Unfortunately, an often overlooked problem with the new wave of technology in classrooms is that there are still many children that have no or little access to computers outside of school. There is no question that incorporating technology into a classroom where all the students have outside access is a great way to prepare them for the technological future. However what happens if some of the students do not have outside computer access? The nice thing about Vancouver is that there are a few branches of public libraries and they all have public computer access. In addition most of the high schools here have some sort of computer lab where students can complete work. Even if the student doesn’t have access at home come computer lab time after class or time at the library can easily be achieved.
If for some reason the student has absolutely no ability to access technology outside of school then it will be a great opportunity to diversify my lesson. Taking the same assignment and creating a technological and traditional way of completing the assignment will allow as many students as possible to benefit from technology in education while not disadvantaging those who do not. In addition it could be a good teaching opportunity to discuss both methods and socio economic status that can lead to a lack of technology. Fortunately I will be teaching PE so the only technology I hope to utilize is heart rate monitors and things along those lines.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Can you hear me now? How about now?
The answer to these questions, unfortunately, is yes the entire class can hear you. I am fully aware that my position on this topic will make me sound sixty years old and crotchety however I am who I am. I am a vehement no vote on the issue to utilizing cell phones in the classroom.
I must admit I had an opinion coming into this assignment and the reading of these articles did nothing to persuade me for or against my view. I must admit I was minutely persuaded by Liz Kolb’s viewpoint and arguments. I thought she made some wonderful points about how, “cell phones can also be assistive technologies for special needs students” and that, “there are businesses that are completely mobile, and job interview that are done via phone.” Both of these are very valid points to support her argument that students need to learn to navigate new technology to survive in the new world and that cell phones are not all bad. In reality I thought her arguments were better structured and that she provided many more real life examples to back up her points then Josh Allen did. If this were a debate and I was scoring based on skill Liz would have won. However, unfortunately for Liz I think she is wrong.
I am vehemently opposed to the use of cell phones in school. Although I think the argument that phones can be used as research tools in the classroom is a good one I also think any teacher that thinks it will only be used for that end is very idealistic. I think the temptation of using cell phones to receive phone calls and text messages is just too great. Shoot, I am in a class of graduate students and half of us can’t keep our cell phones in our pockets all of class. If I struggle with it how can I not expect my teenagers to struggle with it? I understand the potential for good but why tempt someone? I think human beings are good and most people don’t want to steal but that doesn’t mean I leave my laptop on my car seat in broad daylight in Seattle. There is a lot of talk of how we must engage kids and I agree with it. So let us engage them and let us make it easier for them to be engaged by removing a few distractions. I think the collection of phones at the start of class and re-distribution at the end of class is more than fair. I agree to ignore my phone for fifty minutes so I can devote myself to helping you and you agree to forgo yours for fifty minutes out of respect for me, your learning and your classmates.
The one of the wonderful things about technology now is that there are many different devices that can accomplish the same end. If there is a special needs student that needs technological help there are many devices that can help besides devices that can call people, text people and play bejeweled. I also think that students who own cell phones do not need our help to learn how to use them. Who are we kidding; they probably know our personal phones better than we do. I don’t think we need to teach them those things, I think they learn them on their own well enough. Additionally I think Liz was a bit presumptuous in her argument for the use of phones. I think using them in class creates a real potential for socio-economic bias. I think there is a very real population of students in this country that cannot afford phones. In addition, I think there is a very real population of students that can afford them but they are not sophisticated enough to text or have web access. What do we do with these students? Also, do we really want to point out to the rest of the class that little Leon can’t afford something that so many children take for granted?
Ultimately I think the idea of using technology in a class room is a good one. However I think we have to pick and choose wisely. IPods, cell phones, lap tops and similar technology all have the potential to help out in the class room but the temptations and dangers are very real too. For this teacher I will ask students to pretend they are watching a movie and turn their phones off.
I must admit I had an opinion coming into this assignment and the reading of these articles did nothing to persuade me for or against my view. I must admit I was minutely persuaded by Liz Kolb’s viewpoint and arguments. I thought she made some wonderful points about how, “cell phones can also be assistive technologies for special needs students” and that, “there are businesses that are completely mobile, and job interview that are done via phone.” Both of these are very valid points to support her argument that students need to learn to navigate new technology to survive in the new world and that cell phones are not all bad. In reality I thought her arguments were better structured and that she provided many more real life examples to back up her points then Josh Allen did. If this were a debate and I was scoring based on skill Liz would have won. However, unfortunately for Liz I think she is wrong.
I am vehemently opposed to the use of cell phones in school. Although I think the argument that phones can be used as research tools in the classroom is a good one I also think any teacher that thinks it will only be used for that end is very idealistic. I think the temptation of using cell phones to receive phone calls and text messages is just too great. Shoot, I am in a class of graduate students and half of us can’t keep our cell phones in our pockets all of class. If I struggle with it how can I not expect my teenagers to struggle with it? I understand the potential for good but why tempt someone? I think human beings are good and most people don’t want to steal but that doesn’t mean I leave my laptop on my car seat in broad daylight in Seattle. There is a lot of talk of how we must engage kids and I agree with it. So let us engage them and let us make it easier for them to be engaged by removing a few distractions. I think the collection of phones at the start of class and re-distribution at the end of class is more than fair. I agree to ignore my phone for fifty minutes so I can devote myself to helping you and you agree to forgo yours for fifty minutes out of respect for me, your learning and your classmates.
The one of the wonderful things about technology now is that there are many different devices that can accomplish the same end. If there is a special needs student that needs technological help there are many devices that can help besides devices that can call people, text people and play bejeweled. I also think that students who own cell phones do not need our help to learn how to use them. Who are we kidding; they probably know our personal phones better than we do. I don’t think we need to teach them those things, I think they learn them on their own well enough. Additionally I think Liz was a bit presumptuous in her argument for the use of phones. I think using them in class creates a real potential for socio-economic bias. I think there is a very real population of students in this country that cannot afford phones. In addition, I think there is a very real population of students that can afford them but they are not sophisticated enough to text or have web access. What do we do with these students? Also, do we really want to point out to the rest of the class that little Leon can’t afford something that so many children take for granted?
Ultimately I think the idea of using technology in a class room is a good one. However I think we have to pick and choose wisely. IPods, cell phones, lap tops and similar technology all have the potential to help out in the class room but the temptations and dangers are very real too. For this teacher I will ask students to pretend they are watching a movie and turn their phones off.
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