Technology is, and has been for years, a major buzzword in the education field. Teachers are strongly encouraged to incorporate technology wherever possible in order to better reach and engage our 21st Century Learners. Given the well-known fact that adolescents spend a staggering amount of their time using technology to communicate and entertain themselves, this seems like a no-brainer. If teachers want to reach students where they are in an authentic way, then what could be better than using technology?
The key with adolescents is that they are observant. They can always spot inauthenticity in others, particularly in adults who are superficially trying to connect or "be cool" in an attempt to engage them. Say the words "on fleek" in front of your class and you will see exactly what I mean. This keen sense of authenticity goes beyond adults just trying to be cool. It also reaches to discover activities in the classroom that don't serve a true purpose.
"Technology integration is most effective when careful attention is paid to the purpose, role, and potential issues of process." (Wade, et.al p. 164) The emphasis on the word purpose is my own and is done so because it is crucial. This is a much more academic way of saying that technology is just a tool. And that tool should be used in an authentic way, or it will serve no true purpose. Having students use technology just for the sake of using it will not improve their learning and they will quickly suss out that they may be taking part in an activity that is not entirely meaningful. Seeing a room full of adolescents catching on to an inauthenticity and subsequently voicing their opinion is the stuff of back-to-school nightmares that begin showing up mid-July. However, even the students are compliant and don't question the activities, if technology integration isn't purposeful, it will still be a waste of learning time and this is something that none of us can afford.
In summation of my own experiences and of the article cited above, technology is an incredible tool, but it is just that - a tool. As such, it should be used where it serves the most purpose and makes the most sense and not just because the administration has suggested to use it. Find a way to meaningfully incorporate it to further student learning and the power of the medium will be obvious. Throw it into your lesson haphazardly because it's expected and you will most likely know very quickly that your instruction is not, in fact, on fleek.
Resources:
Wade, W. Y., Rasmussen, K. L., & Fox-Turnbull, W. (2013). Can Technology Be a Transformative Force in Education? Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 57(3), 162-170.
The key with adolescents is that they are observant. They can always spot inauthenticity in others, particularly in adults who are superficially trying to connect or "be cool" in an attempt to engage them. Say the words "on fleek" in front of your class and you will see exactly what I mean. This keen sense of authenticity goes beyond adults just trying to be cool. It also reaches to discover activities in the classroom that don't serve a true purpose.
"Technology integration is most effective when careful attention is paid to the purpose, role, and potential issues of process." (Wade, et.al p. 164) The emphasis on the word purpose is my own and is done so because it is crucial. This is a much more academic way of saying that technology is just a tool. And that tool should be used in an authentic way, or it will serve no true purpose. Having students use technology just for the sake of using it will not improve their learning and they will quickly suss out that they may be taking part in an activity that is not entirely meaningful. Seeing a room full of adolescents catching on to an inauthenticity and subsequently voicing their opinion is the stuff of back-to-school nightmares that begin showing up mid-July. However, even the students are compliant and don't question the activities, if technology integration isn't purposeful, it will still be a waste of learning time and this is something that none of us can afford.
In summation of my own experiences and of the article cited above, technology is an incredible tool, but it is just that - a tool. As such, it should be used where it serves the most purpose and makes the most sense and not just because the administration has suggested to use it. Find a way to meaningfully incorporate it to further student learning and the power of the medium will be obvious. Throw it into your lesson haphazardly because it's expected and you will most likely know very quickly that your instruction is not, in fact, on fleek.
Resources:
Wade, W. Y., Rasmussen, K. L., & Fox-Turnbull, W. (2013). Can Technology Be a Transformative Force in Education? Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 57(3), 162-170.
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