Technology Dependency

Technology can be such a beneficial tool that can enhance students' learning. However, with the drastic surge in its use in the past 50 years or so it seems as though we have come to rely on it a little too much. First of all, what if the power were to go out? We know what to do with ourselves? Would we still know how to conduct fun and engaging lessons if our digital technology took a fall?

The main concern I have for bringing up the dependency on technology in a classroom is when it becomes used in place of developing skills. For instance, when my younger sister was in about grade two, my parents attended a parent-teacher meeting to discuss my sisters school work. My parents brought up the topic of improving her spelling ability to which the teacher's reply is something I find to be a bit disturbing. The teacher answered, “Oh, don't worry about it. Just teacher her to use spell check on the computer.” This teacher was suggesting that her student become reliant on technology rather than work on honing her spelling skills. As you may agree (which I hope you do) that this is an extreme reliance on technology which should not act as a teaching method. I believe the purpose of digital tools is to help develop skills, not replace them. Otherwise, yes, we may become smarter in terms of technological knowledge, but we do it at the risk of loosing other necessary skills.

Learning to balance the use of technology is important. As teachers and future teachers we should be using it as a method for building skills, not replacing them.