As a teacher I want the very best for my students’ learning, no matter what the cost. I also know this is not realistic or always possible. So I settle for getting the best I can afford or that I can squeeze out of our schools pocket, which I have found is never much. I also try to give my students a variety of experiences and often find myself falling short in some aspect, especially with technology. That is always one of my worries, that my students will go into the next grade needing to know a skill I did not teach them or expose them to. Now, I am wondering if all my worrying was worth it. There sure seems to be at least a few people who believe our school systems are so screwed up that concerning ourselves with technology should be last on the list. From my point of view schools have worked for this long, there must be something that we are doing right. Of course there is always room for improvement, but are they really as bad as some make it our to be?
When I look back at myself as a student, I did not have a computer in my house until 7th grade. Even then it was another year until it was connected to a communication system called the Great Lakes Free Net, a simple local Internet system set up mainly for school age children to chat. Before I had that computer I managed to learn in school. I found the information I needed. I wasn’t even required to touch a computer until 7th grade when a technology class was offered to learn the basics. My teachers managed to create lessons and teach students with minimal technology.
Now as I consider my future, my students’ future, we live in a world that depends on technology, whether we like it or not. I know I check my email 20 times a day. I use the phone several times a day. I also watch TV, listen to CDs, and use my electric window. I know I am depending on a lot of technology for this class and all the classes I will ever take from now on. Although, some may not agree with technology my question is, are we doing our students any favors by depriving them of one subject we know they will have to know and learn to be productive in society? The one subject that will continue to advance? The one subject that is not going away? I am beginning to believe we can stand against technology or we can learn to embrace it, incorporate it to the best of our ability, and help our student become familiar with it so they can be successful.