When I was a kid, I always had a textbook for all of my classes. I did my oral presentations using poster boards, and I had to wait three months to receive a letter, so I could know my grades. In fact, most current high school students grew up like this.
We were the last generation without technology.
When I turned twelve, I received my first cell phone. Unlike all of my friends, who had cell phones such as the classic, unbreakable Nokia, mine was different: it had a touch screen. It was small, round and white, and the screen was also really small, but it was a touch screen. I was so excited because I thought that device was so modern and futuristic.
But suddenly technology seemed to develop very, very fast. Brands such as Apple started to become commonplace, screens grew larger and larger and practically all the electronic devices started their own form of evolution: televisions, computers, video game consoles and, of course, cell phones.
Eventually, younger people got used to all this new devices and began to insert this technology into all aspects of their lives. Soon, people started to bring technology into the classroom. And, naturally, the controversy began.
Some believed that this change would be beneficial because it would make work easier and more interactive for kids. They also thought it would be a good change because it would let schools explore technological capabilities, prepare students for the future and promote equity.
However, on the other hand, some other people believed that it was necessary for kids to keep learning more “traditionally,” doing things such as reading books, writing on paper or using blackboards.
Now, even just several years after a rapid increase in technology use, students keep using notebooks and pencils to write, but a lot of things have changed. For example, we are able to use platforms like Powerpoint or Prezi in presentations, and both parents and students can easily access grades on the internet. This is really beneficial because it lets students of all ages experiment and use a lot of new ways to practice and learn. Also, all schools are different, and all of them have different tools and ways to teach.
However, recent studies state that excessive use of technology can be harmful for students, and, as a result of this, it causes a decrease in their educational level.
This is where almost everyone agrees: Technology can be beneficial, but only if people don’t overuse it.
Mr. Ross, Spanish teacher, said, “I think that it is important for students to learn how to maturely, responsibly and intelligently use technology in an academic setting. I attempt to incorporate technology in ways that support my lesson, but I’m not a fan of technology just for technology’s sake.”
