Technology in the Classroom!

I recently had to write a paper on technology in the classroom. I want to share it with you and I would love your feedback on what you think of the paper and how you think technology should be used in the classroom.
-B.

Technology in the Classroom

Brandi Finger

IUPUI

           I think that instant messaging especially texting and having phones in the class room is becoming something that is going to be a big part of the future in the class room. I think there are problems with texting, but as long as you use it in a constructive ways in the classroom I think that these things can be a helpful tool.
           I agree with the quote in the article written by Kelly Loftis, “Texting while driving is a serious issue that is causing accidents and deaths. Other issues that texting has created are cheating during tests, distractions and disruptions during class time, as well as having the potential for spreading community rumors”. (Lofits 2009) I don’t think at this point you can stop students from texting in class or during school time. I think that we should find a way to harness texting and instant messaging and make them parts of the educational process.
           Yes, texting and driving is a serious problem I agree that you should not text and drive. I have texted and drove before, but I am in agreement that it is a dangerous thing to do. I think there should be more education geared to showing teens the harm that texting and driving can do. I think there should be prevention programming just like schools have for drinking, and sex education. If there are classroom distractions I think that those students should be dealt with accordingly. I don’t think the answer is taking phones away from kids. This article I could really relate because, I have had a friend get into a serious accident because they were texting and driving.
           The second article written by Larry Ferlazzo was about teachers using technology in the classroom. I think that technology should be embraced by teachers, because all the students lives are affected by technology and this would be a way to relate to the students better because so much of the student experience now is heavily technology based.
           The things that most stuck out to me in this article were that some teachers do not readily want to accept technology in the classroom. For me personally as a student technology helps me enhance my learning experience. The other thing that stuck out to me was how he tries to convert people into using technology in the classroom he was very savvy about it. He does not judge but he simply says that he builds a relationship with them first. “In my community organizing career, I learned that a key to engaging people to move beyond their comfort zone is to first build a relationship.”(Ferlazzo 2009)I agree with this statement one hundred percent.
           Both of these articles were very helpful to me personally in trying to convey what types of challenges we will face every day when in the classroom.  They both showed good and bad things that can arise with technology in the classroom. I think technology will become more and more integrated into the classroom every day. I think technology is something that should be embraced by teachers and something used to help students and teachers connect.

Works Cited:

Loftis, K. (2009). The Pros and Cons of Texting and IM. Retrieved September 11, 2010 from www.techlearning.com: http://www.techlearning.com/​article/​15078.

Ferlazzo, L. (2009). A few ways to motivate teachers to use tech. Retrieved September 11, 2010 from www.techlearning.com: http://www.techlearning.com/​blogs/​25324.