It is predicted that there will be four devices for every human on Earth by the year 2020. With the prevalence of technology increasing in our lives each day, it has inevitably made its way into classrooms and learning environments. While there are many advantages that come with utilizing technology in the classroom, there are also many disadvantages, both of which will be described below.
Advantages:
It is reported that boredom was the number one reason students resort to using their devices for something other than taking notes on a lecture in the classroom. With all the different uses of technology, professors and lecturers have the opportunity to experiment with new practices to engage students in the classroom. Technology in the classroom is not always bad as technology can be utilized to encourage students to “interact” with the lecture topics as a way to keep them interested, and thus keep them from using their devices in a distracting way. As highlighted in the Technology and Student Distraction article, some specific ways technology can be successfully utilized in classrooms: students can now respond instantaneously to online polls, collaborate in real time on written work, and engage with a range of media more flexibly than ever before.
Disadvantages:
Device usage can hurt students’ performance in class, it is reported that students who text frequently during lectures take superior notes, retain less information given in lecture, and performed worse on tests than students who do not text during class. Using devices in class is not only distracting to the student using the device, but to people around them. A study actually revealed that students who sat in the vicinity of someone who texted during class, performed worse on tests than students who did not. The Digital Distraction article highlights the fact that students understand that the use of devices in class is a distraction as it causes them to not pay attention, miss instruction, their grades suffer, and there is a possibility of them being called out by their professors, yet they use the devices anyway.
Questions for Consideration:
1. What are some possible ways that professors and lecturers can use technology to benefit a student's learning experience?
2. Do you think students learn more in environments where technology is not prevalent or utilized?
3. Why do you think students continue to use their devices during class even though they know it is a distraction and hindering their learning experience?
References:
Technology and Student Distraction
Digital Distraction in Class is on the Rise
Jennica, I think you bring up some good points in this blog. I personally prefer to use my computer in class even though I understand that it does distract me at times and can sometimes hinder my learning. However, when listening to lectures and attempting to understand complex concepts I find my computer helpful. I often use the internet to clarify any concepts I am not clear on and I also find that when I use my computer, the notes I take are more detailed since I am able to capture more than when writing. Overall, I think students should be able to have the choice to use devices in class as ultimately it is their education.
ReplyDeleteHi Emma. I also use the internet to confirm information from class, which helps promote learning. There are many pros and cons on this subject, but just imagine what this topic will look like in 10 years! Students will not know what a world without technology feels like!
DeleteJennica, Lauren, and Maddi, I think you have a really important topic! I enjoyed your tech talk presentation in-class, as well. I think professors could use technologies such as clickers in the class room to really engage students. Personally, when Im in a class with clickers, it forces me to pay attention as I want to get full credit for participation.
ReplyDeleteI would say technology adds and takes away from the classroom. I can think of instances where technology helped me as I could follow along with the professor. On the other hand, I can think of times where it was more distracting than helpful while in a learning environment. I would have to say, I think students would learn more if they were not allowed to use their own technology during lectures.
I know our generation is border-line addicted to our devices/technology, so it is more of a habit for us to be on our devices during class. If we were told we could not have them out in front of us during class, we would be better off and forced to not give into our habits. It is not that we necessarily want to be on our devices, it is just how we are programmed and grew up. We should really try to remove those temptations from the classroom environment.
Hi Cayla! Thank you for listening during our presentation. We all thought it was funny to see how the whole class broke away from their phones and computers to hear us speak about the pros and cons of tech in the classroom. I haven't decided if I like or dislike being on my computer in the classroom because it is distracting, but I also cant imagine not having technology in the classroom!
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