Comment from DD's teacher

[tjlovespooh]

But I will also say this, the answer is not less technology and to believe any differently is to live with your head in the sand. The world is only going to get more technological if anything. Of course a child must learn to read but to discourage computer use is just not smart.

I agree, but educators have to be careful to be sure the technology is not being used superficially. Technology should be used to ADD to the learning experience itself, it needs to have some benefit besides the "WOW factor".

 

[DISUNC]

We had a conference yesterday with DD6's 1st grade teacher. All went well, she's doing fine, but the teacher commented that the entire 1st grade (not just her class) is having major problems keeping their mouths closed.

Sounds like Future Disers to me!

 

[Feralpeg]

Using technology does help. However, what always makes me laugh whenever we go to the library for a project or research or whatever the kids all head straight to the computers. Heaven forbid they use a book! Then when they find all this information on the internet (which may or may not be reliable) they are like "Now what do I do? I found the stuff I need."

I laughed out loud when I read your post! Since my office is in the library, it seemed like you were a teacher in my school! They all check out computers to do research (we have mobile laptop labs) and find it and instantly raise their hand! "I found it, am I finished now? Can I go on MySpace from here?"

Exactly! My freshman and sophomore English students are currently working on a research paper. You wouldn't believe the uproar when I told them that at least one of their sources needed to be a book. Our school doesn't have a large library, so the students will need to visit a public library. You'd think I'd asked them to make a trip to another country. Please keep in mind that at least half of the class drives and they have no problem getting to the mall!

I also teach a computer class. In the class, they learn products such as Word, PowerPoint and Publisher. There isn't a day that goes by that they don't complain because they know "everything" about PCs and they just want to play Halo. Halo is off limits in my classroom and students are not allowed to access MySpace or do any type of email or messaging from the school. You'd think I was the meanest teacher in the world. I gave a pop quiz last week because no one had been paying attention to what we'd just covered. I was trying to get the point across that they needed to pay attention. One student actually told me that I wasn't allowed to give them tests because it was computer class and it was supposed to be fun.

 

[disykat]

I think it has more to do with what a lot of kids AREN'T doing, than what they are doing. They aren't going to places like church, concerts, plays, weddings, etc. where they are expected to sit quietly while they watch adults listen attentively. They aren't sitting in a small house where the one living area has mom and dad sitting reading the paper and expecting them to be quiet for a little while so they can have some time to relax.

For many children, they haven't ever had to practice "quiet listening" or even "working/reading quietly" in a group setting before school starts. Nor have they seen it modeled.

Heck, even sitting in a car on vacation - a notorious test of patience for kids - now comes with all sorts of electronic gadgets for entertainment.

 

[Pinnie]

Heck, even sitting in a car on vacation - a notorious test of patience for kids - now comes with all sorts of electronic gadgets for entertainment.

AMEN!!! Not only that, but on my way to work in the morning, I see those dang DVD players on in the car of parents driving their children to school!

WHY????

pinnie