Educational Article and a Mini-Rant: Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe?

The educational article: "Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe?" does a good job of outlining the two set of arguments for and against educational technology.

I recommend checking out the article here. Below I have included the two lists of arguments provided in the article.

"Arguments in favor of technology in the classroom include:
• Exposing children to technology at an early age prepares them for college and the workforce where knowledge of technology is essential for success.
• Technology fosters connections between people and information, no matter where they are in the world, giving students access to resources around the globe.
• Because children frequently absorb information through technology in their day-to-day lives, they may be more motivated and interested in lessons when technology is used as a teaching tool."


"Arguments against technology in the classroom include:
• Online instructional videos and programs don't compare to classroom discussions where students have the opportunity to ask questions and hear the opinions of their peers and teachers.
• There is a level of interaction through an active classroom discussion that you simply can't replicate on a computer screen.
• It's imperative that students learn how to socialize without technology. It's often through engagement with teachers that children learn valuable life lessons such as respect, manners and self-esteem.
• Teachers are one of the most important factors in a student's development and ability to succeed."

In my opinion - technology is a tool for educators to use. But too often these tools are misunderstood and improperly deployed in the classroom. Students must be taught to critically and independently read, write and think. This does not require memorization - instead students must be provided opportunities to research essential questions that allow technology to help access information but rely on students to interpret, understand, and synthesize information. In my opinion, this will be a necessity in the future.