Technology+in+the+Classroom-+Falling+Behind+to+Keep+Up+Tradition

Rob Sciortino

Technology in the Classroom- Falling Behind to Keep Up Tradition

The rules about using technology in schools are too strict. Some of them are not necessary and some of them are slowing the learning process down. If the administration would recognize the ability of certain technology to enhance the learning experience we have the ability to excel the learning process.

It is clear that we cannot be too liberal with the use of electronics in schools. Kids composing text messages and listening to headphones in class are not productive uses of electronics. Completely permitting the use of electronics would cause great disorganization in the classroom.

But a student that has a second period study hall and has not been assigned any homework would not hurt a single person by listening to his headphones, as long as they were kept at an appropriate volume. It is known that most students do not study or get work done in most study halls. Wouldn’t it be nice for the few students that do to have less talking around them? Is it not true that most kids study and do homework at their house listening to music? It’s possible that allowing students to listen to headphones during study halls they could be more compelled to work. Rather than socializing with friends and peers, they will listen to music and do work.

Though texting is a serious distraction, we don’t need to allow all technology in class. If a kid is using his/her phone in class, like now, they should put it away or be able to have it taken away. But throughout the day many students go to the bathroom and use their phones in the bathroom to call their parents. These students are not distracting anyone; by having rules against using phones the administration is only turning kids into delinquents.

IPods are the newest cool gadget/accessory to have today. You can not only listen to music, but you can now carry your entire picture and video collection with you wherever you go in your pocket. But a feature of IPods that many people don’t use is the pod cast. Pod casts are files you can download on ITunes of people’s videos, people’s speeches, and files. In some school districts, teachers post podcasts as note and study guides. If teachers in this district could record lectures during class, and post them on ITunes for absent students, and for future references and study.

Furthermore, in a society that is becoming more and more technologically savvy, and more and more resourceful with our use of technology, it would be detrimental to starve the students of the advances in our society. If we were to relax the rules of technology use, and have the teachers more involved with the productive use, we could create a more productive learning atmosphere.