to combat the constant allure of technology in the classroom. They merely had to control classroom talking, note passing, and the occasional sleeping student. In today's classroom, the cellphone/ipod/ipad amalgamation is an omnipresent distraction. The question teachers face is whether to pause the class and reprimand the offending student/students or to ignore the problem.

In writing, teachers must face the plague of text speak. Students no longer capitalize their I's or spell out such things as you. They write in short, jaunty little fragments and treat grammar as a dirty word.

There is no question that technology has changed the atmosphere of the classroom and the mindset of the student. The speed of the internet has made student's crave instant gratification. The mass amount of knowledge available at a click on Google has made them shun the library. The question is, "What is a teacher to do with this changing classroom environment?" Should instructors fight with vigor, attempting to distance their students from twitter, facebook, and the like?

In order for students and instructors to really thrive, instructors must abandon the hopeless fight against technology. What cannot be driven out must be embraced and incorporated into assignments. Instead of forcing students off the computers, they must be sent there to do their work. Online programs such as Audacity can turn an average paper assignment into an audio presentation to be played in class. Traditional journals written in class can be transformed into blogs on blogspot where all the students can read and respond to each other's work. Whole classes can take place on online chat and students can create films on their computers instead of traditional poster boards.

Technology is now the norm. It is an important part of education now and assignments must adapt to include it. The days of pen and paper are over.

Teachers need to feed the belly of the beast to stroke the interest of the modern day student. Teachers at the end of their careers must adapt or become extinct relics of a time long ago becoming dinosaurs to their students. The best teacher changes, adapts, and conforms. It is key to classroom survival.

Kids today...

After a recent trip to the zoo, and at the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon, I do think kids today are a different breed than those of mine and older generations. The entire day at the zoo I listened to kids complain that they were "tired" and that they wanted to go home. They didn't want to "sit in the heat." This struck me as odd. When I was a kid, which wasn't that long ago as I am only 27, I LOVED going to the zoo. I didn't get tired because I was so excited! I wasn't even the most active child, but I still enjoyed getting out of the house for the day and seeing the animals.

We have a whole generation being brought up that cannot stand activity. Ipods, iphones, and televisions have truly changed the make up of kids. I hate to say it, but my nine month old was the least complaining child I saw all day. What I saw and heard is going to make me try to enforce a culture of activity on my son. Technology has many benefits, but I think it is turning us into hermits in a lot of ways. I want my child to be able to enjoy a day at the zoo. After all, you only live once. I wouldn't want my life to be a montage of text messages, instant messages, mp3's, and streaming videos.

The Absence of Accountability

The Absence of Accountability
It seems to me that we are living in the age of passing the buck. No one assumes responsibility anymore. As a teacher, I see more and more students refusing to take ownership of their own academic success. When I don’t remind them that an assignment is due, they blame me for not remembering to turn it in. They are given an assignments list and due dates on the first day of class, but they do not refer to it. They want their hand held throughout the entire course. They want ME to ENSURE that they remember to do it.
Is this a problem infecting all the young people today? I myself am young. (27 years old) Actually, many of my students are older than I am. I don’t think they can use youth as an excuse. Perhaps in academia we are creating the problem. More and more schools are treating students like customers instead of students. This is causing students to believe that they are paying for a degree instead of paying for the opportunity for a degree. There is a huge sense of entitlement among students any more. The authority is being ripped from the teacher. The teacher is viewed as a salesman there to please.
I believe the root of the issue is that college is no longer viewed as a place to share ideas and knowledge. It is no longer a learning community. College is merely a place you HAVE to go. Since jobs very rarely offer onsite training, people think of college only as a necessity and not an opportunity.
It is my opinion that we are offering students a disservice when we do not demand better than average. We need to give them critical thinking skills. We need to hold them accountable. Treating college as a big business is the wrong thing to do. We do not want to fill the world with customers. We want to fill it with free thinking, creative, and knowledgeable human beings.
We are creating a foot stamping, I want it right now and I deserve it society.