Discussion 3

The article “Engage Me or Enrage Me” brought up many interesting and valid points about schools today and the ways education has changed. I think that all of the distractions children have in their lives today such as video games, ipods, cell phones, and so many more are definitely putting an impact on children’s imaginations and ways of learning. I think these distractions should urge teachers to be more attentive to their class and children individually. Teachers need to find new and innovative ways to get children involved in their classroom activities and lessons. I also think that many schools should resort to more “old school” methods of teaching. Some of these new technological aids for education can get a little distracting for the children. One major subject that sticks out in my head when it comes to technology affecting a child’s capability of learning is Math. Calculators and computers provide a technology that will almost completely solve a problem without having the child actually have to think too hard to come up with the answer. I think teachers should educate their class on how to operate and utilize a calculator in the correct way, but for the most part teachers should not allow calculators in their classrooms to make sure the students understand the material, and not just how to operate the calculator.
There are many activities and lessons that can be useful and helpful for children to learn using technology. One great activity that I would try to get my students involved in could be by utilizing an ipod or an mp3 player. Each student could have access to their own personal ipod, and I could record or use different types of learning songs for lessons such as multiplication or even spelling. A lot of lessons deal with memorization, and being able to put headphones in a child’s ear could eliminate some distraction while they hear the repetition that is needed to memorize the material.
Another activity that I would consider using in my classroom would be using a video recorder. I know growing up one of my favorite things we did all year was putting on class plays. Using a video camera could allow the class to use creativity and imagination to come up with their own plays to put on for their parents or for the school. They could record themselves be able to have that memory with them forever.
Another great learning tool that teacher’s could utilize in the classroom could be using a digital camera. Many science projects require the children to do observations. For example, I might be doing a science project on different types of rocks. I could take the children outside to explore the varieties of rocks that are on the campus of the school, and they children could take pictures. The children could label the pictures Igneous, Metamorphic, or Sedimentary and they will be able to use the pictures to make their observations and use them to study. This could be useful for children with a low attention span who many not are able to remember without a picture in front of them. Another method of teaching that would utilize technology could be by using personal laptops for children. Many children find it difficult to organize their assignments and papers in folders. At my after-school teaching job, I noticed that many assignments had been stuffed in desks, thrown on the floor, or stuffed in backpacks. Students would complain frequently “someone stole their homework”. It was very rare that another student actually did steal another student’s homework because most of the time it had been thrown away or lost due to the disorganization of their class assignments. If each student was able to use laptops, their homework assignments and activates could be easily organized in folders on the laptop. This way, children wouldn’t be able to say that someone stole their homework or they lost it because it would be easily accessible and organized in their folders on their personal laptops.