Journal 2

This article brought up so many interesting thoughts for me. The author displays both sides of the opinions educators may have about the use of technology in their classroom. She is, at first, thrilled with the idea of teaching her students through/with the aid of technology, but quickly realizes that there is more work in store for her than she had imagined. Sarah Heller McFarlane also learns how different her job as a teacher is when her job includes such heavy use of technology. Her role as a teacher seemed to change from educator to monitor in a matter of lessons. What seemed to be a blessing to a district quickly changed to a loss of communication and more frustrated students and teachers.
I think I would share Sarah’s frustrations. Feeling like you lose time and personal connection with your students is something every teacher dreads. As a future educator I value every moment I spend with my students and I definitely never want to miss out on communication with my students. Communication is the best tool to have in the classroom. Although technology is a huge part of how we live today; and how our world is ran, communication still comes first. Without good communication skills technology skills are less valid and much less valuable to me.

Question 1: Is communication by word of mouth the same as communication through a technology based source?
I do not think so. While a similar message can be displayed, personal face to face communication is much more powerful, even in today’s technology savvy world. Face to face communication can be interpreted with more feeling than technology can display.

Question 2: Should technology be incorporated in the classroom? And at what grade should this start?
I think technology should be incorporated into lessons starting in Kindergarten. Although I think face to face lessons are more powerful, I am still fully aware of the value and relevance of technology in today’s world. As an educator, my job is to help educate children who will one day be successful adults. And I know that in order to be a successful adult in today’s society you must have technology skills. So I fully plan on incorporating technology into my lessons on a regular basis in order to familiarize students with the use of technology, without letting technology take over my classroom.

Sources:
Heller McFarlane, Sarah (summer, 2008). The Laptops Are Coming! The Laptops Are Coming!. Rethinking Schools, 22, Retrieved July 21, 2008, From http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/22_04/lapt224.shtml