Week 7 PLE

Technology allows us to make our teaching more dynamic by giving us a plethora of resources we are able to see and therefore experience so much more! We can see kids in Africa, see how a cell functions, and access information easily and quickly. It's pretty incredible what we have access to becuase of technology.
However, in some ways technology can detract from learning. Observe our class every Tuesday, for example... with the internet at our fingertips, it is difficult to keep listening to one person talking when Facebook or email is up. Also, because of the huge amount of info available to us, sometimes the quantity of information overwhelms the quality of information. Also, our human connectedness (necessary for learning in public schools) can be neglected because of technology. For example, how many kids have more interaction with other kids around the world they have never met and never will meet playing computer games, than they do with their own teachers, classmates, or parents?
Effective technology can be tricky, because it all has potential to be both effective and ineffective. On my mission I was very grateful for technology like phones, that allowed us to waste less time-- in theory. Of course cell phones could be abused, and waste huge amounts of time. Most of us use email every day-- a very effective form of communication. Also, I am starting to realize how much cool technology is available to people with special needs. Different computer programs and the like are extremely effective in helping people learn in their own ways.