Using Technology in the Classroom....Good or Bad?

The debate on whether technology should be used within the classroom setting could go on and on....

I'm not saying that I think one way or the other, for I believe that there are positives and negatives to actually using different forms of technology when teaching. I have seen scenarios that would support both sides and I believe that while technologies can be used to enhance the learning process, it can also greatly hurt it.

First the positive aspects...
From facebook, to powerpoint to diagram programs, technology can be used to make the learning process better. For example, powerpoint is a simple and easy way to make easy-to-follow and legible notes for students. Diagrams and pictures can be included to further help students visualize an idea. Videos can be used in the same manner. These types of things are great when it comes to teaching within the sciences because many areas are difficult to follow unless there are visual cues to follow. For example, when talking about the vasculature within the circulatory system, it is much easier to show a picture of how the arteries and veins are positioned and branch than to merely describe it. Another positive aspect is that many teachers can introduce their information great verbally, but when it comes to writing down something, their writing is no more legible than chicken scratch....

Yet, there are the negatives too....
Even though there are many positive aspects, there are also some difficulties to incorporating technology into the classroom. The biggest weakness is that teachers can become too dependent on the technology itself... Instead of trying to teach and aid their students in grasping a concept and developing their ability to think more thoroughly and critically, many teachers just put up information that they will read verbatim to their student. This leads into the problem of teachers losing contact with the student. When this occurs, there tends to be a disconnection between what the teacher expects and what the students understand. This loss of personal contact not only makes the learning process more difficult, it creates a gap within the student-teacher relationship.... I could go on with this for a looooong time, but I'll prevent you from having to endure that.

The bottom line though is that using technology within the classroom. As a teacher, one must remember not to become too dependent upon the technology itself and to not lose contact with your students.