Can Technology be a Bad Thing?

• In 2015, why is technology still a class kids go to to learn to use a tool and not an integrated part of the lessons we teach?

It's easier.  Some teachers can't sing, so they send their students to Music.  Some teachers aren't artistic, so they send them to Art.  Some teacher aren't athletic, so they send them to PE.  Some teachers aren't techie, so they send them to the Pencil Lab...err...I mean the Computer Lab.  This way they don't have to learn music, art, exercise, or that new-fangled technology.  Let someone else teach it outside their classroom.  They just don't have time.  

Mark, David. (2014). 'Language Lab, College, University - Free Image On Pixabay'. Pixabay.com. https://pixabay.com/en/language-lab-college-university-181083/. 21 July 2015.  Public Domain

It is true that there is not enough time, but the best teacher include a little music, art, and physical movement into their classrooms.  They also include technology in their classrooms.  It increases engagement.  It makes learning more fun.  

It's not easy to include.  It reaches more students who learn a little differently than everyone else.  It's harder to include in lessons.  It takes more time to include in lessons.  It enhances the learning in lessons.  It is new and has to be learned.  It is constantly changing and must be continually adapted.

Another reason technology is not part of the lesson is because of "technology plans."  These are usually written by technology directors or central administrators outside the classroom.  It is often a government requirement for funding and becomes a list of computer hardware and infrastructure.  It is easier to hook all the computers up in a lab where the whole class can do the same thing at once instead of plopping one down in a classroom where it may or may not be used.

There are challenges using technology in the classroom.  It's hard.  It's new.  It's expensive.  

• How can integrating technology into our teaching enrich instruction and help promote learning? 

Alan November says we need "information communicating plans" instead of technology plans.  That way we focus on the quality of the information and relationships instead of asking which technology to buy.  The purpose of technology is it make work more efficient and to communication information to other people.  Only the latter directly affects student learning in the classroom.  

Communication creates connections.  It connects students and teachers.  It connects student together.  It connects people with the world.  Stephen Talbott hates technology because it disconnects people.  He says much I disagree with, but he does have a point.  Technology can disconnect us from those around us.  Just watch people on their cell phones.  

However, it can also bring us together.  Thomas Friedman said The World is Flat.  By that title, he meant that technology has virtually eliminated the distances between people.  Even though someone could be half a world away, you can still instantly send them text messages, talk to them on the phone as if they were standing right next to you, or even see their face via a webcam as if they were standing in front of you.  Skype can now translate a video conference between people of different languages in real time.  We can see on a map exactly where some is.  Soon we will be able to tour with someone anywhere they are in the world via virtual reality.  

Didgeman, Thomas B. 2015. 'Didgeman | Pixabay'. Pixabay.com. https://pixabay.com/en/chain-links-of-the-chain-iron-metal-517545/. 21 July 2015.  Public Domain.

People learn by connecting their old knowledge to new learning.  Interacting with people and objects helps cement those connections.  People are creating creating 24 hours of videos an posting them on Youtube and posting them every minute.  Creation coupled with social interaction enriches the student's engagement in learning so they can remember it for a lifetime.