When I did my practicum at Green Acres School, a progressive school in which the teaching addresses children's development and responds to individual strengths, interests, and learning styles, I was fascinated to learn that all of my 4th graders had their own iPads. This was almost 3 years ago when iPads were still catching on and were not as prevalent as they are now. I was not only fascinated that the 4th graders owned iPads, but at how proficient they were in using the various apps, creating iMovies, and taking photos. I witnessed the 4th graders using their iPads in every subject from LA to Math. As more and more schools are incorporating electronics into their classroom, it presents the question of whether students are benefiting from the increased technology usage at school.
I was doing some research on this topic as it genuinely interests me, and I came across this recent article in the Wall Street Journal, titled "Technology in the Classroom Doesn't Always Boost Education Results, OECD Says." According to a new study from an international consortium, beefing up technology in the classroom doesn't always lead to better education for children. The article states that there is little solid evidence that greater computer use among students leads to better scores in math and reading. Furthermore, the article states that "students who use computers for schoolwork, but do so for slightly-below average amount of time, performed better than average on both written and digital reading tests, according to the survey. And students who spend an above-average amount of time in front of a computer at school performed the worse than other students, including those who might not use them at all" (Kesling).
What I gained from reading this article on the outcomes of these reports is that technology usage is all about moderation. Introducing students (such as those at Green Acres School) to iPads in the 4th grade is bound to have its benefits. A dramatic shift is sweeping through all of our schools. We are immersed in a technological culture; technology is everywhere we look from parking meters to grocery stores to paying bills online. However, at this point I don't think technology should replace textbooks or traditional means of learning, especially in elementary school. Technology should be used to supplement in the classroom curriculum, but should not be used as the sole source of learning. Students should look to technology in the classroom as an added privilege and not as the norm for learning.
Article Citation:
Kesling, Ben. 2015 September 15. Technology in the Classroom Doesn't Always Boost Education Results, OECD Says. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from URL.
Annie, I agree with you that technology should be a tool to supplement learning rather than the sole means for learning. It is very important for children to learn how to navigate various forms of technology in the 21st century. However, the quality of the lesson that engages technology is far more important than the quantity of time spent on electronics. In fact too much time, like you mentioned, can be harmful. Technology is used well when teachers incorporate it into lessons for the purpose of students building a variety of skills necessary in the 21st century. But by no means should it replace the teacher or demand too much of the students’ day.
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