As many of us already know technology is a wonderful tool that helps students feel motivated and engaged in their learning. I have read so many articles about the benefits of having these devices in your classroom. Over and over I hear of the incredible changes in the attitude of the students when they are allowed to bring them to the classroom. Recently, I read the article "Inappropriate Use of Technology" and began to worry about my own abilities to keep the use of such devices under control.
The article told the story of a student who had smuggled in an electronic device inside the hallway and began to use it inappropriately. The principal of the school banned all electronics devices from the school since the incident. This immediately made think that perhaps the principal was taking a harsh approach but necessary for maintaining the security of the students and control of the situation. I agreed with what the principal did since it seemed the most obvious solution.
As I kept reading, I noticed the author was against the principal's decision. While she understood the pressure her principal had to maintain order inside the school, she argued that the solution ought to be different. She explains that with a strict BYOD (bring your own device) policy she has kept any incident to a minimum. She states that explicit teaching and modeling are the best ways to combat any unwanted use of electronic devices. Another strategy she uses is to point out the importance of teaching her students to be responsible digital citizens.
As I reflect on the thoughts and ideas of the author, I think the positives outweighs the negatives effects of using technology in the classroom. Sometimes is easy to get confused about the best approach to use in your own classroom, especially when it's about important topics, but reading about the experiences of other educators sure helps you learn and make better choices.
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