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I am sitting in my class on this Tuesday morning and notice that 90% of the class has their laptop open and out in front of them (myself included). A computer is somewhat necessary in a college level class. Just 30 minutes ago my professor sent us all a link to the website she was explaining. I was able to access it immediately and follow along with her lesson. People without his or her computer were not as lucky. However, as I peak at what is going on the computers I notice that almost no one is taking notes or looking at the website that we are discussing. Facebook, email, and Perez Hilton flood their desktops. I am guilty of writing this blog during my class, but I wanted to write it while it is fresh in my mind.
We all benefit from having our computers in class. Taking notes is easier, we can bring up articles on the web, documents we have previously written and emails reminders we have saved so we can bring it up on a moments notice. But what do lose? We lose face time in class. Our noses are buried in our computers that we find it is not as necessary to listen fully. If we get bored we have something in front of us we can pull up for a quick mean of entertainment!
Where do TEACHERS draw the line? Should my professor walk around the room and monitor each one of the laptops that are out to make sure we are on task? That seems a bit ridiculous. However, it might work. But who has the time for that? That also breaks away from the lesson. As an elementary teacher he or she should probably monitor more than a college professor should. Any time elementary students have to do work on their own computers the computer time should be closely monitored either by walking around and making sure students are on task or providing specific instructions for the computer use so students do not have time to stray from the lesson.
Where should we draw the line as teachers? Technology is so useful in the classroom, but what should be done if students misuse it?
Alison,
ReplyDeleteGreat topic for a post. I often wonder this myself. I, too, am guilty of digressing from my work in classes where I am allowed to bring a lap top. Sure, it is helpful, but I feel it may be more debilitating. If I were a professor in college or a teacher in an elementary/secondary classroom, I would most definitely let them bring lap tops, but I would have limited use. While I was talking, they would have to keep their laptops closed. When the time was right for exploration of the internet, I would allow it through monitoring.
Cheers,
Kaitlyn
I totally agree with you Alison! There is definitely a fine line between using and having your laptops in class vs. actually benefiting from having your laptops in class. Several of my professors have actually banned the use of all technology in their classrooms, whether that be cells phones, laptops, etc. I can understand why certain professors would ban technology, because it can be very distracting, for the user, the students around the user and for the teacher them self! As an elementary teacher I don't think that it is necessary for students to have their own laptops in the classroom, and personally, I will not allow my students to have their own laptops. The temptation of using a laptop for other purposes besides learning and doing an assigned task is far too great. When students do use computers, whether that's classroom computers, in the computer lab, or on certain days where students are allowed to bring laptops in, I will be sure to monitor students by circulating the classroom. Students should be able to use computers and technology in the classroom, but it needs to be monitored and at the appropriate time.
ReplyDeleteComputers are great tools, but so often they are taken advantage of during class time. I'm not saying not to use computers in the classroom, I'm simply saying students shouldn't have their own laptops and students need to be monitored.
Alison,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about drawing the line. We are in the same class were all of the lap tops are up and open If people are not on their lap tops they are on their phone. We are all typing when there is nothing to take notes about. I think that this is hard for teachers to teach when nobody in the class is interested or playing attention. At the same time, we are adults and should know.
But I think that this comes back to classroom management and if we can make these rules at the beginning of the year and what we expect out of the children, I think that it would help some.