Welcome back readers for another blog of what educators really want to say to an admin but the union dues do not cover "honest" feedback to a principal coverage. This week I want to focus on mobile technologies. Today many studies show that young children below five years old that are exposed to regular "tablet time" have negative effects to their attention and developmental delays (Mantilla & Edwards, 2019). Now before we go and burn all the tablets being used by children and young adults we must remember, a tablet is a tool. Similar to a hammer, used in the wrong way can hurt more than it can build. These same studies support the idea that many of this tablet time can be beneficial if the time using the device is monitored and academic. Sounds about right, as long as someone guides you, you should be alright. This is where mobile technologies comes in. Many places in public, coffee shops, malls, parks, etc. You look around, and people are attached to their phones like mindless zombies. The clear answer to my title is that these demonic devices are foes, right?! Wrong.
As an avid supported of new and innovative technologies, I am a firm believer that it all depends on how we implement these technologies. This correlates to my mobile technologies implementation plan which I have designed. For reference the plan can be accessed with this link for reference. By incorporating mobile technologies and Google Classroom, I believe that this plan can help educators become more exposed to innovative technologies via mobile trainings that will not take them away for entire days like district PD (professional developments). While I do believe that PDs have their places; as new technologies become available throughout the school year, it becomes difficult for a teacher to take time away from the classroom. This is where the Google Classroom platform shines. As a learning management system (LMS) with mobile capabilities, this serves as a sectionalized modules for learners to learn as they go in at their convenience. This takes away from the worry of needing a substitute or needing to take away time from the classroom. This helps teachers learn as they can without the need to take them away from other responsibilities, not only their professional ones. It is known, many educators have responsibilities outside of the classroom. It is time we accommodate the lifestyles by creating on the go modules which anyone can pick up, pause and continue when life allows them to. I believe that by modifying the way we can access important learning modules, we as educators can continue to work to creating the most effective learning environments for our learners.
References
Mantilla, A., & Edwards, S. (2019). Digital technology use by and with young children: A systematic review for the Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 44(2), 182-195.
No comments:
Post a Comment