We must pay close attention to the great media
debate, especially in our time where technology seems to control every aspect
of our students’ lives. This requires us
to study and analyze diverse opinions pertaining to this topic. Richard Clark argues that “…media are mere
vehicles that deliver instruction but do not influence student achievement…” (EduTech
Wiki, 2012, p. 1). Robert Kozma states
that “…certain media ‘possess particular characteristics that make them both
more and less suitable for the accomplishment of certain kinds of learning
tasks.’ (Kozma, 1994)”’ (EduTech Wiki, 2012, p. 1).
Eric Sheninger weighs in on the debate in his
article titled “Why Pedagogy First, Tech Second Stance is Key to the Future”. He states, “While I am a huge advocate for
the purposeful integration of technology in schools, we must resist the
temptation to think that this is the solution to solve all the ills in our
current education system" (2016, p. 1).
Technology is the future. Our students are skilled technology users, so
we must take advantage of this. Like Sheninger, I am also a firm believer in
the integration of technology in our schools; but technology must not be used
just because it is available.
On several occasions, it has come to my attention that
our schools hold large rooms full of technology. Administrators urge teachers to use it, and
teachers comply by sitting their students in front of a computer or with a
tablet the entire period; but technology must not take the place of instruction. Technology must serve a purpose…to support
learning. Sheninger further advises, “The
key is to determine what we want our students to know, and then let them have a
choice as to how they will demonstrate or apply their learning” (2016, p. 1).
Another concern is the endless trainings that
teachers must attend to learn how to operate the latest technological
tool. We can allow students to choose
what technological tool they want to operate to demonstrate their knowledge and
it “…not only adds relevance and meaning to the learning, but also takes
the pressure off the educators from having to learn how to use an endless
number of tools” (2016, p. 1).
As teachers and librarians, we must support the use
of technology in our schools—it is the future.
We must expose our students to the latest tools that are available,
since more and more, employers are requiring prospective employees to possess qualities
related to the expert use of technology.
Students must be prepared adequately in our schools for this type of
work environment. It is their future that
we hold in our hands.
Technology is rapidly expanding. The growth of technology cannot be denied;
but the adoption of technology in our schools can be hindered by us, the
educators. We can become overwhelmed the
vast amounts of technology available.
Furthermore, some of us believe that sticking to paper and pencil is the way to
teach. Times are evolving, and so must our
education system. We must accept that it
is our responsibility to correctly incorporate the latest media in our
classrooms. Students, in turn, can utilize
the medium to transmit their learning and expand their education.
References
The media debate. (2012, August 30).
Retrieved April 10, 2017, from
http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/The_media_debate
Sheninger, E.
(2016). Why pedagogy first, tech second stance is key to the future. EdTech.
Retrieved from http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2016/04/why-pedagogy-first-tech-second-stance-key-future
