I often feel irritated when cell phones ring during my lectures, and even curse the distraction the technology brings to our classroom. Although the laptop issues raised in the article haven’t shown up yet in my local circumstance, I can expect its coming in the near future. Inevitablly it will result in barrier in teaching and learning and affect the outcome, since students can’t concentrate in class. However we can’t blame the technology or students for all that. We have to admit that classroom access to the Internet IS a wonderful teaching tool, if not misused, and students are not mature enough to take the full responsibility. Then who are responsible?
First, the teachers. A good teacher should be successful in arousing students’ interest, attracting their attention, engaging their thinking, and motivating them. If the attraction doesn’t come from the teachers, of course students will turn to the Internet.
Second, the schools. Ground rules should be established by schools to tell student what can be done, and what can’t. Besides, students should be informed of the possible consequence of misusing technology and of being overdependent on it. They should be encouraged to making use of their own intelligence rather than being led by the microchips.
Third, the society. The whole society should take the responsibility in setting up morals of using the Internet, to establish examples for children how to be wise technology users.
3 comments:
Dear Greentea,
Yes, as teachers, it's so annoying to hear the cell phone ringing or be distracted by modern technology. Despite the fact that the school and society can play their roles in taking resposibility, the most important, in my opinion, is we teachers. Yes, a good teacher should learn to be an expert because regardless of how good the technology is, there is still a need for a well-trained expert to be in front of the class and discuss the substantive areas of their field. With more and more attractive instructors realizing their important roles, the number of rude technology users will certainly be reduced to none.
Yes, you are thoughtful to say that modern technology and students are not to blame for distractions in the wireless classrooms. We reap what we have sowed. If all the responsible parties are well concious of the problem and take appropriate measures in time, things will sure get all right!
Actually we should not blame the technology itself, instead, apart from teachers, schools and the society, students should know their learning goals. They shoudl learn self-control in using lattops or cellphones in class.
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