Since you asked...
What do I think?
In this ever evolving society, we can choose whether or not we want to embrace ‘the technology’ or fight it. As previously mentioned, students are going to have smart phones and Facebook accounts regardless of how we feel about it. Rather than remaining in protest and refusing to adapt, as teachers we can lead by example and demonstrate what balance and moderation look like. For example, we have dinner parties with our friends where we all put our Iphones/Blackberries in a basket and the first one to check their phone has to bring a bottle of wine next time. As a group we make the conscious effort not to sit on our phones when we are trying to gather together. Further, when my husband and I go camping we leave our electronics behind, and try to focus on nature while we are in nature.
The 600 Facebook friends who follow you cannot be what makes or breaks your identity, but a few friends liking a picture of a fun thing you did while you were out exploring the world can be a positive extra than contributes to it. It might be an urban legend, but we have all heard of the story of the person who invites their Facebook friends to a party, everyone digitally RSVPs yes and not a single person shows up. When asked what happened everyone said “It didn’t count, it was just via Facebook”. We can’t have it both ways: saying it matters and defines us, checking it constantly, but in the same token say that its meaningless.
Through my work in the mental health field, one of the most important things I have discovered is trying to be present in the moment, mindful of the here and now. I think that technology and letting our identity be defined by technology runs the risk of us loosing that balance. But when we are aware of the line we draw and take steps to not “wake up and fall asleep” with phones in our hands, then we are using the technology for good. The convenience of ‘Google -ing’ has improved our quality of life and created very efficient short cuts for us. Being able to introduce ‘learning for assessment’ seamlessly because of online tools is a blessing. But we cannot forget what the world was like before cell phones and computers. It is hard for our children to image this, but it is important for them to appreciate that there are times for technology and times to put it down and away.
When I was grocery shopping last week, a mother had her (approximately) 2 and 4 year olds following her and her cart around the store, both dragging Ipads that were almost too big for them to hold and walk with. This terrifies me. We are enabling children into immediate gratification monsters! I see so many parents throw an indestructible otter box on their Iphone and give it to their 2 year old so that they will be quiet. While this is tempting and effective for the short term, I think it is playing with fire. On the other hand, we have had students who struggled to take notes in class, and with the introduction of laptops have been able to organize their notes and keep on track because of it. This goes back to my contention of moderation...
A wise man once posted: “Will fast facts do to our brains what fast food has done to our bodies?” R. Redekopp
This is a question that I have pondered many sleepless evenings... I hope that the pendulum swings to a place where we are less ‘attached’ to our technology but that when we use it is more efficient. In other words, using it for more things (research, assessment, help with disabilities) but not for most things (constant updates, snapchats, busy work) would be refreshing but unlikely.
In this ever evolving society, we can choose whether or not we want to embrace ‘the technology’ or fight it. As previously mentioned, students are going to have smart phones and Facebook accounts regardless of how we feel about it. Rather than remaining in protest and refusing to adapt, as teachers we can lead by example and demonstrate what balance and moderation look like. For example, we have dinner parties with our friends where we all put our Iphones/Blackberries in a basket and the first one to check their phone has to bring a bottle of wine next time. As a group we make the conscious effort not to sit on our phones when we are trying to gather together. Further, when my husband and I go camping we leave our electronics behind, and try to focus on nature while we are in nature.
The 600 Facebook friends who follow you cannot be what makes or breaks your identity, but a few friends liking a picture of a fun thing you did while you were out exploring the world can be a positive extra than contributes to it. It might be an urban legend, but we have all heard of the story of the person who invites their Facebook friends to a party, everyone digitally RSVPs yes and not a single person shows up. When asked what happened everyone said “It didn’t count, it was just via Facebook”. We can’t have it both ways: saying it matters and defines us, checking it constantly, but in the same token say that its meaningless.
Through my work in the mental health field, one of the most important things I have discovered is trying to be present in the moment, mindful of the here and now. I think that technology and letting our identity be defined by technology runs the risk of us loosing that balance. But when we are aware of the line we draw and take steps to not “wake up and fall asleep” with phones in our hands, then we are using the technology for good. The convenience of ‘Google -ing’ has improved our quality of life and created very efficient short cuts for us. Being able to introduce ‘learning for assessment’ seamlessly because of online tools is a blessing. But we cannot forget what the world was like before cell phones and computers. It is hard for our children to image this, but it is important for them to appreciate that there are times for technology and times to put it down and away.
When I was grocery shopping last week, a mother had her (approximately) 2 and 4 year olds following her and her cart around the store, both dragging Ipads that were almost too big for them to hold and walk with. This terrifies me. We are enabling children into immediate gratification monsters! I see so many parents throw an indestructible otter box on their Iphone and give it to their 2 year old so that they will be quiet. While this is tempting and effective for the short term, I think it is playing with fire. On the other hand, we have had students who struggled to take notes in class, and with the introduction of laptops have been able to organize their notes and keep on track because of it. This goes back to my contention of moderation...
A wise man once posted: “Will fast facts do to our brains what fast food has done to our bodies?” R. Redekopp
This is a question that I have pondered many sleepless evenings... I hope that the pendulum swings to a place where we are less ‘attached’ to our technology but that when we use it is more efficient. In other words, using it for more things (research, assessment, help with disabilities) but not for most things (constant updates, snapchats, busy work) would be refreshing but unlikely.