Hello readers, your friendly caffeine junkie here. Today’s topic? Media, technology, and the dark cloud looming over us as we wait for the iRobot movie to come true. Don’t get me wrong, I love posting my best angles and little life wins on “the gram.” But this morning, while doing my usual doom scroll before work (as one does), I stumbled across a post in my community page that stopped me in my tracks.
A mother shared that her child’s kindergarten teacher was uploading classroom videos to YouTube. Not for teaching, not so the kids could revisit their ABCs, but for views. As I read through the comments, I was relieved that most people agreed this was completely wrong. But then I saw a surprising number of people defending the teacher. That made me pause and think...what kind of role should media and technology actually play in a classroom? And what kind of teacher will my own child have one day?
In today’s schools, Chromebooks and online platforms have replaced storytime and popcorn reading. I understand that education evolves with the times, but part of me feels like we rushed technology into classrooms faster than we really thought it through. Group reading on a site like Scholastic makes sense, but when every student has their own Chromebook, the line between learning and distraction gets very thin. Kids can end up zoning out with games or assuming the internet is the only source of “real” knowledge.
I believe media technology should absolutely have a place in education, but sparingly, especially in K–8. It should be a tool, not a crutch. Students need balance! Books, discussions, hands-on learning, and yes, sometimes a video or an interactive activity. But relying too heavily on screens risks turning school into another scroll session.
As someone on the “seasoned” side of my twenties, I don’t remember using much classroom tech until college.
Back then, it was all about overhead projectors and squinting to see the lesson through the glare. And honestly? Those lessons stuck. I will never forget the mitochondria is the powerhourse of the cell.
Anywho, enough aging myself. My point is this, technology is powerful, but kids shouldn’t be taught to lean on it as heavily as they do today. It should enhance teaching, not replace it.
Hi Trisha! First of all I want to say that you have mastered in making this the most coziest corner on the internet!! I actually feel like I’m in a cute and warm living room with a hot cup of coffee rather than a sterile Starbucks. In regard to your commentary on media technology, I think it is absolutely ludicrous that media technology has affected our classrooms so much that teachers are now posting for views. Not only is it taking it too far, it is placing their privacy at risk. I also agree that it should be a tool, not a crutch. Technology should aid in making things more efficient but not in a way that could deplete our critical thinking.
ReplyDeleteHi Trisha! I *definitely* agree with your take that technology should take a backseat in the classroom, especially from K-8. When I was in elementary school, we had to go to a computer lab and took an actual class on how to use the computer, it was an event, not something we took for granted. Now, technology is pushed onto these kids before they can even hand write properly. I personally think schools should go back to using computer labs instead of bringing the laptops or Chromebooks to the students, having a designated time and area for technology time for students would be a more efficient use of technology as the tool that it should be. Like you referenced, schools do need to “get with the times” to some extent, but that cannot come at the cost of the education of children. Schools need to go back to physically doing assignments, and utilizing technology when helpful. Allowing Chromebooks to become the default has only led to students becoming less engaged with the material they have in front of them. They cannot click away from a physical piece of paper, these children need to go back to physically doing their work, I feel like it’s the only way.
ReplyDeleteHey Trisha!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your website! It is such a nice atmosphere that I definitely want to keep coming back! As for your first post, I love that you made the discussion even more relevant by adding something you found on the media where our children(students) or future children possible have access to. I agree that we should not let technology be a crutch. I think we need to find the balance of letting them use it, showing them how, and then showing how to think critically without it. I believe that because many adults are afraid of not necessarily AI but the uses of it, like chat gpt and artificial imaging in official capacities, that it makes it hard for students to hear us when we say it's not always all that and a bag a chips. I think to them it goes in one ear and out the other, and sounds like “ Back in my day…” and they tune out. Rather than telling them it's evil, we should express that it just has to be used appropriately. Some may want to stop using so much media and tech as we’ve seen because it's not “ outlawed “ anymore, or it's more common/uncool, and we're showing them how to use it safely and ethically.
Now, with the woman using students in a video, do you have a link ? Were their faces blurred? Did she make a response explaining why she does it, and if the parents signed off on it? I think teachers using media is a very interesting conversation.
Hi Trisha,
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost I too am a fellow caffeine junkie and let me just say that your blog feels like a nice cabin in the woods. One thing I will say is that the background made it a little difficult to read the words, but other than that I really love your points. I especially liked when you said that media technology should be used as a tool and not as a replacement for teaching. Similarly I had the same opinion because I believe that teachers have become very codependent on using technology to teach. I also grew up during a time where technology was rarely used in the classroom and I believe that’s what made the greater impact. I think that there are ways to make a classroom more interesting without having to use technology as a crutch. Personally I had said that I don’t think that media technology should have a place in the classroom because I feel it forces the students to engage with each other and their teachers alike.