RAPID RISE NUMBERS DONT LIE
Technology has for many years now been on a rapid rise with the amount of users being connected online. It’s more common to see young kids connected online outside and inside the classroom. I was blown away while reading some of the stats of how much teens are using social media and what this could mean for me as a future educator.
INCLUDING WESCH
For myself, I have more recently declined my use of social media. I was getting a feeling of being overwhelmed and almost controlled by social media. Although, after watching Michael Wesch and the video “An anthropological introduction to YouTube” I started to see the good again and the true reason why we can access this tool. It was understanding that technology isn’t just about consuming but actively participating and building things like community, expression, and identity. I am trying to shift into a celebration mindset of the new wave of empowerment and the unimaginable possibilities using technology, allowing for us to connect in ways we have never connected before.
STUDENT CENTERED GUIDING
When I think of technology in the classroom the first thing that came to mind was student centered learning, which focuses on meeting the needs of each student, including their interests, and adapting towards different learning styles. The reason why I think this is important because if our students are interested in various technology apps, games, etc..we can utilize that interest to spark engagement with our students. For example, I was teaching a lesson on environment and pollution, where students would draw a healthy environment and a polluted environment. I had one student who came to me and said their not good a drawing. We ended up being able to use an Ipad app that allowed for him to create the environment. My point being we need to set up our students for success and that can mean making adjustments to learning styles, incorporating technology and most importantly finding those interests. As educators, we can use the tools and resources we have to help guide our students learning.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Screen time, distractions, and misinformation are all things that could potentially be challenges you faces with technology in the classroom if not approached diligently. That being said there are some amazing opportunities where students can connect with others, share their voices, and have an meaningful learning experience! I hope I can find a balance when bringing in technology into my classroom and help guide students. I want to embrace the potential it has to create critical thinking and meaningful learning experiences.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The digital world isn’t going away anytime soon, rather then me resisting it, I need to re-think how I plan on teaching with it and how my students can learn from it. I think with technology our classrooms can become a place of creativity, connection, and have a meaningful impact with students.
CHECK THIS OUT!
Here is an interesting take by Maylin Zhu on Finding Balance In A World Saturated With Screens.
I can relate to your decision in reducing your use of social media. After only beginning to use apps like Instagram in 2018, I’d found that in only a few years I’d begun to feel like I needed to document and post about any important aspect of my life. I could lose an hour to meticulously crafting an insta story…then feel anxiety about falling behind in everyday parts of my life. Plus, I could feel this comparative lens through which I viewed other folks posts….Was my life measuring up to those of my peers and colleagues?
So I just stopped.
I didn’t feel the need to like or comment on other peoples posts and this choice to disengage, at first, was uncomfortable. I worried that friends would think I wasn’t interested or care.
And eventually I sort of just faded out of engaging with friends and logging my life online. Once I was able to get that distance, I realized how much more at ease I feel in the world. I try to be present when my kids are performing or having birthdays, and not witness their lives through a lens. And sometimes I look back and I realize I didn’t even take a picture during an important event….but I’m starting to be ok with that.
All this said, I too believe that there are some really important opportunties in using technology within our classrooms (and with my kids at home). And at this point, I feel its my responsibility to become more fluent in the use of digital media so that I can flexibly and thoughtfully help my own students use technology in creative and inclusive ways.
Thanks for sharing!