Blocking Personal Technology in Schools
How in the world are we supposed to be promoting technology in schools when schools prohibit the use of the very tools students are most likely to use? It seems that when a school system does not understand some new technology, or when they get burned by a few students who misuse the technology, their knee jerk reaction is to stop all usage of the technology completely. Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water. This reaction not only retards legitimate uses of technology, it also hinders advancements in using the technology for educational purposes. Prohibiting the use of technology does not stop students. They just use it in covert way. They open up their cell phone within their purses or backpacks. Students access forbidden sites through proxies.
I do believe that there needs to be controls and limits on the use of personal technology in schools. Students should not be able to access pornography in school, and talking or texting in class during a lecture is just plain rude.
School need to develop sensible rules for the use of personal technology. This is a great opportunity for schools to teach students that their personal technology can be used for more that entertainment and texting each other every 5 minute. If we don’t, who will?
What do you think?
Foster,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more. It takes time for something new to gain legitimacy when the introduction has negative uses. What is not understood by some people is immediately rejected.
Seems like it is up to us "Leaders" to show the way.
Unfortunately, the vocal (or in this case disruptive) minority often dicatates policy. Why do kids need cellphones during school? They can't go anywhere and if it was an emergency, call the office and they will find the student.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing how much "outside" participation you get on your blogs and how you build on all the participation.