Reflection 5

WHAT?                                                                                                                          
I read an article awhile back that talked about this generation of students being the loneliest generation. This is caused by technology because rather than students having face-to-face interactions with people, all of their communication takes place through technology. Instead of having a friendly conversation in person, students' social network is being stricken to text messaging, emailing, and online chatting.
SO WHAT?                                                                                                                   
Thinking of this in terms of being a teacher, I realized that technology in the classroom can take the same effect. Sometimes technology can get in the way of connecting with students on a relational learning level. Instead of getting to know students by figuring out where their struggles are and why they are having struggles, teachers rely on and hide behind quick multiple choice polls to assess students. Sometimes technology allows for no understanding of the students. It sometimes can allow for no explanation of the students progress or retrogress. Sometimes technology robs students of learning proper social skills that might be needed for instances like in an interview.
NOW WHAT?                                                                                                                 
Teachers must make extra effort to use technology in a way that will grow students. Teachers must not allow technology to cut off relationship with the students, for this is what already happens to the them in everyday life. Instead, we can use technology to enhance social skills. For example, students can use technology to give presentations. This will allow students to use technology, while communicating with their voice, rather than with their fingers (aka typing).