Last weekend's class - and specifically the guest speakers - really kick started my brain to reflect on how I typically incorporate technology in the classroom. With a critical eye focused on my actions, I started to wonder if technology has become a tool for behavior management rather than a tool for learning.
Take my classroom for example. Despite the stigma surrounding the "BYOD" (bring your own device) practice, I typically allow my students to listen to music during lab time. Now, when I initially agreed to their pleadings, I thought granting this "privilege" would convince my students to stay on-task and focused. I soon realized - after talking to colleagues - that my "intention" was not too sensible.
So what purpose was the technology actually serving?
Unfortunately, I now know that my true motive for granting permission was to keep students from yapping at each other. Their iPhones and iPods don't enhance their learning. All they do is silently distract them. Thus surfaces a judgment call. What is more important - students have no distractions from their devices but their attention is interrupted by classroom happenings OR the classroom is completely quiet but students are selecting new songs every 4 minutes?
All of this reflection then led me to wonder if teachers - more often than not - use technology to promote positive behavior. An example of this might be teachers using "computer time" as a reward. The technology is now a new form of incentive, but is it promoting learning while reinforcing good behavior? Of course students are motivated to use "technology", but as educators, is this really how we want to utilize technology in our classrooms?
As of today, I have not reached a conclusion in regards to the BYOD practice, but input is certainly appreciated.
Until next time...
