Caleb
Smith
EDIT
490
10/12/2015
Reflection #2 (CH. 4 and 5)
In chapter four it appeared that the
book was trying to be influence me to buy into the idea that technology is a
great tool to use in the classroom. I have to admit computers are a great asset
to have. However, I do not believe computers and any other such technology are
the “end all”. The human mind and body are the best tools that should be
utilized more so than any other technology. In my experience, technology has
failed countless times when I needed it to do what I needed it to do. For
example, in the military there are numerous skills that have to be mastered in
order to successfully accomplish a mission. One of these skills is land
navigation. To get from point “A” to point “B” one has to know how to read a
map, identify terrain features, and plot grid coordinates. This is really
simple if someone is using a GPS system such as Garmin’s, however batteries
die, cell phones do not always work in remote areas, equipment can be damaged
easily due to terrain and the elements, even a magnetic compass can be
compromised, and equipment can get lost. Sounds like Murphy’s Law. This does
happen in the field, so soldiers have to rely on the stars which have been around
since forever.
Please not think that I hold no
amount of stock in technology, I have been used to its failure, which is
possibly due to the operator’s misuse. I do agree that in the classroom
technology can and should be used, but it should also be coupled with hands-on
training or learning, to build dexterity, strength, awareness, and any other
lessons that a simulation cannot teach.
Since technology is being used in
about every classroom teachers and administrators need to be aware of the
negative implication of technology, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, poor
posture that leads to back pain and focusing on exercise and preventative
strategies to ensure students and workers are not going suffer from what should
be making their lives easier.
In chapter five teachers are
expected to utilize computers since the administration spends so much money on
the computers, but I feel that learning the computer takes away from the
teaching of students. Teachers have to learn new programs that are being
upgraded constantly, and for guys like myself I am way behind the technological
curve. I did not get a cell phone until I was twenty years old I still misplace
my phone for weeks at a time with no hurry of finding it, at times. I do
believe that computers will make my teaching easier, to some degree and allow
students to accomplish somethings that will not be done otherwise without
computers.
