Julie Gonzales
J. Jamison
Technology in Education- Pros/Cons Paper
October 3, 2014
Wow, I am going to learn so much in this class. My technology experience has been limited to
my home PC, our tablets, our iPad and iPod and my smart phone- which I acquired
less than 6 months ago. As s future
educator I am nervous about the ever changing technology. It seems as soon as a
district acquires some form of technology it is already outdated. How does education stay ahead of this
curve? Does education even need to try
to stay ahead of this curve? “Another
important issue is that teachers no longer have the time to create their various
lesson plans and other documents from scratch, or in other words, constantly
reinvent the wheel” (Shelly p. 3). As soon as I read this quote I began to look
at technology differently. There are so
many elements to the Digital Age.
For my Pro’s and Con’s paper I choose to talk about
Digital Citizenship as discussed om page 21 of our text book to get a better picture
of what digital citizenship actually is.
My understanding is that digital citizenship is a set of norms or expectations. It is like a digital code of conduct. Issues
that are ethical and legal. For example-
how and when to site a source found on the internet. Privacy issues would also
be a part of digital citizenship. How
to communicate properly would also be a factor of digital Citizenship.
“ Being a good digital
citizen includes knowledge and commitment for understanding things like
etiquette; communication techniques and standards; issues surrounding media and
computers, business, commerce, entrepreneurship, privacy rights and responsibilities;
ergonomic issues (which are the physical and/or emotional dangers associated
with extended computer usage); and information about security, asset
management, and protection from losing data and personal information from computer
crashes (backing up files), hackers and other kinds of intruders.” (Shelly p.
22).
This might be the
longest quote that I have quoted but it clearly defined the boundaries of what
digital citizenship includes.
While some educators might not feel this is completely necessary
for students to understand what digital citizenship I however there are many educators
that feel this is one of the greater issues and goals for students of the 21st
century. I would have to agree. It is
of major importance that students understand the tools, products, and programs
that they are working with on a daily basis.
Students don’t just need to know to turn on a computer they need to
understand the impactions of how and what the computer is used for. They need to understand what it means to cite
websites and use the information that is so readily available to them in the appropriate
manner.
I
know for me personally as an adult student after many years of not being in
school, I would have loved to have a class on the very nature of digital citizenship. I just learned how to cite a web page a few
months ago. Honestly it has hindered me
in many ways as I was confused in how to cite info found on the internet and
this caused me to make one to many trips to the library of some “real books” I
might always have a little bit of old school in my educational experience and
as a teacher however I can see the great benefits to being an active and involved
digital citizen. I have benefited greatly
from professors that use different media styles to teach various lessons. I am
also seeing the importance of this when I have my own classroom. Kids are still kids and they all have different
learning style and those styles can be easily accommodated through digital
media. Yes digital in many ways is
easier, it really can be however there is defiantly a learning curve to stay
ahead of.
For
those who are still rejecting the digital age in education- hats off to you for
sticking out your personal convictions.
I am wondering how this works.
Can an educator even reject what completely surrounds them? I thinks that some of the cons to digital citizenship
is that it gives a very false since on education. Students now a days can just google about
anything, which does not give them the ability really seek out answers. To sit in a library researching, sifting
through massive books trying to find the perfect sources. So the research process is different. Another con to digital citizenship would be
that children do not understand that once a document is created or a post in written
it is out there forever and that it can always be found. Nothing is really deleted. Decisions that students make in their
formative years with the digital world can have forever ramifications.
“Most
digital students gravitate toward technology very quickly, think that they know
technology, and many times jump in without asking questions; however many times
they do not possess the skills they need.” (Shelly p. 23).
I
am of the belief that we need to have balance in all things. If we sway one direction to hard it is not
long before the pendulum swings the other direction hard. I happen to work for a Private Christian Preschool
and they are way behind the times in this private school system. They have made
great efforts to get technology into their elementary, junior and high schools
in the last few years. Preschool is the
next place to be updated in technology.
Ironically my students who are the youngest in this private school probably
have the best understanding of technology.
I had one of my boys ask me the other day where the iPads were. He will grow up in a very different world
than even my children who are 10 years older.
He will only know the digital world. I have no idea how this will all
turn out but I do know that we have to be mindful and purposeful in making sure
students, parents and families are informed and mindful digital citizens.
Works
Cited
Shelly,
Gary B., Gunter, Glenda A., Gunter, Randolph E. Teachers Discovering
Computer Integrating Technology in a Connected World. Seventh ed. Boston:
Course Technology, Cengage Learning, 2012. 490. Print.
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