Should We Be Using Technology With Our Students?
by Eleanor Cawley
President & Sr. Occupational Therapist
Ms. Eleanor's Apples

631-271-1892

I recently read an online article from the New York Times 11/01/2012 'Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say' by Matt Richtel. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
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Some of the elements in the article suggest a globally negative opinion of technology and its impact on a student's ability to sustain attention in the classroom during a lesson. It goes so far as to say that one teacher feels she needs to entertain her students in order for them to attend and learn. Mr. Richtel takes his information from a study using the survey method of investigation.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/children-teens-and-entertainment-media-the-view-from-the-classroom/key-finding-1%3A-media-use-impacts-academic-performance


While surveys are typically subjective, there were other facets of this study that were equally as interesting. With the push toward STEM courses, 51-54% of the teachers responding indicated that students' skills have been getting better in the areas of math and science while 22-26% indicated that they are getting worse. 39-46% of teachers responding indicate that students' skills in reading, verbal communication and writing have been getting better. 31-39% indicated that they are getting worse. The study also goes on to state that "Teachers who say they are 'uncomfortable' with new technologies are more likely to see negative effects of students' media use on social development."

This study indicated that 63% of teachers report that "media use has helped their [student's] ability to find information quickly." The article also goes on to state that "teachers described what might be called a 'Wikipedia problem', in which students have grown so accustomed to getting quick answers..."

So here is my response: I feel that no matter what a person's comfort level with technology or social media, it is here to stay. We, as parents,educators and therapists, need to find ways to monitor what our children are doing on these sites. Teachers, in particular, have a unique advantage of shaping a child's media use. If we give a child an iPad without downloading and teaching the use of appropriate apps, then the device will be used as a toy and not a study tool. Teachers should be sharing information with each other and recommending apps and websites to parents to use with their child to support learning and homework completion. I feel that we need to adjust our focus and as professionals, guide the parent in the direction of using technology as a learning tool. As far as the "quick answers" go, if all we ask is a simple answer then that is what we will get. STEM course are using technology to help students get to the salient issues and develop a response based on the data collected. That is where we need to be going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFcUgSYyRPg

I, for one, would be happy to research apps, websites and additional technologies to help a teacher support his or her students' work. Tablets, Android devices, iPads, iPhones and iPods are here to stay. Let's use them to engage and support our students. Technology is not going away and students do not learn by osmosis. So let's not knock it and let's embrace it. I would be happy to provide a free 30 minute phone consult to any teacher looking to support a students' learning through technology. 631-271-1892