Technology In the Classroom

So I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this subject. I am currently in my sophomore English class in college and we wrote our final paper already and part of the final portfolio is to make a post to a blog and my teacher accepted TW

Anyhooo

The topic is if technology in the classroom is a good thing and it's based around the book The Shallows By Nicholas Carr.

The way that I personally took it is that technology is a "Loose" word and it can mean something different to each person, because to me I see technology in the classroom as a Lathe, drill press, or a CNC machine that is in my engineering classroom.

I want to hear what your opinion is, is technology in the classroom a good thing or a bad thing? I appreciate anybody that helps me out with this

 

Subs for later.

 

Since I love computers..i thought of all the iPads and whatnot being used now. I see it as both good and bad..depending on the person..and what they are doing..it can help..but I would be distracted as hell to want to do something else on it. Browse TW, of course

 

Are you talking about any certain years of schooling? My wife teaches kindergarten in a city school, in are lower class area. They recently got a grant approved to have iPads for the kids to use. So something like that, I think is amazing for those kids, who may not get the chance to use something of the like. Also, pretty much every job out there, you will probably come in contact with some type of computer, so I think its a must, to have some knowledge of how things work.

 

Technology is a very powerful tool-it can be used for good or bad, like anything else. In the classroom it can be pretty awesome. Instead of hauling a bunch of textbooks around, you can download all your books onto a tablet device. As well, there is a wealth of educational information on the internet. I could go on and on, but I'll shut up now. Like it or not, it is the future

 

I would say any level of learning because they'll all effect our future one way or the other.

 

I think that IPad grant stuff is BS. They are completely unnecessary and the money could be put towards calculators or anything. The calculators that are required these days are around 300 bucks! I think grant money would be much better used buying these for students

 

Some beneficial, some quite the opposite. Some is personal opinion as well. I, for one, hate looking things up on the school website and trying to decipher what I'm supposed to do from something the professor posted on there. I also can't edit my papers on my laptop without getting sick of it. I will get them close and print a copy, then edit the paper version, then go back and put the revisions on the computer.

 

Can't edit, I'm on my phone. Make that like 200 bucks.

 

another aspect of this that is used is the use of the internet and also cell phone are why people think technology in the classroom is bad because they are such distractions. Not to mention if you need an answer all you need to do is google it.

 

No offence, but WTF is a grade schooler going to do with a $200 calculated? Maybe for High school its not the best option. But these kids do a lot of things that help them learn on there. They don't get on the internet at that age with them. And like I said, these kids will probably never see one outside of school.

 

If you actually looked at the educational apps for an iPad, instead of games, you would see the hundreds of extremely useful apps for learning and teaching. They have spelling, math, science, everything. Even apps for speech therapy, dyslexic readers, and autism. I think it's a great tool. It's not like the kids sit there and play games all day. This is the way the world is going to be from here on out (2 weeks or so left ), so they might as well utilize the technology.

 

LOL, true, it won't matter after the 21st. +1

 

bump, I want others opinions

 

bump

 

Most of today's students have already been introduced to technology in the electronic sense. I mean, we are balls deep in the electronic age! I'd say lap tops are a huge benefit to students, they can take notes during lectures, save their notes, write papers, etc.

The iPad grant is awesome, the apps available are quite excellent, and I'm sure there is an app for a graphing calculator. Virtual classrooms can be of great assistance to a lot of people, allowing them to get degree's faster. There will always be the need for in classroom work but virtual classrooms have their places too.

Overall, electronic technology in the classroom, when used properly, can be invaluable to the student.

 

It can be both good and bad.
Your example, it's a good thing.
Teacher requesting that something be posted to a blog, I do not agree with, but at least you have some flexibility and are not being forced into posting it on one specific site like Facebook.

Technology in the classroom is bad when it becomes a crutch.
To maintain technology, one must be proficient in how the technology is arriving at the results it is. Technology should be a time and work saver, not a replacement for skills.

Taking your example: The CNC machine.
You can download plans, upload them into the machine, mount the billet, hit the button, and remove a completed part.

What if that part doesn't fit? Why did it not fit? Was there a problem with the plans? Was there a problem with tolerances on the tool? Did a bit break?

We lost a Mars probe because someone overlooked something as simple as "mass is a constant, weight is dependent upon mass"
1 Kilogram does not always equal 2.2 pounds, even on this planet.

You need to have the ability to complete the task before you without advanced technology. There is nothing you can do on a CNC that you can't do on a lathe/endmill/etc... the CNC simply allows you to do it more quickly, with less waste, and with more repeatable results.


Of course, as time moves on, it becomes impossible to completely dispense with all advanced technology. Calculators replaced slide rules, and slide rules replaced pages of manual computations.
But... you still need to know how to assemble the equations to program the slide rule or the calculator.
When I was in school, calculators were not permitted until we got into Algebra-2 and Trigonometry, even though hand-held calculators were available when I was in 6th grade.

 

thanks for your opinions guys

Whats' your take on how distracting social networks are?

 

Highly distracting, which is one reason that I would not agree with the teacher requiring that a student post on a blog.

We still only have 24 hours in each day.
We still have the same amount of time that demands work, study, and sleep.
The few hours that are left are too-easily gobbled up by social media.

Add to that, texting activity during the day... it is impossible to focus on anything, and is extremely rude to those around you.
I do not have a smart phone, and do not want one.
I am already quite well connected, and I want to maintain control of when the plug can be pulled.
I don't need my phone informing me of every email I receive.

I've completely floored people when my phone rings and I ignore it... and they ask "aren't you going to answer that?"
"No, we are busy, I'll call them back when we're done"

 

that's very respectful out a person, I've had people answer their phone when I'm in the middle of a conversation with them and they've put their hand to my face so they can talk on the phone...