Introduction and A Stance on Technology in the Classroom
Hi there! My name is Rachel Franks, and I am currently a student at Cal State University, Northridge, and a major in English Single Subject Matter. I will be graduating from CSUN this semester and climbing the education ladder to enter a teaching credential program, as I hope to become a high school English teacher. Currently, I am an in-class tutor at a high school in my area, where I am earning hands-on teaching experience and helping students. A fun fact about me is that nature and the outdoors are my solitude. I absolutely love hiking, camping, and traveling across various U.S. states and visiting national parks.
As an in-class tutor, something I deal with a lot as I help students in the classroom is the use of technology, specifically cell phone usage. Phones are a key distraction to students' learning and an obstacle that teachers are constantly struggling to overcome when attempting to instruct students, as much of said students' attention is drawn to their digital devices. From my personal experience, as a tutor constantly struggling to grasp students' attention and effectively help or teach them educational concepts, I believe the use of cell phones should not be permitted in classroom settings. Cell phones have become a type of addiction for recent generations, as many adolescents struggle with impulse control when it comes to putting their phones away and keeping them away for the duration of class. Every notification alert compels students to immediately reach for their phones and begin scrolling, sometimes even imagining the presence of a new notification, thus conjuring the fear of missing out on a text message.
Technology as a whole is not necessarily dangerous or a disadvantage to students when used properly, as many technological advancements have made aspects of education easier and less time-constraining for teachers and students alike. Access to digital course materials and programs is highly effective for teachers and students, making information more accessible. According to Carrie Spector, author of the article, "How Technology is Reinventing Education," "The growing use of technology in schools is producing massive amounts of data on students’ activities in the classroom and online...data that can reveal areas of struggle and different learning opportunities, from solving a math problem to approaching a writing assignment" (Spector). Technology, when used the right way, such as finding students' areas of struggle and making learning more accessible to students with disabilities and disadvantages, is an immensely positive result of technology's integration in educational settings. However, a student's use of their cell phone in the classroom is unwarranted and a mere distraction to learning.
When I was in high school, phones were not allowed out in the classroom, and while we were allowed Chromebooks, the laptops were for school use only, with many apps and websites restricted for student use. Even if we simply searched for inappropriate words or restricted apps, the searches were flagged, and we were called to the office and questioned for our misuse of school technology. Such restrictions should continue to be in place today, as the advancement of technology and leniency on such technology only proves to be more of a distraction to students in the classroom.
Spector, Carrie. "How Technology is Reinventing Education." Stanford Graduate School of Education, 24 Feb. 2024, https://ed.stanford.edu/news/how-technology-reinventing-education.
Hi Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perspective one hundred percent. I especially liked the point you bring up about cell phones progressively becoming a huge distraction within the classroom. From my experience as well, it is extremely difficult for students to stay focused when their phones are in a close vicinity. Even a single buzz or ping can entirely derail them from what they're supposed to be focusing on or learning, and good luck trying to get them re-engaged after that! I definitely think you're right about phones being addictive for students. At the same time, though, I agree that technology is not necessarily the enemy. Online resources can really help in an academic setting, as can certain tools that make learning interactive. I think your take that stricter rules would help to reduce these distractions and keep students focused on learning is entirely accurate-- hopefully we see more of this in the future!
- Hallie Shore :)
Hey Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI, too, love the outdoors and visiting national parks. It is hard to beat a fun trip to the outdoors. I think there is nothing better. It's amazing that you are an in-class tutor, which provides you with so much experience and preparation for your career. I agree that cell phone use among students in schools below college level is a major distraction. You have first-hand experience with how it affects their learning as an in-class tutor. Your comparison of the overall increased cell phone use to being an addiction is quite spot on. As that is essentially what it was created for, and all social media apps as well, to get you hooked and stay scrolling longer. However, it is evident that it is a major hindrance to the younger generations and their learning. Furthermore, I agree that when media technology is used properly, it is a powerful tool that actually enhances learning. I, too, had Google Chromebooks in high school, and they were monitored and restricted in the same way as yours. They ended up being technology tools used solely to enhance learning, and I think that is a successful approach. I, too, was not allowed to have cell phones out. I think that is a rule that should remain implemented and enforced in schools below the college level.
Hey Rachel! It’s great to see another future high school English teacher, especially one that’s dedicated and full of passion. It’s hard for me to find teachers who appreciate traveling or going on hikes, so it’s great to hear that you enjoy it so much
ReplyDeleteRegarding your insight on technology, it became apparent as to how public schools view and use technology in comparison to private ones. At my job, the school takes the student’s phones at the beginning of the day, as they know it’s an enormous distraction for them in class. I also tutor in class, and I couldn’t imagine if my students had their phones on their person, as I wouldn’t get anything done without having to rely on penalizing or incentivizing them.
I strongly agree with the fact that Chromebooks were used much differently when I was in school, and it feels like teachers and students have gotten so used to them in a classroom environment that they aren’t bothered with abusing them. It’s not that technology is inherently a problem, it’s how it’s being used by students and faculty alike that is being more and more evident as the years pass by. Your experience helped illuminate and confirm my perspective, and it was great to hear from you!