Tuesday evening brought the first edition of The Great Ed Tech Debate, and what a debate it was! The topic at hand was whether or not technology in the classroom enhances learning, and it was presented by Amanda, Nancy, Trevor, and Matt. Before watching the debate, I have to admit that I knew this was a topic I was very much on the fence about. I could ultimately argue for both sides, but could not really determine which side of the fence I stood more strongly on. I’d like to say that this debate changed me, and that after the debate was over I had an epiphany and jumped to a side of the fence; however, that was not the case.  Before I get too far into my own thoughts, lets take a look at how the debate went down! 

PROS

Amanda and Nancy took on the task of arguing FOR the idea that technology enhances learning in the classroom. Their video was an emotional story that tugged on your heart strings, and outlined several reasons why they believe technology in the classroom enhances learning.

Some of their key arguments were:

• The 4 Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity), in addition to a 5th C (Connection)
• Technology transcends the classroom
• Technology allows the ability to engage students and deepen learning
• Helps develop digital literacy/digital citizenship

 

CONS

Trevor and Matt took on the AGAINST position in the debate, arguing that technology does not enhance learning in the classroom.  Their video was witty, tongue and cheek, and even offered a slightly Trump-like slogan!

Some of their key arguments were:

• Technology is a distraction
• Technology doesn’t mean good pedagogy
• IT use while learning causes shallow information processing
• Bombards students with screen time

MY THOUGHTS

I have to give kudos to both debate teams, as they presented great arguments for both sides. So much so, that I did not come away any clearer on my position than when I started!

Pros. . . 

When I think about the argument presented by Amanda and Nancy, I appreciate their push for the connections piece. Especially in this time, connections through technology are crucial. Without tools such as Google Meet and SeeSaw, I would have no way of connecting with my students. Technology has allowed me to continue working with my students, even though we are not in the same physical space. Amanda and Nancy’s use of The Born Friends video drove this idea home even more. Real stories, from real people, demonstrating just how powerful technology can be to maintain connections through physical distance barriers. Without the use of technology, my job would be near impossible during this time.

Another key point I took away from the pro side of this argument is the idea of balance. Technology should be used as a tool, not the only tool. This may be the biggest idea I took away from the entire debate. Technology should be there to ENHANCE learning, not REPLACE the teacher. Technology should not take away the role of a teacher, but rather aid in the teachings. If there is no balance there could be serious consequences, such as losing that teacher/student human connection.

The use of technology also needs to be meaningful and purposeful, not just something you use because you feel that you should, or need to. George Couros, in his post that speaks to The Myths of Technology, talks about EMPOWERMENT over simply trying to engage students. We need to use technology to empower students to want to do something meaningful, or do more, rather than simply engaging them with something flashy on a screen.

Cons. . . 

With all of the pros I agree with, there are also some points on the con side of the argument that definitely sway me.

One of the main ideas that Trevor and Matt presented that stood out to me was the pressure teachers can feel to use technology. Technology is all around us, and it will be an important component in our students’ futures; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean you just use technology because you feel you should be.  Trevor and Matt argued that using technology can make a bad teacher worse, and that statement really resonated with me. I have seen teachers use technology just to keep students busy, or to pass the time. There is no real purpose to why technology is being used, and no deeper learning taking place. Technology is simply being used as a form of distraction or “busy work” tool.

Another key point that sways me to the con side is the idea of screen time overload. As I mentioned above, technology is everywhere.  You wake up and check a cellphone, turn on the television while you eat breakfast to watch the news (or cartoons), go on a computer or tablet to check e-mails, etc.  And this is no different for kids. Children and teens are surrounded by screens, so having them constantly look at a screen during school may not be the best thing for them. Trevor and Matt presented an article about The Digital Gap Between Between Rich Kids and Poor Kids, and it outlined how parents in Silicon Valley are also showing concerns about screen time, and even ensuring their kids are going to schools without technology. It talks about the fears the parents have that their children are part of a huge social experiment, and their increase in screen time is detrimental to their well-being. I understand the need to teach children about technology, and digital literacy, but it is also important that they know how to socialize and converse with people off of a screen. Human relationships should not get lost to screen friendships.

As I’m writing this post, it still remains the same: I am so unsure of what side of the fence I am on.  What I have learned , and what I am taking away from the debate, is this:

1. Technology can be extremely beneficial in the teaching profession – In the times we’re in, I would have no way of connecting to my students without technology (unless I wanted to go back to good old fashioned snail mail, but that’s not overly practical!) Technology truly does allow for the 5th C Amanda and Nancy spoke to.
2. BALANCE – I have come to the conclusion that there may not be a right answer. Just like everything else in the world, it requires balance.  There needs to be purpose and meaning when using technology, but there is also no need to completely cut technology from your classroom.
3. ENHANCE not replace – Above all, technology needs to be there to enhance the learning of students. That teacher/student connection is so crucial, and no screen can replace that.  Technology needs to aid in the teachings going on in the classroom, not become the new teacher.

Overall, like everything else, I can see both sides. Done correctly, I definitely see the advantages to technology in the classroom, and the potential it has to enhance learning. I can also see technology being abused, or misused, and being a deficit to learning.

BALANCE and ENHANCEMENT NOT REPLACEMENT, that’s what I am taking away from this, rather than a definite right or wrong. Either way, I guess it’s safe to say I am still walking the middle of the fence!

Debate #1

Our first debate took place Tuesday May 19 and the topic was “technology in the classroom enhances learning.”  Both groups did a fantastic job and modeled excellent debate formats.

The agree side – Nancy and Amanda, began with a video that was meant to pull on our heartstrings and emotionally connect us to the topic.  A great strategy!  The premise was that technology can connect teachers and students (and others) through times when they can’t physically be together.  In the video, the teacher had a broken leg and was working from home, but many of us can relate to this in our current situation.  Their main arguments for using technology to enhance learning were the 5 cs – critical thinking skills, collaboration, communication, creativity, and connection.  They really focused on connection.  I think this was an easy point to push right now given that we’re remote teaching.  They kept coming back to the idea that technology connects students to their lessons, to each other, and to the teacher.  They stated, “technology helps us bring meaning and that’s what helps enhance learning.”

The disagree side – Trevor and Matt took a different approach to introducing their arguments.  Their intro video was designed to be an attack ad against Nancy and Amanda and their side of the argument.  It made them appear inferior, like they can’t be trusted, right down to the fake Tweets and the sketchy music.  Very effective – and humorous in this setting.  Their reasons for stating that technology does not enhance student learning were, that it causes unnecessary distractions, there is a lack of pedagogical understanding, and it creates an overload of screen time.

My Takeaways

As I mentioned earlier, both groups did a great job.  If I had to choose an official winner of the debate, it would be Trevor and Matt on the disagree side.  I feel that their points were stronger and presented in a more affirmative manner.  I think Nancy and Amanda made a good case for using technology right now for remote learning, however they didn’t make a strong enough connection to general classroom learning.  This was also backed-up by our pre-vote and post-vote.  In the pre-vote, 89.3% of students in the class thought that technology enhances classroom learning.  In the post-vote this number dropped to 58.3%.  I thank both sides for prompting me to think of this topic from different perspectives.  I like how Nancy and Amanda spoke about using tech to foster student engagement by building interest and purpose.  Matt and Trevor shed some new insight into the distractability of tech and the commercialization elements involved.  Each side also shared their research with us.  There was a variety of articles, websites, and videos on each topic.  Noteworthy sources include George Couros’ “The Myths of Technology” series, and this article that examines negative side effects of technology in classrooms.

General Thoughts on this Topic

I admit that as an educator, I go back and forth on this topic.  I agree with points from both sides.  I teach kindergarten and specifically chose not to have a set of Chromebooks in our classroom.  There are a few reasons why I made this decision.  One reason, which also came up in the debate, is that many students use devices frequently outside of school and I wanted them to have some screen-free time.  Also, so much of a child’s development at kindergarten age is hands-on, experiential learning.  Children need to hold concrete things and actively participate in enriching experiences.  They need to hold pencils, read real books, paint, build things, etc.  We have a SMARTBoard, and as a class we watch music and dance videos, we watch animal information videos, play alphabet games, do directed drawing, and look things up that we’re wondering.  So it’s not as though we don’t use technology, however I try to balance what we do on the SMARTBoard as a class that has a direct link to our learning and those valuable hands-on experiential learning moments.  I always wondered about using tech for student engagement, and when students first start school they are in awe of the “giant T.V.” in our classroom, they are just as much, if not more engaged, with playing, creating, and building – especially if I’m there doing it with them.  I also find offering choice of activities is highly engaging.  This would align with the George Couros stance that technology does not always automatically ensure engagement, and that true engagement and purpose comes through empowering students.

P.S.

One idea that came up from the disagree side during the debate was that technology does not equal good pedagogy.  This reminded me of something discussed in another course (EDL 825 – Learning and Assessment Leadership).  We watched a video, “Our Journey to Awesome” and a quote from this stated, “adding technology to old pedagogy doesn’t make it better.”  Just something else to think about.

 

Technology is part of our lives, whether we want it to be or not because people have to use technology for some reason or another. We are surrounded by it! The question is, does technology in the classroom enhance learning or does it curtail it? Now, here is the thing, this is a pretty controversial topic if you ask me. It’s kind of hard to choose a “side” to this debate because research shows pros and cons to the use of technology in classrooms.

Pros…

• For many different reasons, some kids don’t always feel compelled to share their voices in the classroom. Utilizing technology to gather opinions and ideas might encourage these kids to share in a more anonymous way. If technology is used to enhance learning, this would help students who have difficulties using their voice and wouldn’t enable those who love to talk to do so. Discussions should always be welcomed.
• Integrating technology in the classroom will help develop digital literacy. We want our students to be able to become creative in the digital world. We also want them to be able to survive in the academic world which now revolves around technology. Whether they will become tech savvy or not, being digitally literate will help them conquer academic challenges in their post-secondary education while also helping them survive the challenges that will arise in their personal lives. Setting rules and bounderies, at home and at school, will help students learn the importance of being responsible with technology.
• Using technology in the classroom allows teachers to explore digital citizenship which will help students become independent, self-regulated device users. It is important for them to know how to use technology in positive and acceptable fashion. We want them to be proactive and respectful. Everyone should envision a digital wellness to avoid problems while using technology. The New York Times article reflects how parents don’t allow their kids to use technology and are pushing for them to frequent school that are technology free. I believe this won’t help them become eloquent in technological language.
• If teachers know and understand some of the models that exist, which explains the better ways to incorporate technology in the classroom, it will definitely enhance learning. Here are two models to go by to help you better do this:
  1. The SAMR model “is a framework through which you can assess and evaluate the technology you use in your class”. (Educatorstechology.com);
  2. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework (TPACK) “outlines how content (what is being taught) and pedagogy (how teacher imparts that content) must form the foundation for any effective edtech integration”. (Educationaltechnology.net) Here is a YouTube video explaining the TPACK model.

Cons…

• It isn’t always available. In our school we have 30ish computers for the entire school. We must reserve them at the library if we plan a lesson that would be best done with them. Usually, high school students have priority so elementary school students don’t have access to them very often. We also have distance learning classes offered in our school so students who take these classes have first dibs on computers.
• Teachers and students don’t use it properly. It doesn’t always motivate the student. The activities suggested by teachers are not engaging and/or empowering. Instead of doing their work, they waste time googling meaningless stuff, watching YouTube videos for entertainment or messaging each other through Google Chat. Laptops, phones and other devices can cause students to be distracted.
• As teachers, it’s imperative we address the in person bullying that arises in our classrooms but also, addressing the online aspect of it too. Being mindful and aware of the issues that can arise with the use of technology in the classroom is important. Talking about cyberbullying with the students will definitely help counteract this problem.

It is important to show kids how to use technologies so that it benefits them. Digital citizenship is definitely important knowledge to share with students if we want them to be responsible in the digital world and mindful of their usage of technology. How do you utilize technology in your classroom and what is your opinion on this matter… does it encourage engagement, or does it become a nuisance to learning?

What a great beginning of the Ed Tech Debates… So much talent from both sides which made it extremely hard as I heard and saw so many great points from both sides. Both of the opening statement videos were so informative, engaging and brought to light many good points that we struggle with daily.

To start, Nancy and Amanda, used Amanda’s own personal story of how she connected with her students and loved ones after she tore her Achilles tendon. This was an effective strategy to me because I am very much a people person. I love to interact with people so I connected to this story and definitely saw the benefits of technology at a time like that. I strongly feel connection and relationships are a key part in any classroom and life in general. Curtis even used the quote from Jody Carrington in the chat that “schools these days need more meat trays and less chrome books”.

Technology can never replace a great teacher who has taken time to build meaningful relationships and connections with kids. However, usually those teachers want what is best for all students and use technology to engage all their students in a high quality learning environment where technology is a PIECE of the learning, not the end all, be all. This is the difference.

Nancy and Amanda pointed out the 4 C’s ( critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity/connection). Those cannot be accomplished with technology alone. You need a dynamic teacher to light the fire of engagement to make learning meaningful and purposeful.

HOWEVER….Matt and Trevor ALSO hit home with their video bringing up many valid points as well. The first being the distraction from cellphones in the classroom with all the social media our students are into these days (snapchat, instagram, tiktok, etc.) Plus, the drama that it may cause when not used appropriately.

They also brought up the issue that technology does NOT mean good pedagogy. I have seen this many times in classrooms when technology is just used as a time filler with no purpose or meaningful learning. This is super frustrating as this is where people feel teachers can be replaced by technology which is soooo NOT TRUE! A good teacher can never be replaced.

The third issue was too much screen time. And I can actually agree with this. I feel kids are lacking so many other personal qualities and attributes that are attributed with things that come from real life experiences. Being able to communicate well, being personable, creative, how to get a long with others, their energy, drive and work ethic. When they referred to the people in Silicon Valley not wanting their kids to be in schools with screen time, I believe this is why. We are seeing people lacking these kind of qualities that actually create good leaders, and citizens.

I will end saying I am still on the fence. I feel technology has a part in the classroom to enhance and engage student learning if used in a purposeful way but we cannot forget that ultimately our students our humans who are in need of social interaction and connection. We need to ensure need that there is a balance to create well-rounded, caring, compassionate life-long learners and problem solvers.

Well last night’s debate surrounding the value of utilizing technology within the classroom.  @Nancy and @Amanda’s personal, heart touching approach spoke to me and had me 100% convinced of such value from the beginning.  However @Trevor and @Matt came dressed and ready to battle!  I appreciated the devil’s advocate approach the guys took to challenged not only our own paradigms but their own as well! Brilliant on all fronts!

Some key points that resonated with me were;

Additional points to ponder….

• Difference between low to high socio-economic status and applications of technology
  • low-income schools  – “drill and kill” approach
  • More affluent schools –  material is customized based on students’ learning needs
• Real-time assessment allows for real time understanding temperature checks and offers immediate feedback for teacher differentiation
  • Bridges learning gaps
• Digital tendencies have a cost. 
  • miss instruction and aren’t paying attention
  • Bored in class so “surf” devices.
    • Perhaps digital citizenship and tech reasons for usage in classes needs to be taught. Article was written in 2016. Wonder what participants would say now after having only tech to stay connected to learning?
• The No Significant Difference database
  • Fully indexed, comprehensive research bibliography that document no significant differences in student outcomes between alternate modes of education delivery.
    • Reminded me of a Wakelet type tool in which institutions can use to justify “bum in seats need”  instead of online learning.

 

 

What a skilled debate to kick off our debates in EC&I 830.  The topic “Technology in the classroom enhances learning” is one that I definitely have thoughts on both sides of.  Both sides showcased their technology skills with their opening videos.  They were both informative and engaging. 

Nancy and Amanda chose to argue an agreement stance with this topic.  The points that stood out to me in their presentation and readings that I could agree with and swayed me to their side were thoughts around the idea that technology will never replace a great teacher, but in the hands of a great teacher it can be transformational.  A great teacher needs to be a role model and engage in the technology alongside their students.  The integration of technology into a classroom needs to be purposeful.  I have seen too many times in a classroom where it is utilized as a babysitter.

Trevor and Matt really opened my eyes to the other side of the story.  As I am going through articles relating to our debate topic, I see similarities as cellphones in the classroom are one form of technology.  Some of the shocking information for me (and was further brought up by the disagree side) is the notion of addiction and the role technology may play in it.  Although, I am not sure why I am surprised that some students feel anxiety when they are asked to give up their technology for a brief time (a class period).  I have many friends that can not put away their technology while they are working or socializing.  The thought brought up by this side of the debate regarding the loss of human connection is something that concerns me.  I have witnessed numerous times a group of youth hanging out, but each person is on their phone.  It is an escape for some.  Instead of talking to those around them, they choose to be engaged with their phones or devices.  I often wonder how some of these students will survive a full working day if it is a workplace where phones/devices are not allowed. 

As with almost any debate topic, you can find data to back up each viewpoint.  It comes down to a personal choice or feeling.  Overall, I feel that technology in the classroom does enhance learning when used with purpose.  Technology will not make a mediocre teacher great, but in the hands of the skilled teacher it will further enhance engagement and often provide a challenge for those students who seek innovation.

It’s crazy to think that we are approaching two months of school and most of our province being closed. What’s even crazier to me is that three months ago to the day I was flying into Orlando for my first Disney World experience. As this was my first experience with Disney, I don’t think I as prepared for the amount of people that attend those parks on a daily basis. Can you imagine how long the queue line would be for the Avatar if you had to socially distance? Wow! I wonder how a place like that is going to look going forward.

When I think back to when school first closed, I remember making a prediction that school would re-open after the May long weekend. With word coming last week that school will be closed for the rest of the year, it turns out that my prediction wasn’t very good. With this week’s blog post focused on technology use on a daily basis, it was a great time for me to reflect on how much technology I am currently using. I know for a fact that I am spending way too much time in front of a screen. Here’s how I’ve been using technology to support me during online supplemental learning.

Professional Technology Use

When we shifted into online supplementary learning, I felt very lucky to be in the position I was in regarding technology and teaching. I am part of Regina Catholic School’s Connected Educator program. This program has given me the opportunity to teach in a 1:1 laptop to student ratio in the classroom. Most of the digital tools I have been using for online supplementary learning were already being used in the classroom, which made the transition relatively smooth. I didn’t have to spend a lot of my time teaching students how to use these programs as they had already experienced them in school. In saying that, there are definitely challenges when it comes to this online supplementary learning model.

Seesaw:

If I was restricted to one tool in my teaching practice, I would definitely choose Seesaw. Not only has it been extremely valuable during the Covid pandemic, it is very beneficial during regular teaching times. As Seesaw has many different tools embedded in the program, I use it in many different ways with my students and parents.

Seesaw is my main source of communication to parents. At the start of each week, I have been sending out a learning schedule to parents. This communication tool also allows you to attach documents to your message. For me, this has been beneficial as I can snip an image of my schedule and include it in my message to the parents.

I also like the fact that parents can send me messages directly on the app and I have the ability to see who has read the message. I enjoy when most of my parents have read my communication.

I have also been using Seesaw to create and assign a variety of activities for my students to complete. These activities are pushed out to their Seesaw accounts and they have a variety of ways in which they can complete their work. They are submitted in the activity folder which makes it really easy to see who has completed their assignments.

Overall, I think that Seesaw is a great educational tool because it’s one central location for many different features. I think this is also helpful to parents as it allows them to focus their attention and energy on one application. In a time where there are countless educational tools and apps, I think Seesaw does a good job of many different things.

Microsoft Teams:

I have been using Microsoft Teams as the main way to connect with my students. Through this program, I am able to hold live class meetings and lessons with all of the students that I teach. This tool also allows students to ask me questions through the chat feature.

In terms of the live class meetings, I like that I am able to share my screen with the students to follow along as I go through a lesson or meeting. This has been very beneficial when teaching live math classes, as I’ve been sharing PowerPoints and OneNote pages with them when teaching. Also, this feature has allowed me to do some fun activities with my students such as BINGO, Quizziz, and Kahoot.

I’m also a member of various other teams that allow me to connect with students I teach in other classes. This teams feature also gives me the opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues.

Microsoft OneNote:

I have been using Microsoft OneNote to distribute the bulk of the assignments to my students. I was already using OneNote in my classroom so I just continued using this for supplemental learning. I like OneNote as it essentially serves as an online binder or notebook for my students. OneNote is beneficial because I can embed links, images, documents, and anything else needed for the assignment. These assignments are pushed out to the students and they can often complete them right in their notebook.

Those are the three main tools I am using for supplemental learning. Some other tools I have been using along the way include:

Flipgrid – Great to build classroom community and connect online.

Sora – Online library for students to read and listen to books.

Epic Books – Another good online reading resource.

Code.org – Free coding website for students.

News-O-Matic – Current events article written for students.

For this week’s blog entry, I did a vlog entry. I went through some of my go to tools I have used in the past and have been a great help to me in my remote learning journey. I have also had the chance to teach and learn online and although not the same, it has also helped me transition to remote learning life as well. I have loved the interactions I have had with my students (would like more though) and have also grown professional and had some amazing professional development opportunities as well. So I hope you ‘remotely’ enjoy my vlog and find the resources in my Wakelet tool box ‘remotely’ useful. (PS – I learned a lot about wordpress through is as well :-)) I’m looking forward to your responses as I’m also writing an article for the STF on Remote Learning and hope to include some of your stories / experiences.

https://wke.lt/w/s/BvtG07