"How Teachers are Integrating Technology into Common Core" -2

Hello All,

I am back again. This time around, I will be reviewing Fred Sitkin's article, "How Teachers are Integrating Technology into Common Core," from www.edudemic.com.

In today's day and age, children and technology have become rather close. And I do not like it. I get quite aggravated when I am in the store and see an 8 year-old with their face buried in their iPhone. For one, I did not get my first phone until I was a freshman in high school. It was a flip phone. Standard texting and calling. No Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, or any other insanely popular social app that is the sole joy of every smartphone owner's existence these days. Secondly, when I was 8 years old, I was either outside playing H.O.R.S.E with my brother, trying (and failing) to ride my bike, or trying to recreate my own "Out of the Box" experience (it was a show, look it up). So, you get the picture. Today's technology has kind of inhibited children's creativity. Kids would rather spend endless hours on their phones or tablets making odd faces for a couple of "likes" instead of taking advantage of all the world has to offer.

However, there is a bright side to a child's interactions with technology. This may come as a surprise to most kids, but there is such a thing as learning with technology. Whoa. Hold the phone (look that up too). Learning? With technology? Yes. And I am here to tell you, it is a pretty nifty change that is coming to a school near you.

In Fred Sitkin's article, he talks about how technology is becoming rather popular in the classroom these days. All across the United States, teachers are transitioning into a new system called the Common Core State Standards. In a nutshell, Common Core is a bunch of standards that students are expected to have successfully learned in order to advance to the next grade level. Sitkin believes the transition to CCSS and the "wave of educational technology" could not have come at a better time. He discusses how the Core is involving more technology in a child's learning environment. More schools are bringing iPads into the classrooms because it can help teachers recognize where a student may be struggling. How? You may be wondering.

Sitkin explains:

"With [apps such as] iBooks, student can interact with text by writing notes and sharing those notes with their peers and teachers. They can define unfamiliar words as they read them or even have the pronunciation of those words spoken to them."

Sitkin explains that with the proper guidance and support from adults, these technological tools can be very effective in the classroom.

As a future educator, I appreciate any resources that can take the stress off of my students when being introduced to new material. Anything that helps them learn and fully understand the subject at hand is always welcomed. When used appropriately, technology can be very effective in the learning environment. I agree with Sitkin that this new era of educational technology (when used appropriately) could not have come at a better time.

REVISED - 8/27/13: A concern that was brought up today in class in my Computer App Education class was that technology can hinder human interaction. A couple of students expressed in their blogs that technology in the classroom would defeat the purpose of a teacher. Instead of a teacher instructing the child on how to read or solve a math problem, the teacher would just be guiding the child on how to operate a tablet to help solve the problem for them. Another concern that was brought up was that with the fact that low income school districts may not be able to afford the technology that the Common Core requires. So the question became: How will children going to these schools be able to pass these benchmarks of the Common Core if they do not have access to the required technology?

MY RESPONSE: I completely agree that technology can obstruct the effective one-on-one time that a student has with a teacher. Children need the classroom setting with live teachers and peers so that they can gain that social skill that being around other people provides. I also agree that teachers need to do the teaching, and technology needs to be the co-teacher (or aide). Technology is a very resourceful tool when it is used properly, but it should not take the place of a teacher. It should be used frugally and appropriately. As far as the Common Core concern, I feel that this is a big concern in all of the states that are transitioning into this new learning system. I do not believe it is fair to the teachers and students of these low income schools who are unable to afford the technology needed to teach these students. I am really not a big fan of Common Core in general, but I will expand more on that later. If the public education system is going to make everybody switch over to CCSS, then they need to make sure that every school is able to have access to the resources needed to follow these standards.

Well, this blog entry has been enough technology for me for one night. Time to go channel my inner child again and find some boxes to get into...... or maybe more homework. Hashtag: College Probz.

"So long. Farewell. To you, my friends. Goodbye. For now. Until we meet again."

Emily