Educators: Are We Pro or Con Technology?

Educators: Are We Pro or Con Technology?

Whether we’re “early adapters” and techno-geeks, or still trying to figure out what an “app” is, we can’t deny the obvious fact: Technology is everywhere. It’s a part of our lives, and very much a part of our students’ futures.

So is technology hurting or helping education? There are persuasive arguments on both sides.

“Resistance is Futile” – The Pros:
Technology is clearly not going away, so if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. As educators, we must keep up with technology in order to keep up with our students. And we must prepare those students for their future, in which technical aptitude will be highly valued, and perhaps essential.

Here are some of the many benefits of technology for educators:

• Ease of communication and increased connectivity between teachers, administrators and students
• Quick, simple, online access to a tremendous wealth of information, often for free
• Access to multi-media and diverse points of view
• Facilitated interaction and collaboration

Additional benefits specifically for students:

• Gives students tech-related skills they will use in their future careers
• Promotes student engagement, thus facilitating learning and retention
• Teaches students to be resourceful and take more responsibility for their own learning

Information Overload – The Cons
Experts generally agree that reading promotes focus, imagination and retention. In the technology era, however, where “reading” is often conducted online, distractions run rampant. The New York Times’ Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction quotes studies showing that reading uninterrupted text results in faster completion and better understanding and recall, compared to reading text filled with hyperlinks and ads. Even video was found to be a distraction to both learning and enjoyment of the information presented. In one study, students who were allowed Internet access during class had worse retention and test performance than those who were not distracted by the presence of “wired” information.

Students must focus in order to learn, and the Internet is undeniably a hindrance to focus. Other technology-related detriments to students’ development include reduced aptitude in areas such as:

• Spelling and grammar
• Communication
• In-person social skills

Simply Different?
Psychology Today tells us that technology affects brain development: “New technologies, led by the Internet, are shaping the way we think … wiring the brain in ways very different than in previous generations.”

Reading – the old-fashioned way – has been proven to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and vocabulary. The Internet, with all its distractions, can make no such claim. However, the Internet is actually strengthening our ability to scan information rapidly and efficiently. Studies have also shown that video games and other screen media improve visual-spatial capabilities, reaction times, and the capacity to locate important details among clutter.

Given our amazing access to information these days, do we really need to memorize facts? Or is it actually more important to simply know where to look? Technology is teaching our students to source the information they need, when they need it. If they no longer have to retain a mountain of facts, their brain may be freed to engage in “higher-order” processing such as contemplation, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Finding the Balance
“Everything in moderation” may be the best answer to the technology conundrum. Experts like those at Edutopia recommend creating a healthy balance that integrates useful technological tools with a strong instructional design and goals. Ignoring technology will do a disservice to our students in tomorrow’s increasingly competitive job market, and in the world of global interconnectivity. Students need to learn to multi-task, and to access information and people quickly. But, as Edutopia says, “Along with digital and information literacy skill sets, it's still vital that we promote and encourage a love of reading across all formats – along with a facility for questioning, analyzing, discerning and synthesizing with other media.”

This is a meaty topic – let’s start a conversation. Please share your opinions and observations in our Comment section. We welcome guest bloggers, too! Submit your blog concepts and any supporting materials you may have here.