Field Blog Post 2/ Triumphant Technology?

Question I will be exploring:
What should be the role of technology in the classroom? How can technology help the learning process? In what ways can it hinder the learning process? What limitations are involved with the use of technology in the classroom?




       After visiting Beachwood Middle School, I believe technology should play a central role in the learning process. Allowing children to use technology can help avoid what Freire refers to as the "banking concept of education." This concept occurs when a teacher "deposits" information into the minds of his students and then they, in turn, remember it verbatim. Mr. Holman, a teacher at Beachwood, opposes this concept by allowing students to explore, experiment, and form their own knowledge through the use of technology. For example, his students create their own online textbook with resources they discover themselves. This allows the children to figure out what is important instead of simply remembering what the teacher said was important. Furthermore, the student created textbook prevents the indoctrination and stifling of creativity that can accompany the use of  more traditional textbooks. The students also keep an online blog which allows them to interact with other students in unprecedented volumes. This blog allows them to ask each other questions and share resources at any time.
       Besides the online textbook and blogs, the students use other forms of technology to understand  information in a more interesting way. For example, one girl used time lapse photography to show the making of a pizza. She used the pizza as an analogy to the Christian religion. The plain cheese pizza was Christianity's basic principles. Each topping she added represented a different sect and the new ideas it brought to the religion. She then used time lapse photography and voice over to narrate and complete her project.

      Technology can, however, hinder the learning process to a certain extent. For example, the auto-correct on my cell phone has led to the deterioration of my spelling skills. Since my phone automatically corrects my errors, I never learn to spell the word correctly myself. Furthermore, my phone often corrects my mistakes without me noticing. Therefore, I don't even realize I am making a spelling mistake and will thus continue to make that same mistake.

    A final aspect of technology in the classroom that must be considered is its limitations. To have a classroom centered on technology like Mr. Holman's, expensive laptops, wireless internet, and i.t. personnel are needed. Thus, many schools could not afford to run classrooms that use technology to such a great extent.

     Overall, despite certain limitations, I believe technology should play a central role in the classroom and be further implemented in classrooms everywhere.