After reading Beyond Technology Integration: The Case for Technology Transformation and Of Luddites, Learning, and Life, several thoughts crossed my mind. The first and most profound was the date that the articles were published. The dates are July/August of 2002 and 1993, which automatically makes my mind tick. If these articles are 8 and 17 years old and we are talking about technology, there is much more to be said. 17 years of technology being used in the classroom and of researchers studying the use of technology in education would show leaps and bounds and many different opinions. The general message of the articles may be similar, but the ideas for the future and how we are going about it are going to be drastically different.
For example, the articles speak of the Industrial Age vs. the Information Age. I agree completely that the goal is to transform students-to create more active learners instead of settling for the old traditions of passive learning. This will ultimately cause the student to have more responsibility for his or her own learning, which is something that many educators strive to achieve. This can happen through the use of technology, but the opposite effect is always a possibility. Relying solely on technology could transform students into something that educators do not want to see-students who are no longer able to take out a pencil and paper in order to work out a math problem. In a way, over usage of technology could result in a more “industrialized” classroom. The articles express different opinions of this, but I am able to clearly see both sides. The thought of technology being a distraction and downplaying the “social and moral” issues of education also stands out. While using this technology to improve the quality of education, there must be rules, regulations, and constant monitoring by the educator. A happy medium is the solution. Educators need to create an atmosphere that allows technology to be used one among several methods of learning and communicating. We cannot allow technology to overtake the student’s ability to communicate well.
Personal learning plans were spoken of in the first article as well. The second article more or less displays the attitude that there really is no problem being solved by the use of technology in the classroom. I believe that each educator has a personal learning plan laid out for each student in his or her minds, but these are not always shared or expressed with the student. Expectations of individual students must be vocalized and set in stone as tasks appear. Personal learning plans would allow each student to maximize his or her education experience based on his or her level of knowledge, skill, and drive. These plans would not only challenge the more gifted students, but would not leave the students needing extra assistance behind. The only issues that may arise from personal learning plans are the “idealistic” practice of standardized assessments in some school districts and the “social and moral” issues that the second article speaks of. Technology may allow students to go above and beyond and to challenge their minds, but when it comes down to these assessments and fair treatment of students, how should they be carried out? If we allow students to work on their own using technology, how will we have a common measures system and how will we expect students to not get accustomed to using it? The manpower and changes required to create these personal learning plans and inventory of attainments instead of report cards would be large-would it be worth it? In an ideal world, to me, yes it would. I just simply do not see the path that should be taken in order to get there.
In conclusion, the use of technology is going to improve and is currently improving the quality of education when it is used correctly. I see an enormous task for educators laid out-we need to be able to decide what types, how much, and how often technology should be appropriate in the classroom. To have the perfect balance would create a classroom environment where each student is learning to his or her full potential daily using a variety of learning methods and where no student is “left behind”. : )
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