| Technology has no place in the English classroom. | | | | of a young person's life cannot be ignored as an |
| We are teaching students to read and write, and | | | | important factor as to whether technology should |
| all that techno crap is just a distraction and time | | | | be incorporated into the language classroom. |
| waster. Instead of getting down to the important | | | | It's obvious that as a group they must love |
| basics of language, teachers are giving creative | | | | technology, so isn't it also a logical conclusion that |
| technology-based assignments that take a great | | | | using technology in the classroom would produce |
| deal more time than studying language | | | | greater engagement in the learning? |
| construction and conventions using a pencil and | | | | Lauren Grossberg describes a lesson in which |
| paper. | | | | elementary students who are just beginning to |
| Okay, so that's not really my opinion, but it is a | | | | learn about the solar system can ask questions of |
| conglomerate of opinions that I have heard | | | | BrainPOP characters using Twitter. The characters |
| purported by educators - actually really excellent | | | | from this popular educational website answer their |
| teachers who are concerned about the effect | | | | questions in the tweet format ( Learning Today ). |
| that technology is having on students' ability to | | | | Social media like Facebook and Twitter could be |
| effectively communicate in the formal written | | | | used to communicate with persons related to the |
| form. | | | | course content. Authors often have accounts in |
| Although I agree that it takes more time, I do | | | | one or both of these platforms. Send them a |
| believe that technology has become a pervasive | | | | message asking questions. Visit websites. Read |
| element of our society. According to the Kaiser | | | | articles. Make comments. In the process of using |
| Family Foundation (KFF), a non-profit, private | | | | this social media, students will be practicing skills. |
| operating foundation focusing on the major health | | | | I have a discussion board assignment where |
| care issues facing the U.S., children are regular | | | | students must discuss a weekly posted question |
| users of social media: | | | | on the novel they are required to read at home |
| Today, 8-18 year-olds devote an average of 7 | | | | during the course. Students feel quite |
| hours and 38 minutes (7:38) to using | | | | conscientious about what they write as they |
| entertainment media across a typical day (more | | | | know that others in the class will be reading and |
| than 53 hours a week). And because they spend | | | | judging their work. They were quite concerned |
| so much of that time 'media multitasking' (using | | | | with their language conventions. |
| more than one medium at a time), they actually | | | | There are ways to meaningfully include |
| manage to pack a total of 10 hours and 45 | | | | technology in the English classroom. |
| minutes (10:45) worth of media content into | | | | What ideas have you used in your classroom to |
| those 7½ hours. ( Source ) | | | | incorporate technology in meaningful ways that do |
| The use of technology as a regular, natural part | | | | not compromise good language teaching? |